Toyota Prius Hatchback (2004 - 2009) 1.5 VVTi T Spirit Hybrid 5d CVT Auto (2009/58) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

It says green peace activist who enjoys hugging and photographing trees at the weekends! However in reality I'm just a family man who wanted cheap motoring costs with reliability and bought it for the technology not to save the world!

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Most think it's a nice car. I've had a few comments about it being a Prius and the associated stigma attached with it.

Would you buy this car again and why?

I won't buy this car again for a couplereasons. Firstly, I like variety so will always try out a different motor. Secondly my circumstances have changed so I want something with a bit more go!

What are you likely to buy next?

Mazda 3 MPS, Focus ST Estate, Impreza STI, Lexus GS450h or Vauxhall VXR8.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Didn't buy from a dealer

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£7,995

When did you buy the car?

January 2013

Did you get a good deal and why?

The car was up for an excellent price, it had 66k miles on it so was less expensive than others I looked at with a lower mileage.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Wanted to see what all the fuss was about, also wanted something economical to do the daily commute to work.

What was the dealer like?

Terrific! Westlands Toyota Worcester. The whole deal was done via email and as I was a distance away. They couldn't have been more helpful.

What's it like to drive?

It's ok. Doesn't like to be pushed hard in corners but has plenty of grip. It's totally hopeless in the snow as it has a very sensitive traction control which protects the hybrid system. You'll get no way near the claimed mpg figures. My commute consists of 11 miles each way and I drive it at 56mph and can only achieve 56mpg, in the winter this drops to around 50mpg. To get the most out of this car you have to work hard e.g, coasting where you can and using the pulse and glide method. After a while this becomes tiresome and the enjoyment of driving soon becomes a chore! Some Prius drivers up the psi in the tyres which is very noticeable in the cabin and can become very fidgety over bumps.

What's it like to park?

The easiest car to park I have ever driven. The rear camera makes it so simple, the guide lines move withe steering so you know where you are aiming for!

Have you had any problems with the car?

Not a thing, and I don't expect anything to go wrong soon either! You get a sense that it is massively over engineered. The components are all well proven these days. Even the Hybrid battery! Don't believe the rumours that it'll go after low miles and cost thousands to replace, it just doesn't happen. There are Prius's on the road that have done 200-300k miles and still on the original Hybrid battery! There's a reason big cities like New York & Toronto use them as taxi's!

What's most practical about your car?

Ease of driving, rear leg room. Also the boot, it isn't as small as you think!

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

The computer and touch screen are good to play with, built in Sat Nav is nice, although the UI feels dated and complicated. Also an up-to-date maps disc from Toyota is a whopping £150! Self parking with the reversing camera is cool, but by the time you have set it up you could've been parked up. The bluetooth is nice however it cannot stream music from your device, only make and receive calls, however there is a useful Aux input in the armrest. Excellent sounding JBL system but make sure you play good quality mp3's, it makes a big difference!