Overall rating:

Toyota addresses our biggest criticism of the Prius by adding greater range and performance in electric-only mode. With fewer compromises the greener Prius Plug-in makes a lot of sense for city-bound commuters.

Key Facts

Pricing: £32,895 (£27,895 with £5,000 Government grant)
Engine: 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol hybrid
Transmission: front-wheel drive, continuously variable automatic transmission
Body style: five-door hatchback
Rivals: Nissan LEAF, Vauxhall Ampera, Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion
CO₂ emissions: 84g/km
Combined economy: 78.5mpg
Top speed: 112mph
0-62mph: 11.4 seconds
Power: 134hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 142Nm at 4,200rpm (petrol engine only)

In the Metal:

This new car is essentially just a Prius, with an extension lead in the boot. So understandably it's not radically changed on the styling front, though Toyota has made a few subtle alterations to ensure ordinary Prius drivers know you're even greener than them. There's a silver accent in the lower front grille, likewise across the boot, while plug-in badging and an additional 'filler cap' flap with a plug motif signify the plug-in element of this Prius.

Changes inside are limited to a few buttons, the Prius Plug-in otherwise exactly the same as its non-plug-in relation. That's largely true of space, the boot only losing a handful of litres to the battery pack, which are now lithium ion rather than nickel hydride. So it remains as odd as ever, with the weird little automatic gear knob that doesn't feel like it's attached to anything, an unnecessarily ovoid steering wheel (with limited range of adjustment) and lots of grey and black plastic.

Driving it:

The biggest frustration of the regular Prius has been omitted with the addition of the plug-in car to the range. Where you'd have scant opportunity to glide around smugly on electricity alone in the standard model, the Prius Plug-in allows up to 15.5 miles of near-silent, planet saving motion. It'll do so at speeds up to around 50mph too, though ask for more - regardless of the mode selected - and the engine will kick in. Toyota admits this is a safety trick, the engine cutting out as soon as possible and reverting to EV (Electric Vehicle) mode. Quick and quiet when running in EV only, you soon forget you're running on battery power, any range anxiety of fully-electric vehicles negated thanks to the Prius' hybrid back-up.

Default mode is EV on start up, though you can override this if your commute involves a motorway run before hitting town, so the Prius Plug-in is a useful compromise between fully electric vehicles, range-extender electric cars and ordinary hybrids.

In every other way it drives like a Prius, which means it's never going to thrill: the steering is remote, the handling competent and the ride acceptable. Fun is to be had trying to keep it running on electricity as far as possible - then finding somewhere to plug it in.

What you get for your Money:

List price of the Prius Plug-in is £32,895, but a £5,000 Government grant reduces that considerably. Still not cheap, but if you're intent on using as little fuel as possible then it's perhaps worth it - especially with the potential tax and congestion charge savings. There's only one trim level and it's highly specified, so leather seats, climate control and a touch-screen satnav system are all among the standard equipment.

Worth Noting

Toyota recommends your home electrics are checked out before plugging in - this merely precautionary given the current draw. British Gas will do a survey for free and should you need it a dedicated circuit can be added for under £400. A full charge of the car's battery takes 90 minutes, whether from a roadside charging point or a conventional three-pin plug socket. Just be sure to get your electricity from a CO₂-free source...

Toyota quotes a combined economy figure of 134.5mpg, with CO₂ of 49g/km - both obtained when in EV mode naturally.

Summary

Finally a Prius we'd have arrives, the Plug-in taking away the usual ambiguity that's present when comparing the Prius to ordinary turbodiesel alternatives. That extension lead adds a lot, turning the Prius into a far more convincing green choice rather than a compromised halfway house. Can we have ours with a round steering wheel, please?