Chances are when you first saw the latest 2024 Toyota Prius Hybrid When the car was released earlier this year, not only did you see a great looking car, but you also felt a bit of nostalgia.
That’s because the latest Toyota Prius looks like it’s a descendant of the Prius that made the biggest waves in automotive history – the second-generation model from 2004 to 2009. Yes, we’re giving a nod to the model in which Hollywood saw wanted to be, and the model that shaped the liftback look, which originally represented an optimal solution for aerodynamics and functionality.
After that, the Prius design went wrong, but it’s back. And while Toyota has innovated by significantly improving both the driving experience and the looks of this latest Prius, it’s not quite the return to form you’d expect from a Prius.
This Prius essentially maintains its hybrid efficiency ratings of up to 57 mpg while offering a gradual improvement in all-electric range (up to 45 miles). 2024 Toyota Prius Prime Plug-in Hybrid.
2023 Toyota Prius Prime
The Prius Prime’s EPA range has increased from just 11 miles in the first generation for the 2012-2015 period to 25 miles in the 2017-2023 version, and now to 40-45 miles, depending on the version, with a 13. 6 kWh battery of the 8.8 kWh version of the previous version.
One could argue that the Prius Prime is where it’s at right now, keeping the battery no larger than needed to meet daily commuting needs, and well exceeding the US average of 32 miles per day. When considering the production footprint and easing supply chain issues, Smaller batteries are better– even though you carry a petrol engine with you for the life of the vehicle.
Expectations for plug-in hybrids are evolving, and the Prius Prime doesn’t exactly raise the bar. It barely meets the standard of the second-generation Chevy Volt, which launched in 2015 as a 2016 model, with an electric range of 53 miles and then as a hybrid at 42 mpg. California demands the new generation of 50 mile plug-in hybridand even Toyota said so 120-mph PHEVs are on the horizon. So this is not the top position.
2024 Toyota Prius Prime
The company seems to be leaving the plug-in hybrid advantage to its SUVs. It’s really upped its plug-in hybrid game with the current version Toyota RAV4 PrimeThis served as proof that PHEVs can offer peak performance, all-wheel drive and even greater electric range in one vehicle.
When it comes to driving pleasure, the new Prius family is impressive. This generation of Prius Prime features a more powerful 161 horsepower electric motor, allowing it to easily keep up with fast traffic – even while accelerating faster after starting the engine. In total, the 150-hp 2.0-liter inline-four combines with this electric motor system for a total output of 220 hp – meaning the Prime is now as quick as some sports sedans. However, to experience its speed, the engine must be switched on.
2024 Toyota Prius Prime
2024 Toyota Prius Prime
2024 Toyota Prius Prime
The Prime doesn’t seem to do anything to make the interior experience any more refined – and just like the hybrid Prius models, the front seats could use some attention and access to the rear seats can be tight. The Prime’s all-electric operation also simply underscores the problem of highway road noise that we already pointed out with the hybrid Prius. And even though the Prime has about 25 more horsepower, its roughly 250 extra pounds gets in the way of an upscale driving experience or a better ride.
The Prius Prime does a lot of things right. It prioritizes all-electric operation as long as charge is present (and hybrid mode is not selected), and will not start the gasoline engine if you want more acceleration. Top versions are equipped with a solar roof that allows a small amount of energy to seep back into the interior – and if the energy history of our last test car is to be believed, this could add up to a significant amount over the life of the vehicle.
2024 Toyota Prius Prime
With temperatures hovering around 40 degrees, we struggled to cover 40 miles on electric power alone in Portland. But in mild weather, we covered 43 miles in our Best Car To Buy test in November before the system switched to gasoline.
Additionally, the Prime’s 3.3 kW onboard charger tells us that Toyota, in its own cost-benefit analysis, doesn’t think this toolset is worth it, even if Prime drivers wanted to maximize their all-electric driving with a midday charge. Toyota says the Prius Prime can be fully charged in about four hours on 240 volts or in 11 hours on 120-volt household AC.
2024 Toyota Prius Prime
Ultimately, Toyota seems to be leading the Prius Prime into a niche existence. It chose to import this generation’s Prius from Japan rather than pursue U.S. assembly and an electric vehicle tax credit for the Prime.
Does the Toyota Prius help shift the discussion towards vehicles that drive most of the time without producing any exhaust emissions? This question was still on our minds at the start of our “Best Car To Buy” discussion this year. Looking at some of these little points is something that is important to be aware of as a buyer.
