Toyota Prius Hatchback (2004 - 2009) 1.5 VVTi T4 Hybrid 5d CVT Auto (2005/54) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

I'd like to think that because my car has low emissions it's says I care about our environment. I like to think I'm a responsible person and would hope my driving would reflect that.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

My friends like the car, some say it's posh. The neighbours like it because no matter what time of day or night I leave the house or arrive. The car approaches or leaves silently.

Would you buy this car again and why?

I would certainly buy this car again because of it's comfort, economy (£10 per year road tax) and for me I enjoy driving it. Last year we went to Poland in this car at Christmas. It handled the road conditions really well. Even when we had heavy winter snow I had little problem driving and it is an automatic.

What are you likely to buy next?

I don't expect I'll be buying another car at my age. If I did I would like to try the new Toyota Auris hybrid.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Didn't buy from a dealer

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£6,250

When did you buy the car?

January 2013

Did you get a good deal and why?

I had an old Honda Civic that had been knocked about quite a bit, in fact my wife had bumped the front and I repaired it with scrap parts, I did a good job on the repair but it was still a different colour. The dealer gave me a generous part-exchange/.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

I liked the idea of a hybrid car and when the 2nd generation Prius came out in 2004 I fell in love with the design. I couldn't afford a new one back then and still can't now.

What was the dealer like?

This was a used car dealer (Solo Cars - Liverpool) and he was very helpful.

What's it like to drive?

As previously stated on the motorway it's incredibly easy to drive using cruise control, you switch it on when you reach the desired speed and just steer the car. Another thing about the hybrid for anyone who's thinking about buying one. The electric mode on the Toyota Prius and any other Toyota hybrid is not just for low speeds. You'll find when yo need to accelerate say to overtake on the motorway the electric kicks in and assists the petrol engine. It's not a sports car but I'm not Jensen Button and it suits my driving. It's comfortable and fairly quiet in the cabin, usually just road noise.

What's it like to park?

Parking is standard but I don't have any sensors on mine. The new models have cameras at the rear and I've driven a Toyota Yaris with this adaptation and parking with a camera is child's play. To be honest I've never had a problem parking with any car I've driven so perhaps I shouldn't judge.

Have you had any problems with the car?

I love this car. I've had it about 3 years and had absolutely no trouble with it until last month when a squealing noise began from a wheel it was intermittent and annoying. It turned out to be a brake cylinder had seized, once freed it's been fine.

What's most practical about your car?

I love this car. I find it is very economical for the size of the car. With the hybrid technology if you're stuck in traffic, whether on the motorway or in town, your petrol consumption is reduced because it automatically switches to electric.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

I love this car. My favourite gadget is probably the cruise control. I never realised what pain keeping your foot on the gas to maintain speeds was, especially on the motorway when there are roadworks or variable speed limits. I never exceed them in this car using cruise control.