This week, the new and ultra-efficient Toyota Prius Plug-in hybrid is launching to the UK’s reviewers, road testers and motoring writers.
We’ll be bringing you more for the event this week, and we’ll report back on the reviews as they come in so you can find out all about the car from the independent experts.
To coincide with the launch, we asked for your questions about the car, and we can now bring you the answers.
Read on for all you need to know about the Prius Plug-in – and don’t forget to leave us a comment below if your question hasn’t been answered yet.
How does the Prius Plug-in work?
The Prius Plug-in is what we term a PHEV, or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. It uses a development of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive system that combines a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with a 1.8-litre petrol engine to deliver smooth, refined and ultra-efficient driving and incredible economy.
The lithium-ion battery means it can drive approximately 15.5 miles purely on electric power, meaning low running costs and zero emissions.
What is the range of the Prius Plug-in?
The electric-only range of the Prius Plug-in is approximately 15.5 miles, enabling typical commuter journeys to be accomplished with zero tailpipe emissions. Thanks to the hybrid powertrain’s petrol engine, Prius Plug-in is equally able to accomplish long distance trips.
Once the car has reached the limit of its EV driving range, it automatically operates in full hybrid mode, with the petrol engine coming into play. This means there is none of the concern about whether the car can reach its destination without running out of power – the ‘range anxiety’ that is typically associated with full electric vehicles.
How much does the Toyota Prius Plug-in cost?
Prices for the Toyota Prius Plug-in start at £32,895 on the road, but this falls to £27,895 with the benefit of the £5,000 Government grant available on new plug-in vehicle purchases, provided through the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV).
What is the CO2 emissions figure of the Prius Plug-in?
The Prius Plug-in achieves a new low benchmark in its class with official CO2 emissions of 49g/km, way below the 100g/km threshold for UK road tax (VED).
What are the fuel consumption figures of the Prius Plug-in?
Official combined mpg figures are 78.5mpg in HV (hybrid vehicle) mode. When you drive solely in EV (electric vehicle) mode, the Prius Plug-in uses no fuel. However, official figures been calculated for EV mode using a standard testing cycle which takes the average from one run with a fully charged battery and a second run with a depleted battery.
Do I need to charge the Prius Plug-in?
Not necessarily. If the Prius Plug-in’s battery is not charged, it simply performs as a ‘standard’ Toyota hybrid vehicle, using the engine and/or the electric motor depending on the driving conditions and battery state of charge.
However, charging the battery does ensure the highest levels of efficiency and zero-emissions driving, particularly in stop-start or low-speed conditions, so we recommend regular charging.
What happens when the EV battery on Prius Plug-in runs out of charge?
The car automaticlaly switches to HV (hybrid vehicle) mode and runs as a standard Toyota Hybrid, just like the normal Prius.
[youtube width=”580″ height=”400″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVe_-bps7hw[/youtube]What do I need to charge the Toyota Prius Plug-in?
The Prius Plug-in comes with a dedicated charging cable, which fits under the boot floor. This plugs into a standard domestic socket, but we recommend an isolated charge point is installed to protect against overloading your home’s system. Toyota’s recommended supplier of electric car charging points in British Gas, who will provide a free site survey to our customers. British Gas says it can supply a charging point for as little as £375 – find out more on the Toyota website. Buyers are not obliged to use British Gas.
How long does it take to fully recharge the Prius Plug-in?
Around 1.5 hours using a standard 240V electrical supply.
How long is the EV battery warranty?
The EV battery has a warranty of eight years. The Prius Plug-in benefits from the standard five-year Toyota Warranty.
What is the battery life of the Prius Plug-in?
The lithium-ion battery is designed to last the life of the vehicle.
How much heavier is the battery pack from the regular Prius?
The Lithium-ion battery in the Prius Plug-in weighs 80kg, the Nickel-Metal Hydride battery of the Prius weighs 42kg.
Does the EV battery take away space from the passenger compartment or luggage capacity?
Luggage capacity above the floor is only 2 litres smaller in the Prius Plug-in than in Prius, at 443 litres (compared with 446 litres for Prius). Below the floor, space is smaller – 40.5 litres vs. 48 litres. Total load volume increases to 1,120 litres when the rear seats are folded.
