New £38k Toyota Prius combines serious speed with massive MPG – but there’s two things that will get on your nerves

NINETY-four miles per gallon. 94mpg. No wonder Uber drivers love a Prius.

That’s real-world driving, at real world speeds, on a trip from Birmingham to Daventry.

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Not lab test figures. 

So you could say the latest Prius is quite good. 

Choose your colour and spec and that’s it. 

No options and one 2-litre engine with plug-in hybrid tech and a CVT gearbox. 

It’s the fastest Prius ever, too – beating a Ford Puma ST to the next set of lights – and it drives like someone from Toyota’s GR division took more than an interest.

If you’re new to plug-ins, Toyota’s hybrid system lets you put more lean on the engine, while still using the electric motor. 

That means you can drive down the motorway for more than ten minutes without rinsing all your battery. 

Even if you do run dry, there’s always some battery in reserve to see you right and still return up to 65mpg.

Drive on battery power alone and you’ll move for 53 miles. 

You’ll also love the dedicated washer jet for the rear-view camera when the weather turns British. 

The road noise will get on your nerves though, there’s quite a lot of it. 

As will the messages popping up telling you to sit up and look forward. I thought I was!

You’ll have to pay £39k for the top spec if you want heated (and ventilated) seats.

The cheapest Prius Design at £37k won’t spoil you with goodies either – cloth seats, small wheels with plastic trims (yes, really) and a nice big screen to help those looking for Specsavers. 

But the standard safety kit is a different story. The Prius wants for nothing in that department. 

You’ll have to pay £39k for the top spec if you want heated (and ventilated) seats. 

As for inside? Wonderfully Toyota. 

Grey on grey with more grey but it’s sleek and space-age, just like the outside. 

More importantly, there are physical buttons for you to turn up the heat.

It’s screwed together properly, pleasing to the touch and has more USB slots than seats.

I will say that 42 per cent of that drive to Daventry came from the green nozzle. 

The other 58 per cent from the yellow cable plugged into a three-pin socket at my place. That will help those headline figures. 

Toyota dependability and fuel bills from 20 years ago. 

Can’t think why we aren’t all driving them.