How I finally fell in love with a hybrid

In my line of work, it pays not to have expectations for a car before you’ve had a chance to sample it for yourself. That’s the ideal way to do things, but we live in an imperfect world and I’m well aware that I’m imperfect. Perversely, the more experienced you are, the more likely you are to have preconceived ideas about how a car will drive. Take Toyotas hybrids, for example. Until the introduction of the current Prius in 2016, I vehemently disliked these vehicles. That wasn’t because, as a dyed-in-the-wool petrolhead, I was rebelling against the technology or the brand, but because I really hated how they drove. The new Prius changed all that with a new focus on driving enjoyment, while simultaneously increasing its real-world efficiency. It was a revelation.