First Drive
Toyota Prius 1.5 T Spirit
Test date 04 February 2006
Price as tested £21,210
What's new
Not a lot. Never mind blinking, you might miss this facelift even if you keep your eyes open. The headlights have been tweaked and there’s a new chrome grille, while at the back the tail-lights now have swankier chrome-plated clusters.
Extra chassis reinforcement has been added to improve cornering, plus new rear shock absorbers and retuned power steering. Inside the rear seat is 50mm wider and the hip-point drops by 6mm to add headroom. There are also some new soft-touch finishes for the dash and door tops.
Additions to the options list include four new metallic paints (£325), full leather trim (£1350) in place of leather/Alcantara and, on T-Spirit models, a rear parking camera with Intelligent Parking Assist, which helps you steer into parking spaces.
What's it like?
It’s not the world’s best-selling hybrid for nothing. Around town it’s effortless, seamlessly switching between petrol and electric powertrains –though the ride can be choppy. Out of the city limits the weightier steering is better and the Prius corners well for a heavy car with skinny tyres.
Should I get one?
Prices are up £250, and £17,795 is steep for a family hatch, but Londoners will get £2k back per year on the congestion charge. Still the only hybrid that makes environmental, financial and practical sense.
Alastair Clements
First drive data
How much?
- Price as tested £21,210
- Price as tested £20,295
How fast?
- 0-62 mph no data
- Max speed no data
How big?
How thirsty?
- Combined 65.7 mpg
- CO2 emissions 104 g/km
Engine
- Layout 4 , 1497 cc
- Max power 112 bhp at 5000 rpm
- Max torque 353 lb ft at 1200 rpm
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