Corolla return leads Toyota charge as ‘Affordable Hybrid of the Year’
TOYOTA has long been at the forefront of hybrid car development – the original Prius debuted more than 20 years ago – and it is now experiencing unprecedent demand from both private and business customers keen to embrace its benefits.
On the back of a 76 per cent increase in new hybrid vehicle sales during the past two years, Toyota figures are already up a further 10 per cent year-on-year so far in 2019. Its order bank currently stands at around 23,000 vehicles – a level never witnessed before.
And Toyota has made those benefits available to an increasingly wide market adapting it for use in all kinds of vehicles, from the Yaris supermini to the RAV4 SUV.
So far this year, the best-selling is the C-HR SUV, which starts at £25,055 on-the-road for the 1.8-litre WT-i in Icon trim. Petrol versions start at £22,435. Just behind is the popular Yaris supermini, with prices from £16,990.
Toyota has high hopes for the new Corolla, which was launched in February and was recently named Affordable Hybrid of the Year in the 2019 Auto Express Awards.
The latest Toyota model to be built in Britain, it represents the latest advances in self-charging technology, being the first Toyota to be marketed with a choice of two different full hybrid powertrains – a 1.8-litre, 120bhp version and a 2.0-litre producing 178bhp. The range starts at £21,305 on-the-road with hybrid models starting at £23,755.
Demand is also strong for the new RAV4, with hybrid electric sales mixes of 72 per cent so far this year. Prices for the SUV start at £29,940.
The Prius was the game-changer, and this summer the Plug-in version becomes a true family hybrid with a new five-seat interior.
The new look interior replaces the rear centre console with a third seat to take capacity up to five people. A new seat fabric pattern has been introduced and there are two interior colour options – Cool Grey, with grey seat bolsters, and Black. The car’s trim has also been changed to all-black, including the centre console, shift lever and steering wheel.
Equipment changes include the provision of a larger wireless charging tray, which can accommodate the latest generation smartphones, and the latest specification Toyota Touch multimedia system.
What remains constant is the Prius Plug-in’s exceptional efficiency and versatility.
Its rechargeable powertrain officially delivers 217mpg with CO2 emissions of 29g/km. It has an all-electric driving range of up to 34 miles.
Priced from £32,125 on-the-road, the Business Edition model comes with 15-inch alloy wheels, Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, smart entry and start, head-up display, dual-zone air conditioning and heated front seats.