As the name suggests the latest model to join the third generation Prius hybrid five door hatchback family is the Plug-In version, writes David Miles.
This new addition can be charged from mains electricity to extend the driving range of the electric power only mode.
The new Prius Plug-In becomes the flagship of the family and it is Toyota’s first rechargeable full hybrid. It uses the same 1.8-litre 98bhp petrol engine and 81bhp electric motor/generator/battery Hybrid Synergy Drive as the Prius five seater hatch and the new Prius+ seven seater MPV models.
But instead of the battery only/zero emission driving range of just a couple of miles, the Plug–In version after a one and a half hour charging period which costs around 60-pence has an electric power range of 15.5 miles, enough for most city return journey commutes. Toyota says after their five year global trials for the Prius Plug-In, involving 600 test vehicles, two thirds of commuting journeys covered less than 12.5 miles.
For the UK market the Plug-In version differs from its other Prius stablemates with the fact that it can be bought using the Government’s £5,000 plug in low emission electric vehicle grant so it is priced at £28,345 on-the-road. The other benefit over other Hybrid Prius models is that it only incurs 5 per cent company car tax instead of 10 per cent and for businesses there is the 100 per cent write down allowance in the first year of ownership. With CO2 emissions of 49g/km it is of course free of VED road tax and free of the London Congestion Charge. The Prius Hybrid has CO2 emissions of 89g/km and the Prius+ Hybrid 96g/km and both are currently exempt from road tax and the Congestion Charge.
UK customers for the new flagship Plug-In version are expected to be current Prius hatchback owners, retail buyers who must-have the latest automotive technology, eco conscious drivers and the business community who, for marketing reasons, operate ‘green’ cars. National and regional Government ministers, business chauffeur companies and private hire/minicab operators are also likely users. Only one level of high specification is available and that is similar to the top of the range Prius T-Spirit petrol-electric Hybrid versions. There are extra cost options available such as leather upholstery.
Neil Spires, Toyota GB’s product manager for the Prius family said at the UK press launch this week that in a full year UK sales of the Prius Plug-In would be around 1,600 units with a 50/50 split between retail and fleet//business user customers. The Prius petrol/electric Hybrid has annual UK sales of around 4,000 units and for the new Prius+ Hybrid around 2,000 annual UK registrations are expected.
The Prius Plug-Ins’ main competitor for sales is probably not other Prius family members but the Vauxhall Ampera/Chevrolet Volt with its petrol generator/electric motor range extender system. Figures supplied by Toyota claim that over the Ampera their Prius Plug-In model for a three year/60,000 mile period can save users almost £2,000 on costs covering its greater driving range and quicker battery charging time.
They also claim that specification adjusted the Plug-In has £3,587 more value and it seats five people instead of four.
The Toyota Prius Hybrid was launched 15 years ago but only came to the UK market in 2000.
Plug into standard three-pin socket for ease of use Over 2.6 million have been sold globally and 67,000 of those have been to UK buyers.
With its 700-miles driving range using petrol and electric power, including a maximum 15.5-miles electric power only range, the new Prius Plug-In is a big step forward in making electric propulsion more practical.
It delivers all the good points electric vehicle offer but with the added benefits of no limits and range-anxiety to when and where the car can be driven.
Just a conventional 13amp plug is needed linked to a suitable house/office/street charging point supply. After a one and a half hours full mains charge, which depending on tariff rates, it should be cost around 60p in mains electricity.
Toyota recommend owners choose to use their power supply partner British Gas to get a free survey done on the suitability, efficiency and safety of the owner’s home electrics.
If required a dedicated high power 13-amp cable/charging socket can then be fitted with costs ranging from £375 to £799. Owners at their own risk can choose to ignore this advice and use a normal 13-amp outlet as long as there are no other heavy-use electric items being used on that ring-main. The Prius Plug-In comes with its own charging cable handily stowed in the 443-litre boot.
The Plug-Ins’ extended electric driving range has an official 134.5mpg figure, a 45 per cent improvement over the standard Prius. Once the stored battery power has run out the Synergy Drive petrol/generator/electric supply mode will still return 76.4mpg. The official overall combined fuel consumption figure using petrol and electric power is 84mpg.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
There are fewer challenging cars to drive than the latest Toyota Prius Plug-in hybrid, says Robin Roberts.
It demands nothing more from the driver than remembering to unplug it before you drive away because once on the move it behaves like a conventional petrol car.
Default is the EV-mode, so it starts with electric power and then stays in that setting unless you speed up or it simply runs out of charge after about 15 miles.
Power delivery in EV-mode is immediate and fairly strong and characterised by a distinctly errie silence from the powertrain.
The automatic CV transmission is seamless and smooth and you are mildly aware of the petrol engine kicking in as you accelerate to national limits.
With the internal combustion engine running you notice slightly more noise but its still fairly quiet and the only noticeable sound is from the rumbling tyres on the road and the occasional bang from the suspension over potholes or tarmac ridges.
Steering is a little dead to the touch but it has a reasonable turning circle and light weighted action, the brakes are adequate but not exceptional and the secondary controls are where and what you’d expect. A big display performs functions for the power modes and you can use that to evaluate how much stored-electricity you have left.
Visibility is slightly compromised by the hatchback design and high tail and you appreciate the on-board reversing camera.
Room is good for five with a very big boot, ride quality generally smooth, and the handling is fairly flat with a tendency to understeer on tight bends.
On test in a built up area it indicated the equivalent of 227mpg in EV-mode and when the petrol engine kicked in as the battery depleted it averaged 150mpg, with over 70mpg in petrol mode alone.
For the private buyer the latest Prius Plug-in makes litttle sense unless you are a Toyota fan and a tree-hugger, but a lot for the business driver on the other hand with its tax advantages.
