Toyota Prius confirmed for sensational UK comeback

The fifth-generation Prius was not intended intended for UK sales but Toyota has backtracked on its decision

We were shocked when Toyota said the latest Prius would not be coming to the UK, but in a surprising turn of events it’s been announced that the new car will arrive here after all. Pricing and specifications haven’t been revealed yet.

Unveiled in November 2022, the fifth-generation Prius has been available in other markets around the world since the spring. Now, a Toyota spokesman has told Auto Express: “I can confirm that the car is now coming to the UK”. 

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Toyota initially cited decreased demand as a reason for why it wouldn’t bring the new model to the UK, with the likes of the C-HR and Corolla encroaching on sales for the mid-size family car. The Prius had been especially popular for the private hire industry in the UK thanks to its focus on efficiency, but the Corolla – which offered the same powertrain as the Prius – in particular has been stealing sales in recent years. 

The latest Prius continues to offer plug-in hybrid and ‘Series Parallel Hybrid’ powertrains, with promised fuel economy of up to 217mpg and CO2 emissions as low as 29g/km. 

The new car features a sleeker exterior design, borrowing plenty of styling elements from upcoming Toyota’s bZ range of electric cars. The Prius also gets a fresh interior look, with a much larger touchscreen than before. Much of its technology has been lifted from the all-electric bZ4X. 

In Europe, Prius pricing ranges from around €45,000 to €50,000 (roughly £39,000 to £43,000). If that price translates, the Prius would be much more expensive than the Corolla, which starts from £30,225 in the UK.

Now check out our list of the most economical cars on sale right now…

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