New Toyota Prius WILL come to the UK: price, specs and release date

The latest Toyota Prius will be sold in the UK after all. Toyota GB has decided to officially import the new fifth-generation hybrid and plug-in hybrid hatchback, a year after saying the Prius would no longer be sold on British shores because of low demand.

The 2024 Toyota Prius is a sleek rival to a growing number of hybrid cars, including the Honda Civic, Nissan Qashqai e-Power, the Kia Niro range and Toyota’s own Corolla.

Indeed, partly because of the success of the Corolla, Toyota initially elected not to import the new Prius into the UK. But it’s now U-turned on that decision and the Prius will be with us in July 2024. It will be sold exclusively in new Toyota Prius Plug-in PHEV guise. 

New Toyota Prius price and release date

The new Toyota Prius Plug-in opens for ordering in the UK on 4 March 2024. First deliveries are scheduled to begin in July 2024. 

The new Toyota Prius Plug-in will be offered in two versions, called Design and Excel. The new Toyota Prius Plug-in Design costs £37,315, and the Excel costs £39,995. 

Standard equipment on the new Toyota Prius Plug-in Design includes 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, dual-zone climate control with nanoe-X air quality system and Toyota Smart Connect+ infotainment. Excel adds 19-inch alloys, power front seats with heating and ventilation, and an electric tailgate. 

New Toyota Prius: exterior and interior

The new Toyota Prius has a radical new exterior that brings back the ‘monoform’ style of the popular second- and third-generation models. It contrasts with the quirky saloon-style looks of the outgoing car.

The new Prius has a wide and low stance, with standard 19-inch wheels giving it a muscular appearance. The front end is distinctive, with ultra-slim LED lights and minimal air intakes to improve its aerodynamic efficiency. Toyota calls it a ‘hammerhead shark’ design.

At the side, the new Toyota Prius has clean, simple lines, including a distinctive window silhouette and an elegant crease that starts at the bottom of the front doors, stretches up through the rear doors and blends into the rear bumper. The sleek, ultra-efficient profile helps maximise its wind-cheating properties.

At the rear, the new Toyota Prius has combination LED lights that sweep from left to right. They too are nearly integrated into the rear bumper. The car also carries distinctive ‘Prius’ lettering on the rear hatch.

The new Toyota Prius has a standard solar roof, which the firm says will generate the equivalent power to drive more than 750 miles a year. It can even power the car’s air conditioning system when parked.

A more modern interior includes a distinctive head-up-style digital driver’s display. As with previous generations, there’s a large touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard, and it’s neatly inlaid with ambient lighting.

The new Toyota Prius is fitted with the first Toyota illuminated warning system. This is linked to the Toyota Safety Sense system, and alerts the driver to detected obstacles via flashing lights, ahead of any audible warnings. It creates ‘a more reassured driving experience,’ says Toyota.

The Prius is offered in eight different paint colours, including two new solid shades: Ash and Mustard. The interior uses black tones throughout, with contrast stitching.

New Toyota Prius: engines and gearboxes

The new Toyota Prius is made in both Series Parallel Hybrid (HEV) and Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) guises. 

Here in the UK, the new Toyota Prius Plug-in is the plug-in hybrid version and the only version we're getting. It’s the first time the 2.0-litre engine has been combined with a plug-in hybrid setup, delivering 223PS and 0-62mph in just 6.7 seconds. This makes it the fastest Toyota Prius ever.

The new Toyota Prius PHEV has an EV driving range around 50 percent greater than the old model. A 13.6kWh rechargeable battery gives an electric range of almost 55 miles. It boasts CO2 emissions from just 12g/km, the lowest yet for a Prius. 

The new Toyota Prius PHEV’s battery is now located under the rear seat, instead of in the boot. This gives it a much larger luggage capacity, addressing one of the complaints about the outgoing Toyota Prius Plug-in. It also now allows owners to use the air conditioning system while plugged in, for more comfortable recharging time.

The new Toyota Prius is based on a second generation of the Toyota TNGA platform. This has sophisticated suspension that should deliver improved driving dynamics. The car is also equipped with both front- and rear-facing Toyota Safety Sense cameras, which store recordings on the car’s ECU rather than less convenient SD cards.

Find a used Toyota Prius for sale

The fourth-generation Toyota Prius still looks quirky and distinctive. Prices for this model of used Prius start from around £14,500 on heycar. We spotted a 2016 Business Edition model, with around 44,000 miles on the clock, on sale for £15,249. This generation of Toyota Prius is also available in plug-in hybrid guise, although they are rarer. 

The Toyota Prius+ is an MPV-style version of the regular car, with a roomier interior and more practical boot.

• Find a used Toyota Prius for sale

Looking for more new car news?

We have all the latest 2024 new car news on upcoming models. The new Hyundai Ioniq 6 is an exciting all-electric alternative to the new Toyota Prius range, which we have covered in full here at heycar. Meanwhile, the new MINI Cooper petrol and new MINI Cooper Electric offer two takes on the famous retro small car.