Toyota Prius 2020 review: i-Tech

The exterior of the car is modern, something to do with the aerodynamics to maximise the hybrid power unit. It curves down at the front and tapers up at the back.

It looks fine but it’s not the most attractive of cars. Still, that’s not why you’re looking at a Prius, so it factors less in your decision making.

Inside is just a bit odd. The digital dash is in the centre of the car, high up, just under the windscreen. So there’s nothing in front of the steering wheel, it’s dead space.

It’s not super functional compared with other cars that have everything you need to see directly in your eye-line. It does have a head-up display with your speed in the windscreen, but for all that hybrid information you have to keep looking left.

The seats are leather-appointed and they look and feel good, the steering wheel is nice under the hands, but the design overall feels dated.

Inside is just a bit odd. The digital dash is in the centre of the car, high up, just under the windscreen. (image: Dean McCartney)

The Prius isn’t huge, however it’s not a super small car either, and is perfect to drive around suburbia or the inner city thanks to its size.

The front is quite spacious with enough leg and headroom for the taller members of my family, and also a good amount of room width wise to be comfortable in the front.

As it stands, the boot has 343L of space and I could fit a pram in there. (image: Dean McCartney)

Dropping the back seats really opened the whole boot up to 1633L and I was able to fit all the boxes I needed inside. (image: Dean McCartney)

There was plenty of space in the back seat for my two children and I could easily fit back there at 161cm (5'3"). There’s enough room between my knees and the seat in front to fit taller adults and the whole car feels roomy.

The boot is an odd shape because of the sloping roof line and I was concerned it wouldn’t fit a whole load of boxes I needed to get in.

As it stands, the boot has 343L of space and I could fit a pram in there. Dropping the back seats really opened the whole boot up to 1633L and I was able to fit all the boxes I needed inside.

There was plenty of space in the back seat for my two children and I could easily fit back there at 161cm (5'3"). (image: Dean McCartney)

In this top-of-the-range Prius i-Tech model the front seats are power adjustable and there is keyless entry. The park brake is a foot brake which always throws me a little but is easy enough to use when you get used to it.

There are two cupholders in the front, a spot for keys and a phone that also houses a wireless charger, a centre storage bin and bottle holders in the doors.

Rear passengers get two cupholders in the centre armrest and bottle holders in the doors.

In this i-Tech model you’ll get the full spectrum of safety - lane departure alert, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, active cruise control and auto emergency braking.

You’ll also get seven airbags plus two ISOFIX points and three top-tether points for kids car seats. The Prius was ANCAP tested in 2015 and scored a full five stars.

The Toyota Prius i-Tech costs $45,350, before on-road costs. Fuel consumption is a claimed 3.4L/100km, which is very low thanks to the hybrid set-up, and I did 3.2L/100km this week.

It’s covered by Toyota’s five year/unlimited km warranty and the battery is covered for 10 years as long as you undertake your annual inspection - check in with your dealer about this.

Servicing is required every six months/10,000 km but it is a low cost $140 service.