Toyota Prius hybrid hatchback (2009-2015) - Reliability & safety
Ageing technology, but the Toyota Prius is still among the most reliable on the market
Some owners might be put off by the complexity of the Toyota Prius. But those concerns are largely unfounded, because the Prius is one of the most reliable cars on the road. Toyota knows what it’s doing with its hybrids, because the Prius is the world’s best-selling hybrid, plus it also makes hybrid versions of the Yaris and Auris, as well as a range of Lexus hybrids.
Toyota Prius reliability
The 2015 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey saw Toyota jump to finish 8th out of 32 in the manufacturer rankings. Performance has long irked owners and mid-table scores for in-car technology and build quality this year meant the company couldn't maintain its position higher up the table.
The Prius itself scored 37th place in the 2015 survey, with reliability placing an impressive 24th out of the top 200 cars. That bodes well for the slightly more complicated hybrid powertrain, and shows Toyota in a good light. Unsurprisingly, the Prius also scored a very good 14th position for running costs.
Battery life has caused some concerns, but Toyota says that the current batteries are designed to last as long as the car itself. However, if you’re in that tiny unlucky minority that has a problem, Toyota is an industry leader for customer care.
Toyota Prius safety
The Toyota Prius is safe, securing the maximum five-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash safety tests and coming fitted with driver, passenger, side, curtain and knee airbags, electronic stability control, traction control and emergency braking assistance as standard.
There are also two rear ISOFIX child-seat mounting points and a deactivation switch for the passenger airbag, which makes it safe to install a rear-facing child seat on the front seat.
All Prius models are fitted with the same safety equipment, with the exception of the T Spirit, which is the only trim in the range to offer the option of a Pre-Crash Safety System, which can apply the brakes automatically if a collision is likely.
That feature is also available as part of the £1,750 Technology Pack, which also gives you adaptive cruise control and a rear-view camera.
