Quitting at your peak: end of Prius in the Netherlands

Yes, it is really true: the Toyota Prius can no longer be ordered in the Netherlands. The pioneer among hybrid cars is done with its show. At least, in the Netherlands.

It’s certainly not done with hybrid Toyotas

Wipe your tears away, because the Prius remains in production worldwide and you can still just order it from stock in the Netherlands. Moreover, the brand now has a whole ensemble of hybrid players. While the Prius laid the foundation, Toyota now has a broad hybrid range. Whether you choose the compact Yaris, the practical Corolla (also as a Touring Sports), the striking C-HR, or the sturdy RAV4, there is plenty of choice between hybrids and plug-in hybrids. Even the Aygo X comes as a hybrid!

So even as the Prius takes its final bow on the Dutch stage, its spirit lives on in a whole cast of models. Perhaps herein also lies precisely the crux of the story. After all, more consumer choice can lead to less choice for one model.

Last-generation Prius: what does it still cost?

This fifth-generation Prius appears in the Netherlands only as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). It features a 2.0-liter gasoline engine and a compact battery pack, which is good for an electric range of 86 km (WLTP). It is still listed on the Toyota site at the time of writing and is available from 44,995 euros including VAT. Mind you, they have pulled the plug, so the Prius is available while supplies last. As of September, the Prius will no longer be available to order new in the Netherlands.

25 years of Prius: a brief backstory

Hard to believe, but the Prius has been driving around the Netherlands since September 2000. The introduction of this remarkable car began a little earlier. Toyota was already rehearsing “Project G21” in 1993. With the approach of the 21st century and growing world population, the brand set the goal of developing a fuel-efficient car. The title of this performance? Hybrid.

In developing the car, Japanese engineers arrived at hybrid powertrain. It became increasingly clear to them that favorable consumption is best achieved with different forms of propulsion. The combination of a combustion and an electric motor works best, with a generator used in the car to charge the battery while driving. Toyota paired a continuously variable transmission (E-CVT) with this. The lead car was born.

Still, the Prius doesn’t really seem to become better known until the introduction of the second generation, in 2003. It is helped in this by the title of “Car of the Year” in Europe. In particular, the design of the car changes, which has positive consequences. Partly due to the improved streamline of the new Prius, fuel consumption is significantly reduced by as much as 20 percent. Starting in 2009, it will also become possible to drive fully electric through EV mode. Two years later, plug-in hybrid technology will be introduced.

Final chord Prius, with a wink

So yes: the Prius is being waved goodbye in the Netherlands. But, its technological legacy is alive and well. Toyota’s hybrid orchestra now consists of countless instruments. The Prius remains a proud conductor of these, even if it is no longer in the spotlight.