Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius has become the poster boy of the whole hybrid movement. This is thanks to its adoption by some fairly high-profile celebrity customers - Cameron Diaz and Leonardo DiCaprio to name just two.

There's nothing sexy about the Prius though, unless you get turned on by low CO2 emissions (its 104g/km even betters the Honda Civic's ultra low 109g/km) and low fuel consumption (a claimed 65.7mpg on the Combined Cycle), which, let's face it, is becoming more the case.

Elsewhere, the Prius is a distinctive family hatch with room for small families. Its interior may be a little strange for buyers used to conventional cars, but it's a cinch to drive. As well as low fuel bills, owners can drive in and out of the congestion-charging zone in London without filling Ken Livingstone's coffers. We would expect to see many more cars like the Prius come to market in the next few years, but Toyota has certainly got a head start on most of them, Honda aside.

Tuesday March 27