The Toyota Prius T4 is economy heaven (From Business in Dorset)

The Toyota Prius T4 is economy heaven

5:31pm Tuesday 20th October 2009

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TOYOTA hopes to sell 30 per cent more Priuses in 2010 than in 2009.

To ensure this is achieved there have been some significant changes.

Although the Prius looks similar to the previous model, nearly all of it is new.

There is a new 1.8 litre engine which replaces the older 1.5 litre and Toyota says that 90 per cent of the drive train is new.

Although the engine is larger, the Prius improves motorway fuel economy by 10 per cent, simply because lower revs equals less fuel being burned.

Toyota claims the new Prius is the most efficient five-seat small family car money can buy.

The Prius emits just 89g/km of CO2 while averaging an outstanding 72.4mpg.

A big claim, better still there is more performance than the previous model.

The sprint to 62mph is down to 10.4 seconds with a top speed of 111mph.

Driving options are, EV (Electric Vehicle) mode for speeds up to 31mph.

In EV mode the Prius is now capable of running up to 2km on a full charge.

ECO Drive, where the throttle response is reduced hence improving fuel economy.

Power Mode, gives 134bhp of which 98bhp comes from the engine, with the electric motor making the rest of the power up.

Toyota has added a new revised CVT gearbox which is considerably smoother than its predecessor.

The new Prius gives improved driver feedback and turns in surprisingly well with very little understeer.

There has been a lot of speculation over the years about the reliability of hybrid cars and the Prius has been at the forefront.

Toyota have silenced these doubters, conformation comes from the recent JD Power Survey where the Prius was the second most satisfying car to own, beaten only by the more expensive Lexus RX 4X4.

Prius owners praised the car for reliability, low running costs and build quality.

Inside the Prius is very different to any other car. Toyota has opted for hard plastic rather than soft touch materials, sounds cheap but it’s not.

The feeling is space age, the dashboard comes out in the centre and down where your gear lever would usually be and across joining the front centre armrest.

The Prius easily accommodates five six foot adults and there is a good sized boot area with a retractable cover to keep your valuables out of sight.

Standard features include the new head-up display designed to reflect driver information onto the windscreen, which means the driver does not need to take their eyes off the road.

Also included are seven airbags, climate control, keyless entry, 17" alloys, cruise control, Bluetooth and an eight-speaker sound system.

Toyota is confident that the new Prius will achieve the maximum five star NCAP rating with a new stronger platform using a higher tensile steel, making the body more rigid.

The front of the Prius has not only been re worked aesthetically but also to reduce injury with new impact absorbing materials.

Toyota has included seven air bags including a driver's knee bag, with ESP (Electronic Stability Control) as standard on all models.

The new Prius will be a popular choice for company car drivers and business owners buying fleet cars. With the lowest 10 per cent Benefit-in-kind company car tax, no road tax and exemption from the congestion charge.

If you or your business is keen to help the environment and save money I would suggest you take a long hard look at the new Prius.

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