Toyota’s Prius plugs in to more electric miles

Toyota’s Prius hybrid family will gain its newest sibling in July when the Prius Plug-in reaches showrooms.

Priced at £27,895 with the Government’s electric vehicle grant, the Plug-in promises more miles on electric power alone compared to its familiar hybrid sister which starts at £21,560.

The Plug-in uses a full hybrid powertrain, but due to new rechargeable lithium-ion battery technology, it can travel longer distances and reach higher speeds while running purely on electric power, cutting zero emissions.

And like Vauxhall’s Ampera it suffers from none of the range-anxiety of all-electric vehicles. When the Prius battery is empty the car simply switches to its hybrid system.

Toyota says that recharging the battery is simple and speedy, using a power point linked to a standard domestic or workplace supply, or an on-street charging point.

The car comes with a charging cable set as standard, including five metres of cabling, that can be stored in a dedicated area beneath the boot floor.

The petrol-electric system sees the Prius Plug-in boasting official CO2 emissions figures of just 49g/km.

The Plug-in comes with a single equipment specification, which includes LED daytime running lights and headlights, Toyota’s Touch and Go Plus infotainment system with touchscreen controls, satellite navigation, a DAB digital tuner, rain-sensing wipers, cruise control, heated front seats and 15-inch alloy wheels.

Options include leather upholstery for £1,500 and rear privacy glass at £270. Also offered are a ‘Protection Pack’ with rear-parking sensors and boot liner, and a ‘Style Pack’ with exterior chrome trim elements, each at £360.

Official on-the-road price for the Prius Plug-in is £32,895, but the £5,000 Government grant, provided through the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), drops the price to £27,895.

Words by: James Charman