These figures were measured by the VDA method.
What is the fuel tank capacity of the Prius Plug-in?
45 litres.
What is the 0-62mph time of the Toyota Prius Plug-in?
The 0-62mph time is 11.4 seconds. Top speed is 112mph.
How does the Prius Plug-in compare with the Prius in terms of performance?
The top speeds of the two cars are the same, at 112mph. The Prius has a 0-62mph time of 10.4 seconds, one second quicker than the Prius Plug-in.
Does the Prius Plug-in have a spare wheel?
The Prius Plug-in comes with a tyre repair kit to save weight.
Is DAB digital radio available on the Prius Plug-in?
DAB digital radio is available as a dealer-fit option.
Does the Prius Plug-in have Adaptive Cruise Control?
The Prius Plug-in has cruise control as standard. Adaptive Cruise Control is not available.
Can I pre-heat the interior of the Prius Plug-in before using it?
Pre-heating is not available on Prius Plug-in. This is because the car’s air conditioning is coordinated with the standard front seat heaters. This enables the system to reach a comfortable temperature for the driver and passenger more quickly and effectively, further improving efficiency.
When does the Prius Plug-in go on sale?
The Toyota Prius Plug-in is arriving in UK showrooms now (July 2012).
How can I book a test drive?
You can book a test drive in the Toyota Prius Plug-in on the Toyota UK website.
How can I read a brochure for the Toyota Prius Plug-in?
You can read the online eBrochure or order a paper brochure on the Toyota website, or find out more about the car here.
Could you clarify the answer re charging points please.
All charging points I have located via the web that use a Mennekes 7 pin say that are quick chargers; does this mean that its safe to connect the Prius to one of these connection points and that it will charge at the slow (ie 3 pin) rate even though it could deliver 32 amps?
Hello Peter
Thanks for the post.
You can charge Prius Plug-in from the quick chargers you mention, you may be aware fast charging is not necessary for Prius Plug-in so it will simply charge at its normal amp rate.
Hope this helps.
I received this answer as an attachment to an email from Toyota yesterday.
Our ref 642774
27 December 2013
Dear Mr Carroll jccarroll@screaming.net
Thank you for your email dated 24 December 2013.
Please refer to the Toyota website for information and guidance on the Toyota Touch in your Toyota Prius Plug-in.
I have included the link below for your convenience. This area of the website includes, ‘how to videos’ and ‘frequently asked questions’ relating to the Touch system.
http://www.toyota.co.uk/owners-info/touch-and-go
I trust this information is useful to you.
Yours sincerely
Claire Rowley
Customer Relations Executive
I am puzzled by the response, because I did not send an email, I asked a question on this blog and expected it to be answered here. Further, the response given does address the question that I asked, so it is pretty disapointing.
The relevant question, to which I would still like an answer, arises as follows:-
Kerry Sainsbury says:
August 15, 2013 at 11:48
Hi Andy,
Sorry for the confusion, my mistake.
Software version 2.8.4 is now available via the customer portal but is not currently available on the dealer system, we suggest downloading from the portal. We also suggest downloading this version and seeing if this software update fixes your original problem. If not, please do come back to us or you’re welcome to show your Dealer the issue, and they’ll be able to advise.
Hope this helps.
Reply
Chris Carroll says:
December 24, 2013 at 23:47
Having read the answer from Kerry Sainsbury I have twice looked on the Portal for the software update of which she speaks. I cannot however find the update. Has it been removed or is it hidden somewhere.
Happily I have now discovered the answer for myself. Today I took the time to download the European Map update – lo and behold, at the end of that update I discovered that the device software version had also been updated to version 2.8.4
So, the software update happens automatically when an application update is initiated.
Will Toyota consider a quick clear front windscreen for the Toyota Prius Plug In?
Hi Vincent
Thanks for your post.
We do consider the feedback we receive from owners as without it we could not improve our vehicles for the future. We undertake regular product reviews and such comments are sent back to the vehicle product team. We will pass this on for you and thanks again for your comment.
I am about to take delivery of my new Prius Plug-in on 1 Mar 2014 and have been ‘sussing out’ local public charging points. The first one I looked at had a seven-pin socket (Type 2?) yet I believe the car comes only with a standard UK 13A plug. Reading around, it would appear that the Type 2 socket is the European standard and so – I presume – is widespread on public charging points. Why does Toyota not provide such a connector as standard?
