Major car brand to bring back popular model to UK after taking it off market

A MUCH-LOVED motor is set to return to the UK… a year after it was pulled from the market.

Toyota have announced that the iconic Prius is making a welcomed comeback to UK showrooms – 12 months after the car giant claimed it wouldn’t be available to buy.

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The fifth-generation Prius, which was first unveiled last year, was originally kicked out of Toyota‘s UK line-up due to apparent higher demand for SUV models.

The Japanese maker said at the time that Prius sales in the UK ‘paled in comparison with its other hybrids’ – notably the C-HR crossover and Corolla hatchback.

However, this didn’t stop Toyota from releasing the Prius in other markets around the world, including throughout Europe.

But in a surprising U-turn, the Prius hybrid hatchback will now be offered in the UK.

As first reported in Autocar, it seems the model’s return has been supported by strong sales of parallel and plug-in hybrids.

What’s more, earlier this week, it was revealed that the Prius+ had been the UK’s fastest-selling used car for the month of October, some three years after the model had been discontinued.

While pricing and specifications have yet to be revealed for the UK release of the fifth-gen Prius, its pricing in Europe ranges from around €45,000 to €50,000, which is roughly £39,000 to £43,000.

If this is the case, the new Prius would be much more expensive than the Corolla, which starts from £30,225 in the UK.

The new car has many styling elements that can be found in Toyota’s upcoming bZ range of electric cars.

Fans of the Prius range will note its new sleek styling, while the interior has been freshened up with a larger touchscreen.

The return of the Prius to the UK comes after Toyota announced it will give drivers the option to install a “manual transmission” into their electric cars.

The motors giant will introduce the once-universal component to give those missing the traditional driving experience a hit of nostalgia.

Meanwhile, Toyota showed off a bizarre campervan concept that can transform into a mobile shop at this week’s Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo.

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