The Verdict: Toyota Prius

SPECIFICATIONS

Price: £17,495-£19,995
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol plus electric motor, 112bhp
Performance: 106mph, 0-60 in 10.9 seconds, 65.7mpg
CO2: 104g/km
Worth considering: Honda Civic IMA, LPG conversion, public transport, bicycle

SPECIFICATIONS

Price: £17,495-£19,995
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol plus electric motor, 112bhp
Performance: 106mph, 0-60 in 10.9 seconds, 65.7mpg
CO2: 104g/km
Worth considering: Honda Civic IMA, LPG conversion, public transport, bicycle

Toyota's continued commitment to a proper, mass-market, petrol-electric hybrid saloon is not as foolhardy or as altruistic as it might appear.

First of all there is the priceless publicity the all-new Prius MkII has received via the endorsement of numerous Hollywood celebrities who chose to demonstrate their sensitive sides by being chauffeured in Priuses to the Oscars last month (although, one can't help feeling that if they really cared about the environment they would have taken the bus, or better still walked).

Secondly, Toyota has built a car that can compete with normally-powered rivals on most fronts, bar price. It may still be more expensive than similarly sized petrol and diesel-fuelled saloons, but this is not just a token gesture to keep the bush botherers from their door; this is a genuine attempt at a viable, long-term solution to pollution.

This is how it works, or rather, this is what I have been led to believe happens (though they could have told me it was powered by fairies and I would have believed them): when you press the Prius's starter button nothing seems to be happening. Look more closely and you notice a busy LCD display telling you the electric motor has been switched on.

Give the accelerator a firm shove and, silently, you begin to move. In a second or two, the petrol engine takes over the work. Stop and it switches off, and all is silent again. The battery recharges when you lift off the gas, or when you brake. Other than that, it drives, handles and performs pretty much like any other, slightly underpowered medium-sized saloon.

The Prius appeals on several different levels. Firstly, as a competent, albeit none-too-edifying, family saloon, with adequate accommodation for five adults plus a decent boot (a failing of previous hybrids, as space was gobbled by batteries the size of suitcases), and a usefully high driving position.

Secondly, this is impressively well-made; the interior is one of the finest to come from the East. Thirdly, it makes owners feel both clever and virtuous -- clever because by owning this you are an "early adopter", basking in the glow of the white heat of technology, and virtuous because it allows you to admonish fields of cows for their ozone-corroding wind as you pass by emitting your paltry 104g of CO2 per kilometre.

This is the car at least one manufacturer had to make eventually. Though I suspect that its accountants may be grumbling in the short term, Toyota should be very proud that it did it first.

Danny Altmann, 45, immunologist, and son Ethan, eight, from north London
Usual car: Ford Galaxy and Nissan Micra

Danny: "My first thought is about milk floats and bumper cars. You have that feeling of not quite being in control, that there is a man in a booth starting and stopping it! The display is terribly busy; it is so distracting. On the plus side it is so smooth and quiet. A hybrid that is kinder to the environment does appeal, but this is too expensive. I am not mad about the looks. I doubt if it will break into the mainstream."

Ethan: "It drives really smoothly and there are lots of little pockets in it. I quite like Toyotas."

Paul Fox, 48, director, from central London
Usual car: Nissan Primera

"It was great fun, very smooth and quiet and manoeuvrable. It accelerated much better than I thought it would. All in all, much better than I expected. I liked the comfort, particularly all the spaces for cassettes and things. I don't like the looks, it is not pretty, and it is not even peculiar in an interesting way. It is a shame that saving the planet should be so expensive, so I think only earnest, sensible people would buy them. It is unattractive for young people or anyone remotely cool. It is a shame they didn't make it more interesting. It doesn't even say 'I am saving the planet', all it says is 'I have got a really dull car'."

Dave Raval, 34, management consultant and Lib Dem parliamentary candidate, from east London
Usual car: VW Lupo GTi

"I would pay the extra for this; it is worth it for the environmental benefits. It looks very good and as with all Toyotas it is very well made. I would guess more women than men will buy them: it is big enough to be a family car. It drives just like any normal car. I am an engineer so I loved all the gadgets. The only problem was that when I tried the electric vehicle mode it kept cutting back into petrol power after just a couple of minutes -- which was a bit annoying. Other than that, all cars should be powered this way. The Government should do more to encourage these."

*If you would like to take part, please write to The Verdict, Features Department, Independent House, 191 Marsh Wall, London E14 9RS, giving your age, address and contact telephone number, and details of the type of vehicle, if any, you drive. For most cars, participants must be over 26 and have a clean licence

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