Even though the newest all-electric cars get a lot of attention, there is still room for another powered option. The plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (or PHEV) is perfect for people who don’t always have the chance to plug in but still want to drive a quiet car with a more extended range. This is because a fully electric vehicle must be plugged in constantly. The 2024 Toyota Prius Prime and the 2023 Kia Niro PHEV have gas engines but electric drives and enough battery storage to allow some all-electric driving. We’ll compare these two PHEVs so you can choose the one that best meets your drive and mileage needs. All-ICE Power PHEVs are an excellent choice for people who often drive long distances in places with few EV outlets or who don’t have a regular place to charge an EV. It’s a great idea to set up a PHEV at home because the batteries are smaller than those in an EV and can be charged more quickly. Most importantly, PHEVs work the same way as regular hybrid cars. They use a gas engine and electric power from regenerative braking to move forward when the traction battery, which powers the motors that turn the wheels, is at “zero” charge. Because the traction battery makes the car heavier, when the battery runs out, the car needs a little more power from the internal combustion engine. The 2.0-liter I-4 engine in the Toyota Prius Prime makes 150 hp and 139 lb-ft of torque without the help of the electric drive. The Kia Niro PHEV has a 1.6-liter I-4 engine that produces 104 hp and 106 lb-ft of torque. The Prius Prime is the best choice if you drive a lot with a gas engine. Utilizing electrons When fully charged, the battery gives you more power for faster movement and uses less gas. When the gas engine and electric motors work together, the Prius Prime has 220 horsepower. When all the power goes to the front wheels, the PHEV Prius can go from 0 to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds. Like the Prius, the Niro PHEV only powers the front wheels and uses two motors to make 180 horsepower when everything works. It takes 7.3 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph, which puts it in the middle of the Niro line-up. Since the Prius Prime is faster and has more total system power than the Niro PHEV, it can join traffic more efficiently. Overall Choice Both of these PHEVs can go a long way after just one charge. With its 13.6 kWh battery pack, the Prius Prime SE can go up to 600 miles before refueling. The XSE and XSE Premium range is cut by 50 miles because they come with 19-inch wheels. Even though the SX model has bigger 18-inch wheels, the Niro PHEV has a good range of 510 miles thanks to its 11.1 kWh battery pack. The Prius Prime SE can go up to 44 miles on electric power alone at 84 mph, while the XSE and XSE Premium can go up to 39 miles on electric power alone at the exact top speed for EV driving. The Niro PHEV can only go 33 miles on the EX and 31 miles on the SX. Its top speed is just over 83 mph. This means the Prius Prime will go farther on gas and electric power, even with its bigger 19-inch wheels. How well do they work? Because you’ll need to run an internal combustion engine, you’ll need to know how far a gallon of gas will take you. The EPA only looks at “MPGe” and total city and highway mileage. “MPGe” is the amount of energy used per mile in electric mode converted to the amount of energy in gasoline. Despite what most people think, the bigger engine in the Toyota Prius Prime doesn’t use more gas. According to the EPA, the Prius Prime SE gets 53 mpg on the highway and 127 MPGe. The Prius Prime XSE and XSE Premium will lose four mpg (48 mpg) of fuel economy and a shocking 13 miles (114 MPGe) of electric range by getting bigger wheels. The Kia Niro PHEV has only one EPA rating: 48 combined mpg and 108 MPGe. This puts it slightly behind the less efficient Prius Prime XSE and XSE Premium, and in electric mode, it does worse. Let the Prius Prime have it. Charging a battery To charge to Level 2, the Toyota Prius Prime and the Kia Niro PHEV need a 240-volt, 15-amp AC plug. When charging at its fastest speed, the Prius Prime’s 13.6 kWh battery pack takes four hours to charge fully. If you get the XSE Premium trim, you can get a little more charge without plugging in, but only up to 2.2 kWh on a good day with lots of sun. If you only use that roof and perfect weather to charge the battery, it will take more than six days. The Niro PHEV has no solar roof option, but a Level 2 charger can fully charge the battery pack in less than three hours. This is one good thing about using a much smaller battery pack, even though it means the range will be shorter. The Niro PHEV charges faster, but the Prius Prime’s optional solar roof adds free charging on sunny days, which can add up quickly in hotter areas. How much? The time has finally come to determine which PHEV is the best deal. The 2024 Niro PHEV will cost $35,615 for the EX trim and $41,365 for the SX model. The 2024 Toyota Prius Prime SE costs $33,445, while the XSE, XSE Premium, and XSE Premium with solar roof each cost $36,695, $40,265, and $40,875, respectively. Overall, the Prius Prime gives you more for less money, but that’s not the only thing to consider. Space for both people and things Even though the Niro PHEV is the size of an SUV, it only has a 19.4 cu ft cargo space with the second row of seats up. The Prius Prime has an extra 20.3 cu ft of space for cargo. The edge changes when you compare the space with the back seats folded down. The Niro PHEV can hold 54.6 cu ft of stuff, while the Prius Prime can only hold 26.7 cu ft. Both cars have room for five people, but the Niro PHEV is better for tall people. Both the front and back seats have a ceiling of 40.5 inches. The aerodynamically slanted top only gives tall people 36.4 inches of headroom in the back, and the Prius Prime only offers 38 inches in front. As far as value goes The Toyota Prius Prime has more to offer if you want to get the most kilometers out of your drive. The price per mile is $55.74, with a starting price of $33,445 and a range of 600 miles. The Niro PHEV costs more per mile at $69.83, with a starting price of $35,615 and a range of 510 miles. When you compare the Prius Prime to the Niro PHEV in terms of power and speed, you get a great-performing car with a more extended range for the same price. If you need to go farther per mile or carry a bigger person, you must pay attention to the Niro PHEV’s larger size. You can fit a taller person in the back comfortably, and when the back seats are folded down, the SUV has up to 54.6 cu ft of storage room, which is standard for an SUV. The Prius Prime is limited in this way because it is more efficient and has the size of a sedan. This is especially true for tall people or people who often need to carry more things. Overall, the best PHEV is the Toyota Prius Prime from 2024. For less money, you can get more range and power. Even though the 2024 Niro PHEV is a better freight and people hauler, it needs the ability, economy, and price to make it better than the Prius Prime.