I see from an earlier post that I can buy an additional Type 2 cable from a Toyota dealer. Is this still the case and, if so, what is the part number and price?
Hi Geoffrey
Thanks for your post and good to hear about your Plug-in Prius.
Our product team have confirmed that Prius Plug-in has the three pin socket cable only as standard. We took the decision to supply this lead only because market research told us that the majority of Plug-in owners would be using home charging for their car. For those owners that require the seven pin (Mennekes Type 2) lead then we do offer this as an accessory item. The part number is G9060-47360 and the cost is £549.97 including VAT.
Hope this helps.
Why is the Toyota cable twice the price of the third party cable I bought, which is rated 16v and therefore does work with Podpoint and, indeed, every other public charging point I’ve used…
Thanks for the prompt response regarding a charging cable with Mennekes (7 pin) connector. I bought one at the eye-watering price quoted, but now find it will not work in Podmaster public charging points because (according to Podmaster),
‘Our technical team have informed me that our charging points do not support 10A cables, we support 16A and 32A. Typical Prius vehicles come with a 10A cable with a Mennekes connector…’
I would appreciate Toyota’s comment, in particular with regard to incompatibility with other public charging points.
Hi Geoffrey
Thank you for your post and we would like to look into this further. Can you clarify the charging posts involved? There is Chargemaster or Podpoint. Our cable only requires 10A because Prius Plug-in does not require fast charging (which would be associated with higher amp cables). This could be explained if they are fast charging points. Let us know and we will investigate further for you.
Can you sell me a plug-in Prius with a spare wheel? I won’t buy a car without one, since “repair kits” simply don’t work on many types of tyre failure, and then the car is stranded.
Hi Jerry
Thank you for your post.
Prius Plug-in does not have a spare wheel well which is why it is supplied with a tyre repair kit. The only option would be for a spare to be fitted within within the boot itself but this would take up book space and we have not developed this accessory. The standard Toyota Prius comes with a space saver spare wheel though.
Sorry that reply is not more positive but thank you for your question.
With regard to the problems of using the accessory 10A charging cable with Mennekes plug at public charging stations, I am unable to use it at any Podpoint stations (apologies for the mix up). This is contrary to your earlier post of 3 October 2013 to another customer, which stated,
“…you can charge Prius Plug-in from the quick chargers you mention, you may be aware fast charging is not necessary for Prius Plug-in so it will simply charge at its normal amp rate…”
I have tried three separate public locations in my area so far, all Podpoint.
I had a lengthy and credible discussion with Podpoint’s design engineer, who stated that their (16A or higher) charging stations test the cable’s resistance on connection and, if it is not a 16A-rated cable, will not supply the power even if the car is only going to take 10A. This is a safety feature to prevent potential overheating and fire. Moreover, Podpoint’s engineer stated that the problem is likely to arise with 90% of all other (non Podpoint) public charging points that use a Mennekes connector. I have not been able to check my cable with Chargemaster or other charging networks, because I do not yet have the necessary access cards, but Podpoint itself has a not insignificant network in the UK, not just in my area (Bath). The solution that the engineer recommended was to buy a 16A-rated cable of appropriate approved standard from an independent supplier.
In summary, the accessory that Toyota supplies (at a vast price) is unfit for purpose with at least one major public charging point network in the UK, with a high probability of it being unusable on others too. In the circumstance, I am sure you will understand my grievance and my request to return the cable for a full refund in accordance with Sale of Goods Act 1979.
Hello Geoffrey
Thanks for your post.
We are going to refer this matter to our CR team and ask them to get in touch. We need to investigate this further with our technical team and Podpoint. Prius Plug-in will only take the energy it requires so as the car charges the amp draw reduces (from 10 amp but after an hour would drop to 2).
They will be in further contact.
Is it possible to fit a tow bar to a plug in Prius? I don’t want to tow anything, but I do want to fit a tow bar mounted bike rack.
Hi Nick
Thanks for your post.
