23.4.2012 Toyota Prius+ is UK's most efficient MPV

Toyota will expand its hybrid technology range into new areas of the market with this summer's launch of the Prius+, Europe's first full hybrid seven-seat MPV.

The new model will combines traditional people carrier practicality with ultra-efficient performance, and will be the first mainstream Toyota hybrid to use a lighter and more compact lithium-ion battery pack.

The Prius+ will start at £26,195 on the road and can be ordered now, with customer deliveries starting in July. Two trim grades will be available, the T4 and T Spirit. The lightweight Hybrid Synergy Drive power train means that the T4 version returns 96 g/km, making it the only seven-seat car in the UK to drop below 100 g/km, and qualifying it for zero road tax and London congestion charge exemption.

The T Spirit version, with slightly higher specification and equipment, returns CO2 emissions of 101 g/km – still very low but not low enough to qualify for free road tax and congestion charge. Official combined fuel economy figures are 68.9 mpg for the T4 model and 64.2 mpg for the T Spirit.

The T4 hybrid is equipped with electric windows all round, Toyota Touch touch-screen control, Bluetooth, rear-view camera, head-up display, Smart Entry and Start, panoramic roof and automatic air conditioning.

The T Spirit hybrid offers more equipment, and features 17-inch alloys, leather upholstery Toyota Touch and Go Plus with satellite navigation, voice recognition, advanced Bluetooth and on-line connectivity, plus rain-sensing wipers and JBL audio system.

Installing the slim lithium-ion battery neatly within the centre console avoids any intrusion on the space available for rear seat passengers and for load carrying. Five separate folding rear seats are provided and with all of these in place there is 200 litres of luggage space; with the third row folded down, this figure rises to 505 litres.

Customer deliveries will begin on 9th July – the T4 will cost £26,195 and the T Spirit rises to £29,495 on the road.

Newspress