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Toyota Gatwick

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Toyota Prius Hatchback 1.5 Hybrid T Spirit

For:
A super-clean alternative to mainstream family hatches that demands few compromises to own. Spacious, fine-riding and cheap to run.

Against:
It's expensive to buy, noisy under acceleration and there's no enjoyment to be had from driving it.



Performance

A 1.5-litre petrol engine is assisted by an electric motor that can take over altogether in town. There's enough go to exploit gaps in traffic, but the electric motor only delivers peak pulling power below 22mph, so the Prius doesn't have the oomph of a good turbodiesel at higher speeds. As soon as any effort is required, its continuously variable transmission (CVT) has to send the revs soaring.

Ride & handling

The Prius irons out the vast majority of lumps and bumps in the road surface, but the pay-off is a lot of body sway through corners. To make matters worse, the steering is more remote than the North Pole - you know you're changing direction only because the view out of the windscreen changes.

Refinement

The CVT gearbox will keep the engine's revs high under hard acceleration and adjust the gear ratio as speeds rise - efficient, but very noisy. Drive more gently and the gearbox smoothly blends electrical and petrol power, and engine noise all but disappears. There is some wind and road noise on the motorway, but not much.

Buying & owning

The Prius is pricey to buy and, when we tested one for a year, we struggled to get near the official fuel consumption of 65.7mpg. However, it slots into the lowly 10% company car tax bracket and is exempt from the London Congestion Charge. The drivetrain is covered by an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty and resale values are strong.

Quality & reliability

The hard interior plastics aren't especially appealing, but they feel solid and durable. The Prius also has a great record in the JD Power customer satisfaction survey, with owners rating mechanical reliability as one of its strongest areas.

Safety & security

The Prius was awarded a maximum five-star rating in Euro NCAP crash tests, and it comes with stability control as well as front, side and curtain airbags. Security is thorough, with deadlocks, locking wheel nuts and marked parts, although there's no visible VIN.

Behind the wheel

The dash looks as unconventional as the exterior. A total of 16 controls for the stereo, air-conditioning and other features are housed on the steering wheel, but it takes time to find the right buttons. You sit high even with the driver's seat at its lowest level, and the wheel adjusts for height only.

Space & practicality

The Prius is impressively spacious for a car of its size. A six-foot-tall passenger can sit behind an equally lanky driver without feeling cramped. Three adults should be reasonably comfortable in the back, although the central tunnel does intrude on foot space. The good-sized boot is let down by wheelarch intrusion.

Equipment

All three trims are well equipped, with entry-level T3 cars getting four electric windows, a CD player and climate control. Stepping up to T4 adds a six-disc CD autochanger and cruise control, while the range-topping T Spirit has sat-nav with voice recognition and a Bluetooth interface for your phone. There's even an optional parking assist system that helps park the car for you.

Running Costs

Town mpg

56.5

Out of Town mpg

67.3

Average mpg

65.7

Tank Capacity (gallons)

9.9

CO2 Rating (g/km)

104

Insurance Group

8

Typical Insurance Quote

£410

% Value Retained (3yrs/36,000mls)

50

Typical Contract Hire Rate (pcm)

£440

Pence Per Mile

41.41

Servicing Cost over 3yrs

£738

Servicing Intervals

12/20,000

Manufacturers Warranty

3yr/60k + 3yr Paint + 12yr Perforation + 1yr Breakdown

Performance & Measurements

Body type

Hatchback

Number of Doors

5

Number of Seats

5

Engine (cc/type)

1497/4

Fuel Type

Hybrid

Max Power (bhp/rpm)

76/5000

Engine Position

F

Driven Wheels

Front

Length (mm)

4450

Width (mm)

1725

Height (mm)

1490

Boot Space (min ltr)

408

Boot Space (max ltr)

408

Turning Circle (m)

10.2

Towing Weight(kg)

N/A

Kerb Weight (kg)

1300