THE past week has been spent in near silent driving mode, in the latest incarnation of a vehicle that has been the transport of choice for a multitude of mini cab drivers here in Milton Keynes. And probably elsewhere.
Yes, the Toyota Prius is back on sale in the UK, only this time the third generation of the car that was an early forerunner of electrified performance is an altogether sleeker proposition aimed at a different buyer.
The all new plug-in hybrid Prius arrives with even greater fuel economy, emissions efficiency and EV driving capability, matched to its new sharp, coupe-like styling.
Starting one up is a bit like coming across some motorway roadworks – you begin to wonder if anything is actually going on.
You press the power button and the digital display tells you the car is ready for action. But it’s so quiet you could hear that proverbial penny drop.
The sound of near silence under electric power is something motorists are slowly getting used to. And pedestrians too, because when you’re crawling in traffic the petrol engined side of the equation – the bit that alerts others to you being in the vicinity – tends to be surplus to requirements. Though it has to be said you need remarkable restraint to drive so gently the engine doesn’t kick in.
The first generation Prius was launched as the world’s first mass-produced full hybrid vehicle in Japan in 1997, and in Europe in 2000.
The name Prius quickly became symbolic of a car that came to market before environmental awareness became a mainstream social issue. And thus people were initially sceptical of this quirky but distinctive looking Japanese car.
But it’s grown in popularity because environmentally it’s a pretty clean machine. Cleaner even than my house, where my better half wears out Dysons with monotonous regularity keeping it that way.
The initial range offers two versions – Design (£37,315) and Excel £39,995) – powered by a 2.0-litre plug-in system benefiting from fifth generation Toyota hybrid electric technology. The powertrain delivers a maximum 220bhp, a fair old increase on the 121bhp of the previous Prius plug-in model and that gives you strong, responsive acceleration.
Prius’s signature wedge shape has evolved to a coupé-like silhouette by lowering the overall height by 50mm, and inside, a spacious cabin has a clean interior layout.
For some drivers today, buying a plug-in hybrid makes more sense than an all-electric vehicle – an opinion that supports Toyota’s ‘multipath technology strategy.’
Toyota’s Hybrid technology gives the electric motor more of a role to play than some other hybrids which rely on the petrol engine to produce peak performance with the electric unit of secondary importance.
Its 13.6kWh battery enables electric driving for up to 53 miles – sufficient to cover most routine daily journeys. When battery charge is depleted, it operates as a self-charging hybrid, with greater efficiency benefits than other plug-in hybrids which default to their petrol engine.
Toyota Prius Excel
Price: £37,315
Engine: 2.0 litre, four cylinder petrol with 13.6kWh lithium ion battery
Power: 150bhp (120kW electric)
Torque: 140lb/ft (153lb/ft elec)
Transmission: CVT
Top speed: 110mph
0-62mph: 6.8 secs
Range: 565 miles
CO2 emissions: 17g/km
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