Toyota Prius

I first drove a Prius back in 2006 at the British Motor Show and since then, I have driven four more, including a modified ‘plug-in’ Prius. Whilst the Prius has had its fair share of cynical criticism, it remains the world’s best-selling hybrid with more than 500,000 examples on the road.

The Prius utilises a 1.5-litre petrol engine in conjunction with an electric motor, which produce 76bhp and 67bhp respectively. The combined power isn’t cumulative, but actually around 112bhp and the torque figure can be well in excess of 400Nm at low speeds thanks to the electric motor.

The hybrid is clearly not designed to be a performance car, but it can deliver a respectable 0-60mph time of 10.6 seconds and a top speed of 106mph. However, it’s in the emissions figures where the Prius really comes into its own. Whilst cynics have commented that the incredibly low 104 g/km carbon dioxide figure and 60mpg economy can be matched or bettered by small diesel cars, this argument misses the point that the Prius is a spacious family-sized hatchback with room to seat five adults in comfort.

Alongside the carbon dioxide emissions figure, which comes in below the equivalent petrol, diesel and bio-ethanol Ford Focus for example, the Prius also shows reductions in other tailpipe emissions. It is important that such emissions are not ignored, as improvements in air quality should be considered equal to improvements in carbon emission reductions. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that poor air quality results in 24,000 deaths every year.

Carbon monoxide is a product of incomplete combustion and reduces the body’s ability to carry oxygen. The carbon monoxide emissions for the Prius stand at 0.18 g/km, whereas the figure for the bio-ethanol Ford Focus Flexi-Fuel Vehicle is at least twice this amount.

Hydrocarbons are toxic emissions that contribute to the formation of urban smog and can cause liver damage and cancer and the 0.02 g/km figure for the Prius is significantly below the figures of 0.071 g/km and 0.081 g/km for the petrol and bio-ethanol-fuelled Ford Focus models, respectively.

The last emissions worth considering are nitrous oxides (NOx), which contribute to the formation of urban smog, acid rain and can cause respiratory problems. The Prius kicks out 0.01 g/km NOx, compared with 0.034 g/km from the bio-ethanol Focus and 0.06 g/km from the petrol version of the Focus.

In addition, the clever clutchless electronically controlled continuously variable transmission means that the petrol engine can completely shut down when not required rather than idle pointlessly, for example whilst stopped in traffic. The engine also operates only when more power is required, which is also where it is more efficient. At lower crawling speeds the electric motor takes over. The final trick this enables is regenerative braking, meaning that the car uses downhill momentum to recharge the on-board battery, further improving efficiency.

Indeed, rather than a car with a built-in computer, the Prius can feel more like a computer with wheels. Despite this aspect of the vehicle leading to some critics labelling the experience as entirely disconnected from the driver, I have taken the Prius out on enough b-road blasts to prove otherwise. It is again critical to acknowledge the car’s key function, which is not as a driver’s car, but as a fuel-efficient hybrid.

Besides the technological wizardry that is going on behind the scenes, the Prius provides an extremely relaxing atmosphere in which to waft you along effortlessly. The conventional instrumentation panel is replaced by a swooping dash with a large touch screen display, as well as a digital speedometer positioned deep within the dashboard.

After you insert the key into its slot to the right of the steering wheel and press the ‘Power’ button, the car comes to life and the computers fire up. However, rather than having to then start the engine, you can simply release the electronic parking brake and, if applied, the foot brake and silently move off. It’s an amazing party trick that never fails to bemuse bystanders.

As you build up speed, the engine cuts in seamlessly to provide the extra oomph as you slice through the surrounding air with ease thanks to the incredibly drag coefficient of just 0.26. For comparison, the drag coefficient of the Porsche 911 Turbo is 0.27 and in the lower it is, the better. The engine and electric motor work in harmony to provide the best power balance for whatever you’re doing with the car. So, if you put pedal to the metal, the motor will kick in with its 400Nm torque to aid acceleration.

The Prius is also incredibly well equipped. The base T3 model offers a 7-inch information display, eight airbags, electronic brake distribution and traction control. The intermediate T4 derivative offers a CD changer, cruise control and upgraded audio system and the top-of-the-range T Spirit adds satellite navigation and a Bluetooth telephone interface. Prices start at £17,777 for the T3, going up to £18,577 for the T4 and £20,777 for the T Spirit. It seems like a lot of money compared to the average car of an equivalent, but the Prius is far from your average car.

The Prius is a living concept and represents a realisable idea about how we can move forward with fuel technologies. Bio-ethanol is drawing attention away from hybrid technologies, but it’s also decreasing land available for crop production and increasing the price of a loaf of bread. If the world’s largest car manufacturer – in terms of revenue and net worth – is putting all its eggs and more than $1 billion investment into the proverbial hybrid basket, shouldn’t we be paying more attention?