Toyota has announced the fifth generation Prius will finally arrive on Britain’s roads this summer, with prices starting at £37,315. The company has U-turned after initially deciding to not sell the model in the UK when it was launched for other markets in 2022. 

For now, there are two versions of the Prius on offer; the Design spec - priced at £37,315 - features 17-inch wheels and includes dual-zone aircon, parking sensors and Toyota’s Smart Connect+ multimedia system as standard, while the premium Excel version comes with 19-inch wheels, power-adjustable front seats, a digital rear-view mirror and a powered boot on top of the standard offering, at a price of £39,955.

The hybrid will be powered by a 2.0 litre plug-in system, which will deliver a maximum of 220bhp - a massive improvement on the 120bhp of the previous generation Prius. The new model features a 13.6kWh battery, giving a purely-EV range of 53.4 miles - up from 34 miles in the old car. When in use with the hybrid system, the car has an emissions rating of 12g/km. 

The Uber drivers’ favourite is said to feature improved balance and handling; the EV battery has been placed under the rear seat and the fuel tank shifted lower and further forward, which together with a reduction in weight and an increase in rigidity provide for a more stable and agile ride over the previous model, say Toyota.

A sleeker look has been applied to the fifth generation Prius, with the roof height being lowered by 50mm and the wheelbase being lengthened by 50mm. However, the overall length of the car has been shortened by 46mm.

Toyota says the new Prius will be available to order from 4th March, and deliveries are scheduled to begin in July. 

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