Skip advert
Advertisement

Toyota Prius+

Seven-seat version of the big-selling Toyota Prius arrives in Britain – and we've driven it

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your Toyota Prius
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

Efficient, well built and practical, the Prius+ delivers precisely what large families need. It’s unexciting to drive, mainly due to the whining CVT gearbox, but drive gently and refinement and ride are both excellent. At £29,495 the top-spec T Spirit model isn’t cheap, which is why we’d recommend you save yourself £3,300 and stick with the cheaper T4 model – you’ll get the benefits of sub-100g/km emissions, too.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Toyota Prius+ is the only seven-seater in the world to achieve sub-100g/km CO2 emissions, and for some eco-conscious families that will be enough. But how does the rest of the package stack up against more conventional MPV rivals? We drove it in the UK to find out.

The first thing that strikes you is its size – it’s 155mm longer (80mm of which comes from an extended wheelbase), 30mm wider and 85mm higher than the Prius, but as it shares styling cues and a similar aerodynamic silhouette, it doesn’t look as large as it should. But Toyota is keen to stress this isn’t only a standard car pulled in every direction; it’s an entirely new model.

An advantage of a clean-sheet design is that you can shuffle the vital components around to improve packaging. The Prius+ is therefore the first Prius outside of the Plug-in to use smaller, lighter lithium-ion batteries, which slot under the second row of seats, with no impact on interior space.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

C3 Aircross

2020 Citroen

C3 Aircross

43,500 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £8,600
View C3 Aircross
Kuga

2023 Ford

Kuga

16,010 milesAutomaticPetrol2.5L

Cash £21,500
View Kuga
Golf

2024 Volkswagen

Golf

30,377 milesManualPetrol1.5L

Cash £16,000
View Golf
GLB

2022 Mercedes

GLB

42,191 milesAutomaticPetrol1.3L

Cash £27,000
View GLB

All five rear seats fold down individually, while the second row slides back and forth, too. This is a genuine seven-seater, so even average-sized adults can squeeze into the third row, but in reality it’s better suited to kids.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Boot space is a measly 200 litres with all seven seats in place, but fold the third row and that increases to 505 litres, while there’s 1,750 litres of space with the second row folded flat. That’s some way behind the 2,297 litres offered by the SEAT Alhambra, but useful nonetheless. A boot opening that’s 95mm wider than the Prius is a handy feature, too.

Powering the Prius+ is the same hybrid powertrain as the standard car, where a 98bhp petrol engine and 81bhp electric motor combine to give 134bhp. There’s nothing wrong with how it accelerates, especially in the more responsive power mode, as the electric motor’s boosting effect means plenty of torque. But the noisy CVT gearbox is annoying.

There is an upside, though, as any more than quarter-throttle produces such an awful whine it encourages you to drive it smoothly and steadily – precisely what the Prius+ is good at.

Entry-level T4 models are £26,195, and produce 96g/km, while standard kit includes a rear-view camera, head-up display and a panoramic roof. Our test car was a top-spec T Spirit, which adds luxuries like leather, sat-nav and 17-inch alloys. But it costs £29,495, and CO2 creeps over the 100g/km road tax threshold.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £5,924 off RRP*Used from £12,050
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £4,935 off RRP*Used from £13,078
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £23,990Avg. savings £2,192 off RRP*
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £11,995
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Renault 5 Monte Carlo Edition pays homage to the Clio Williams
Renault 5 Monte Carlo Edition - front

Renault 5 Monte Carlo Edition pays homage to the Clio Williams

The Renault 5 Monte Carlo Edition has been created by Dutch company Re-volve and is limited to just 25 units
News
16 Jul 2025
New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment
Xiaomi YU7 - front cornering

New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment

BMW or Mercedes would do anything to keep the new Xiaomi YU7 from sale in the UK and Europe, and this is why
Road tests
14 Jul 2025
Range Rover's secret mid-size EV: Inside its £500m factory
Halewood factory - Phil with Range Rover outside

Range Rover's secret mid-size EV: Inside its £500m factory

We take an exclusive look inside JLR’s revamped Liverpool site as the brand gears up for EV production
Features
18 Jul 2025