Toyota Prius Hatchback (2015 - 2022) 1.8 VVTi Business Edition Plus 5d CVT Auto Owner Review

I previously owned a Mazda 3 diesel and although I adored the car it was extremely unreliable and managed about 43mpg. I decided to go for a hybrid to get better fuel economy but also because of the impact of diesel on the environment. I was a little concerned about choosing an electric engine as I travel long motorway journeys for my work but drive country roads in my free time so not ideal for hybrid fuel efficiency. Initially I went to the Toyota dealership looking to test drive an Auris. I have to say this probably the most comfortable car I have driven. It had all of the tech I wanted, fuel efficiency is great and I almost bought it. But I saw the Prius on the forecourt and the Auris felt like a safe, boring, grandad car. The Prius gives a smooth ride and although there is some noise on heavy acceleration on the whole it is very quiet. Performance wise it moves as swiftly as my old Mazda and has no trouble tackling the country lanes and steeps hills of Cornwall. I feel like it holds the road well and the steering is responsive. It has a lot of tech that takes a bit of getting used to. The windscreen projector for speed and fuel efficiency is really helpful as you will need to relearn your driving style to get the best mpg and this gives you a visual aid to best performance. Some of the tech I turn off as the constant beeping can be distracting - lane departure sensors in particular. If you have an iPhone it won't work in the charging doc - so annoying. It only works with phones with Qi technology unless you buy an additional adapter for your phone. The satnav is super easy to work but my maps weren't all up to date. However, the speed limit display seems to be constantly in line with roadworks etc so that's helpful. The cabin is spacious and there's a good deal of leg room in the back. The boot is much bigger than my Mazda and I can fit in 8 large bags of shopping easily. I chose the grey interior and I really like that it makes the interior seem light and airy. However, not sure how practical it is going to be, I have a feeling I may regret it in the long run. I am currently getting about 56 mpg on long journeys. About town I get about 62 mpg. If I lived in the city I think this would increase greatly as it does so much better in an urban environment. Saying that it beats my old Mazda 3 diesel hands down on all journey types. At the moment I absolutely adore this car. For me it ticks all the boxes: economical, fun to drive, environmentally considerate, loaded with useful tech and comfortable.