Should you buy a used Toyota Prius Mk3?

Yes. As their mantra says, ‘The Car In Front Is a Toyota’. This a fair statement I think. Good to drive, lovely thorough engineering and oh so popular, the Prius also makes sense of another saying that the original is still the best. Owners and drivers adore them and even though many see them as green machines with all the character of a fridge freezer, the plain hard truth is that they are undoubtedly a runaway success.

Buy with quality in mind and not just for a sheer bargain and you’ll end up with a car that offers genuine economy, dependability and overall solid quality. Buy on the cheap and the threads will unpick very quickly. Used buyer choice is vast so take your time, don’t be embarrassed to walk away from anything you feel unsure about. The good ones are sold by nice owners and quality vendors – anything else is a waste of money.

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Honda Insight (2009-2014)

The first UK offering from Honda of a modern hybrid. Not exactly popular so choice is limited out there and many have fallen quickly into banger territory. They have a lovely well thought out interior with snazzy looking dashboard but lack the deep rooted quality feel of the Toyota.

The engine is raucous and boomy when pushed hard, and all that extra noise fails to pay off with performance – overall, the Insight feels a bit gutless.

To find out more, read the full used Honda Insight review

Vauxhall Ampera (2012-2015)

A hybrid car sadly killed off before its time thanks to GM/Groupe PSA ownership wrangling. The award-winning Ampera is a nice drive and can give a good range of over 300 miles too. Refinement is really good but the car is built for comfort and not for speed, handling is a bit ponderous and steering is lifeless.

Despite having seating for only four, the space isn’t bad though the boot is quite small. Also, despite them being some nice design touches inside and out, the interior quality lags way behind the Toyota. Manufacturer back-up since the company was taken over from GM by Groupe PSA (now Stellantis) is notably poor.

To find out more, read the full used Vauxhall Ampera review