Our accessories team are able to help here, for Prius Plug-in, we offer an EasyClick bike holder that can be fitted to the back of the car. It has a Prius specific bracket that performs the same function as the tow bar, (but only as far as carrying bikes is concerned as Prius Plug-in cannot tow). In order to fit this, you need the following part numbers:
Bracket: PZ408-G0690-60
Bike Holder: PZ408-00695-00
Wiring kit: PZ457-G0562-00
All these parts can be ordered through your local Toyota dealer.
Hope this helps.
Many thanks for the prompt reply. Unfortunately the bike rack you mention has a weight limit that’s too low for our electric bikes. Thule make several tow bar mounted racks that would be suitable, but without a tow ball, presumably there is no way to fit them to a Prius. Is that correct?
Hi Nick
Have double checked this for you and unfortunately you are correct. The weight limit is defined by the bracket and what it can comfortably support, as opposed to the strength of the bike carrier itself. There is no other solution for the mounting of the bikes on the rear as tow bar-mounted racks are only capable of carrying as much weight as the underlying tow bar (or bracket) permits.
Hope this helps clarify.
Hi David, I should have mentioned it is a 2015 Yaris. Thanks Phil
Hi Philip,
Thank you for your post. We have passed this to our accessories team and we will respond when we have an answer for you shortly. Many thanks.
I got the plugin and although its a great car, for a car that costs Top Pounds we have a little bit of disappointment. There are some little things which starts annoy both my wife and myself with thw car and I will explain.
Paying top cash for the car we would have expected to get:
– Auto Dimming mirror
– keep the Navigation function on the HUD
– have the ability to automatically fold the mirrors when the car is locked
– Solar roof even as an option
I raise these as I had them in my previous prius and I truly miss these.
To the extend that now with only 15k miles on the clock with repeated answers from dealers that we can not add first two items on the list we put the car for sale.
Guys, yes you, the decisions makers, what were you thinking. I spoke with my dealer it seems that 4 out of 5 customers who gave back or sold their Plugins was due to the ” disappointment in the missing detais” the words of your own sales guys.
Hi Raviv,
Thanks for your post and apologies for any frustration caused by the specification changes.
– For various reasons the auto dimming mirrors are unavailable.
– The reason your vehicle no longer includes the HUD feature is due to a NAVI upgrade applied to the latest Prius. Although this recent system has been improved in a number of ways, unfortunately the HUD functionality has not been included.
– For various reasons retractable mirrors are no longer included.
– The solar roof is still available as an optional extra on the T spirit grade Prius.
We appreciate your feedback and will pass your comments on to the product team responsible. If you would like to follow this up further, please feel free to contact Customer relations here: http://po.st/O3vN72
Hope this helps.
Interesting. If the door mirrors on the latest Prius no longer retract the car will not pass through my garage doorway. That excludes me from ever buying another. – I made it a condition of purchase that the mirrors must retract. – Seems that Toyota is keen to downgrade the specification for what is already quite an expensive car. – My Plugin Prius has been excellent so far, it has only done just over 4000 miles, so full judgement is not possible. However the drivers carpet, a Toyota Extra has almost worn through at the heel position already. Not fit for purpose !
Hi Tobi,
Thanks for the answer. Still, you still didn’t answer the questions, as the below isnt really an answer. what ARE the reasons ???
– For various reasons the auto dimming mirrors are unavailable – WHY ?
– For various reasons retractable mirrors are no longer included – WHY ?
– The solar roof is still available as an optional extra on the T spirit grade Prius – WHY not with the plugin ?
We still own the car, great car for the AuPair – really cheap to run, but really num and not spoiling for its price. We decided to try other models …
The Mrs drives the Mitsubish PHEV for the Mrs and I drive a Tesla ; What a difference.
Hi Raviv. Thanks for getting back in touch. We’re sorry you’re disappointed with the specification of your Prius Plug-in, but it is a very different car under the hood compared to the standard Prius. For example, the solar roof is not an option because the technology is incompatible with the plug-in system. Furthermore, the way the Prius Plug-in is set up to handle up to 15 miles on an EV range means Toyota’s designers had to change certain aspects, due to cost, compatibility and making EV travel a priority. Thanks again for getting in touch.
I do support the complaint re lack of HUD;in general I think the satnav system has slowly got worse. Re mirrors they are retractable but you have to push a button to retract them (on the plug in at least)