Toyota Prius PHV
Mk2 version of eco pioneer is now more of a standalone model. Does it deliver on its impressive claims?
MODEL TESTED: Toyota Prius PHV Business Edition Plus PRICE: £29,195 ENGINE: 1.8-litre 4cyl petrol/68kw electric motor, 121bhp
THE second-generation Prius Plug-in (now called PHV) is a more bespoke machine than the original, which looked and drove very much like the standard hybrid. Revised looks, upgraded underpinnings, a new trim line-up and even lower running costs make the Toyota a tempting choice for those looking to cut their costs and environmental impact. Here we try the £29,195 Business Edition Plus model.
DESIGN & ENGINEERING
WHILE the VW and Kia are effectively plug-in hybrid versions of existing cars, Toyota has tried to make the new Prius PHV a separate model in its own right. It’s heavily based on the standard hybrid, but all-new front and rear treatments mean it’s even more distinctive.
And the revised design goes more than skin deep. For example, the tailgate is constructed of lightweight carbon fibre-reinforced plastic, plus you can add a £1,500 solar roof panel, to help charge the batteries when the car is parked or on the move.
Like the standard Prius, the PHV is based on the brand’s TNGA architecture and has a transversely mounted 1.8-litre petrol engine hooked up to an electric motor, both of which drive the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission. Elsewhere, Toyota’s new Dual Motor Drive allows the car to use the hybrid system’s generator as a second motor when extra power is needed. The lithium-ion battery is under the boot floor and weighs a hefty 120kg.
The strut front suspension and double-wishbone rear axle are carried over, but the springs and dampers have been stiffened to cope with the extra weight, plus there’s a thicker front anti-roll bar.
Inside, the PHV looks almost identical to the normal Prius. The quality of the materials isn’t up to the standard of the Golf ’s, but the Toyota’s cabin is solidly built and the bold design helps it stand out from its conservative rivals. There’s plenty of kit, too. Keyless entry, sat-nav, climate control and a reversing camera all feature on this Business Edition Plus.
DRIVING
WITH only 121bhp, the Toyota was unsurprisingly the slowest car here. Even its lowest-on-test 1,530kg kerbweight wasn’t enough to offset its power deficit, with the Prius taking nearly four seconds longer than the Golf to cover 0-60mph, in 10.7 seconds.
However, out in the real world, the disadvantage isn’t so obvious. Thanks to the well integrated electric motors and CVT box, the Prius has no trouble keeping up with traffic. Apply the throttle gently and it uses battery power to seamlessly assist the petrol motor; stamp on the pedal and the box sends the revs soaring.
We managed 28 miles on a full charge, which is 11 miles short of Toyota’s claims. Crucially, you can use the driving modes to retain charge in the battery, which will be useful if you have a long motorway journey followed by a drive across a city.
In pure electric mode the Prius pulls strongly and can cruise up to a maximum of 84mph. Better still, when the cells are depleted the transition to petrol power is smoother and quieter than in either rival.
Despite the suspension changes, the PHV doesn’t handle as sweetly as its hybrid cousin, particularly during sudden direction changes where the weight of the battery pack in the rear upsets the car’s composure. However, take things easier and the Prius feels more composed, with well weighted steering and decent grip from its eco tyres.
On the motorway the PHV delivers a supple ride and low wind noise, but around town the stiffer suspension results in more bumps and jolts being felt – although it’s more controlled than the Kia.
PRACTICALITY
THE conversion to plug-in power has hit the Prius’s practicality credentials. To fit the battery above the rear axle, Toyota’s engineers have been forced to raise the boot floor, cutting carrying capacity from 343 litres to a paltry 191 litres. Still, folding the rear seats ups the space to 1, 204 litres, while this is the only car here to include underfloor storage for the variety of charging cables.
Elsewhere it’s standard Prius, so it edges the Golf for rear head and legroom, plus the floor is nearly flat. The interior also boasts decent storage, including a handy centre console tray that features wireless smartphone charging on this Business Plus model.
Developments in the Prius’s battery technology mean that a full charge from a domestic socket now takes just over three hours, while using a more powerful wallbox can reduce this to two hours.
OWNERSHIP
TOYOTA has traditionally performed well in our Driver Power poll, and its 16th place finish in 2016 is testament to this. Better still are its dealers, which notched up an impressive fourth place in the same survey.
The brand has tried equally hard with its safety credentials, with the result that its Safety Sense package gives the car the edge in this test. It brings radar cruise control, road sign recognition, lane departure warning and adaptive LED headlamps.
RUNNING COSTS
THE Prius takes some beating on value. Not only is it the cheapest car to buy, its lower P11D value means it’s a more costeffective business choice – although the savings over the VW are small. The PHV also comes loaded with kit, and we recorded a decent 57. 2mpg at the pumps, which included one full charge of the batteries.
But as with the Kia, the Toyota couldn’t match the VW ’s residuals, although our experts’ calculation of 41.8 per cent is good for such a daring, hi-tech car.