Toyota Triple Triumph in 2012 Auto Express's Driver Power Satisfaction Survey

The results of the latest Driver Power Satisfaction Survey conducted by the prestigious Auto Express shows Toyota Aygo, iQ and Prius came up trumps when it came to running costs,  taking  first,  second  and  third  spots  respectively.  The  second  generation  Prius rounded off the top five, setting the seal on an emphatic success for Toyota.

“Toyota clearly has a knack of keeping costs down”; the survey said, acknowledging the fact that the top performing Toyotas each scored more than 90 percent.

The  result  confirms  the  real-world  efficiency  of  Toyota  engines  and  how  they  help customers keep their budgets under control.

The  1-litre,  three-cylinder  VVT-i  engine  which  powers  Aygo  and  iQ  has  been  a  class winner many times over in the International Engine of the Year Awards. Hybrid Synergy Drive, the full hybrid powertrain featured in Prius, demonstrates how Toyota’s industry leading  advanced  technologies  are  user-friendly  and  reliable,  as  well  as  being  refined, clean and fuel efficient.

For  Toyota,  the  success  offers  independent  proof  that  its  strategy  for  designing  “cost effectiveness” into its vehicles is working. Long-life components are used where possible and the most often replaced or repaired parts are made simple to fit, saving on labour time and cost.


The  Prius  family  made  a  strong  showing  with  both  the  2nd  and  current  generation models  featuring  in  the  top  ten.  The  full  hybrid  model  having  “proven  its  abilities beyond all doubt,” according to Auto Express, and scoring strongly not only in terms of running  costs,  but  also  in  its  ease  of  driving,  use  of  technology  and  its  reliability  and build  quality.  Notably  both  generations  of  Prius  ranked  in  the  top  10  in  the  survey’s category for build quality and reliability.