The next-generation Toyota Prius has been awarded WhatGreenCar's Car of the Year award, prior to it hitting UK streets on 1 August.
The car was selected from a shortlist of ten cars, including the the Citroen C1 ev’ie electric, Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric, Toyota iQ, Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, third-generation Toyota Prius hybrid, Volvo S40/V50 DRIVe start-stop, new Honda Insight hybrid, VW Passat BlueMotion 2, BMW 318d saloon, and the Citroen C3 Picasso.
The Prius won praise for its 'dust-to-dust' environmental credentials and integration of green features as part of its design.
"If Apple made a car, it would probably be the third generation Prius," said Dr Ben Lane, Managing Editor of WhatGreenCar.
The new Prius boasts combined fuel economy of 72.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 89g/km – a 14 per cent improvement over the current model, which launched in the UK in 2004.
In EV mode, the Prius can be driven as a pure electric vehicle as the battery allows, while the new model incorporates plant-based bioplastics for its interior components and a solar roof that powers aircon.
Miguel Fonseca, Managing Director of Toyota GB PLC said “It is a great honour to receive this award for the next Prius. Particularly as the judges recognise the car’s low, whole life environmental impact. From materials procurement through production, to in use fuel saving and even end of life recyclability, Prius sets the benchmark for all other cars to match.“
The judging panel also highly commended the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, new Honda Insight hybrid, and BMW 318d saloon with DPF.
The new Prius is on sale from 1 August, priced from £18,370 on the road.