CompleteCar

Two new Toyota Prius

Toyota applies Prius name to new MPV and hatchback - possibly only for US.

What is it?

It is a pair of new Toyota Prius, little and large. The Prius C Concept is a Yaris sized supermini and the V Concept is a Verso sized MPV. And while you'd think the pair would fit swimmingly into Toyota's Irish line-up, you'd be wrong; you'd be jamming a two-pin plug into a three-pin socket.

Why's it here?

America loves the Prius - Toyota has shifted ten million there and counting - so expanding the range is a no-brainer. The C will appeal to younger drivers and probably have a smaller engine than the 1.8-litre found in the Prius, thus providing huge range with nip-and-tuck driving dynamics.

And in America there's no such thing as the Verso, so a people carrying Prius is another winner (albeit it doesn't have the Verso's extra pair of seats). Europe probably won't see these cars, though, because Toyota is already planning a hybrid Yaris. And a less practical Verso rival with economy little better than the Verso diesel make no sense at all. 

Show stopper or floor filler?

The Prius C concept looks lovely - we'll give it that - but in Ireland, where we're not quite so in love with Toyota's green machine, this pair are something of an American sideshow.

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Published on January 11, 2011