Toyota’s all-new Prius Plug-in will cost less than its predecessor, with a reduction in on-the-road prices prior to the car’s official on-sale date. The company says that the new variant also has more advanced technology, equipment, safety features and driving rewards than the original model that it’s replacing.

Toyota has brought down the price of both the Business Edition Plus and Excel models by £3,200. Factoring in the £2,500 available for new car purchases through the UK Government’s plug-in vehicle grant scheme, the new range is now available to customers from £29,195 – more than £2,000 less than the cost of the previous Prius Plug-in.

Toyota says the Prius Plug-in marks a further development of its world-leading hybrid technology, benefiting from a new Dual Motor EV Drive system and a higher capacity lithium-ion battery to double its emissions-free electric driving range to more than 30 miles. The car can also be driven at higher speeds using just its electric power and the recharging process is more rapid – as little as two hours for a full charge.

Built on the same new Toyota New Global Architecture platform as the latest, fourth generation Prius, the plug-in hybrid is claimed to deliver much-improved ride and handling. Both versions are equipped with Toyota Touch 2 with Go infotainment and navigation, colour head-up display, auto-dimming, auto-retracting door mirrors, heated front seats and world-first gas-injection heat pump air conditioning.