The Toyota Prius has already established a reputation for being one of the kindest cars for the environment. The hybrid engine is combined with other environmentally friendly features such as regenerative braking. These combine to make the Prius one of the most capable and even enjoyable cars within the eco class. What’s more, the Prius is known to be one of Toyota’s most reliable cars and the Japanese manufacturer are known to be one of the most reliable manufacturers, meaning that you should expect an extremely reliable drive.
The Prius has made its name thanks to its innovative hybrid engine which combines an electric motor with a standard engine. Typically, the electric motor will run at speeds up to 40mph before the engine kicks in. Rather than turning the wheels, the engine is used to then power the electric motor. Regenerative braking means that the car not only slows under braking but the engine reverses and uses the power created from braking to further charge the batteries.
It may not be the cheapest car to buy, thanks to the innovative technology and good looking design, but it is certainly cheap to run. Combined fuel economy figures run to around 75mpg and a single tank of fuel will carry you for as much as 700 miles or more. 86g/km emissions mean that it is exempt from road tax and the London congestion charge too.
The engine and motor combined give an output of 134bhp and this means impressive performance not only for cars with similarly green credentials but for pure petrol engines of the same 1.8litre size. You can get from 0-62mph in just over 10 seconds and the light steering makes the Prius especially well-suited to city driving, which is where owners will enjoy the greatest benefit of owning the Toyota.
The Prius has become a well-respected car, not only for its environment saving credentials but for its quality and reliability too. Toyota’s are notoriously reliable and the Prius is among the best of the bunch. Low petrol costs and exemption from various charges including road tax represent significant ongoing financial savings too.
Visit WilliamALewis.co.uk for more details on the Toyota Prius and a range of other high quality cars from the family run Shropshire based car showroom.
