Toyota hybrids, like the Prius Plug-in (pictured) really are the most fuel efficient way to drive
A Which? investigation has declared that Toyota Hybrids offer the most fuel efficient option, with lower emissions, beating diesels and petrol-engined cars.
We’ve not always been fans of Hybrid cars, but it looks like Toyota has had it right all along and that hybrids really do offer an unbeatable combination of low emissions and impressive economy in the real world.
Last year, when we reviewed the latest Toyota Prius, we didn’t manage to hit the, frankly unattainable, 85mpg official economy, but even with size 11 clodhoppers looking to make maximum progress almost all the time, we still averaged nearly 60mpg.
We also managed to average nearly 70mpg in the plug-in Prius (despite hardly plugging it in) when we reviewed that last autumn, so if you’re looking for properly attainable real-world economy, and reliably low emissions, a Toyota hybrid looks the most sensible route to go. No doubt Toyota’s development of their hybrid powertrains really has delivered a very efficient package – and more desirable cars in the process.
That belief has now been confirmed by Which?, which has gone to great lengths to work out just what you should buy if you want reliably good economy and emissions, and they’ve firmly declared the Toyota hybrid is the way to go.
Which? tested 123 different cars, measuring their findings against official economy and CO2 figures, and declared that, in town driving, it was the Prius, Prius plug-in and C-HR Hybrid in the top three places. Which is pretty definitive.
Even on motorways, usually thought to be the hybrid’s nemesis, the Prius and Plug-in Prius came in second and fourth, still managing 52.3mpg and 49.6mpg respectively, and both cars were in the top three for overall economy, meaning annual fuel bills for the average owner will be just £800. That’s £180 less than the most fuel efficient diesel or petrol, and at least £400 a year less than the average.
It’s no wonder Toyota’s hybrid sales were up 40 per cent last year, and diesels are disappearing from the Toyota range.
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