2023 Toyota Prius Prime

Pros

• It shows that it is possible to make a car that looks good and gets good gas mileage.
• Power is sufficient to keep up with traffic flow while consuming minimal gas.
• You can go over 40 kilometers on electricity, a simple way to get information and entertainment.

Cons

• The shape makes less room for people and things.
• It is hard to see the indicator cluster because of the steering wheel.
• When the gas engine starts, it makes a loud noise.

What’s it like to drive a Prius Prime? In high-torque towns, the Prius Prime sometimes feels more like an electric car than a hybrid. It can also be driven on roads without a gas engine; if you hit the accelerator down while in EV mode, the gas engine will not start.

But we found that the Prius Prime goes much faster when the engine and electric motor work together. At the InvoicePricing test track, it took our test car 6.9 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph. The regular Prius can hit 60 mph in 7.7 seconds. Different changes to the Prius Prime’s frame and new suspension parts have also helped it drive more smoothly. Even though the handling is dead, it feels sharp, turns in sharply, and goes straight on the highway.

How lovely is the Prius Prime to ride in? The front seats of the Prius Prime are comfortable enough to sit on for a long time. The seats in the back are also lovely. We like how well the car drives over bumps and potholes. On the other hand, the Prius Prime is a somewhat quiet car because its tires, wind, and engine make a lot of noise when you speed up. There is only one climate zone, and the most current version of the Prius Prime doesn’t have some of the more advanced climate settings from earlier versions, like the ability to turn off the fans in all seats except the driver to save fuel.

How does the inside look? Prius Prime’s cabin is practical and easy to use because it has a typical dashboard layout and buttons in the right places. Less attractive is the digital instrument panel. It needs to show more information, which makes it look crowded. It is also in an odd place and has an irregular shape; when our drivers put the seat and steering wheel where they liked them, most noticed that the top of the steering wheel got in the way of their view of the display.

Compared to previous generations, Prius Prime’s current design has much less room and visibility in the back. To get into the back, you have to drop down a lot. Anyone bigger than six feet will have a hard time getting inside. The small rear roof beams and narrow, angled rear window make it hard to see out the back.

How good is the tech? Our test Prius Prime XSE had a better 12.3-inch tablet in the middle. We like that Toyota’s new multimedia system is easy to use, works quickly, and uses Google Maps for guidance. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work wirelessly; better trim levels come with a wireless charging pad. Be careful, though, because it isn’t cold, so your phone will feel warm when it comes out after about an hour. If you want to charge your device more standardly, multiple USB-C ports are spread out throughout the cabin.

When adaptive cruise control is on, the lane-keeping aid works well to keep the hybrid in its lane, and accelerating and stopping are smooth. Proactive Driving Assist is a unique feature that helps the driver in everyday situations in a soft-spoken way. The moment you remove your foot from the accelerator, the Prius will begin to brake gradually as a warning for you to start reducing your speed if traffic stops in front of you. A strip of LED lights on the dashboard flashes when the car in front of you moves away. It’s easy for a system like this to get in the way, but we never felt that way when we tested it.

On the other hand, the new Traffic Jam Assist. It works at 25 mph or less speeds and can be used without using your hands, even when the adaptive cruise is on. An infrared camera that sees the driver’s face is part of the system and ensures the driver pays attention. But the camera is too delicate and stays on even when turning off Traffic Jam Assist. If you blink, for example, to change the temperature controls, the instrument cluster is always full of alerts. Additionally, if you drive with only one hand on the wheel, the car will urge you to “Sit up” because it cannot see your face when going in this manner.

What about putting things away? The hatchback Prius Prime has the same storage room behind the back seats as the regular Prius. This is less space for goods than older Prius models had, but it is more than a sedan of the same size would have in the trunk. Because of its recent length and width reduction, the back of the truck is no longer large enough to accommodate a set of golf clubs across its width. Even though the cargo floor is more extensive, no storage is under the bed.

The Prius Prime has a narrow but deep bin in the center console up front and a padded spot behind the dash for small items. Next to the gear shifter is a wireless charging pad that is easy to use. Most water bottles will fit in the cupholders, slightly bigger than usual.

How well does it use gasoline? The EPA says the Prius Prime SE and XSE can go 44 and 39 miles, respectively. This is very impressive for a plug-in hybrid car. But the Prius Prime needed help meeting those goals on the road that InvoicePricing used for the standard test. Only 33.7 miles had been driven in our XSE test car before the battery died and the gas engine kicked in. Overall, the Prius Prime is a car that gets good gas mileage. Our XSE test car got an average of 50.9 mpg on our trip.

Toyota says a 240-volt charger will take about four hours to charge the Prius Prime’s 13.6 kWh battery pack.

How much is the Prius Prime worth? Toyota’s standard warranty lasts for three years and 36,000 miles, and the powertrain guarantee lasts for five years and 60,000 miles. On hybrids like the Prius Prime, the battery is covered for up to ten years or 150,000 miles, and Eight years or 100,000 miles of driving are included in the warranty for the electrical components. Toyota also gives free upkeep for two years, which is rare in the luxury market.

The price of the Prius has gone up, but the Prime’s better electric powers help to make up for some of that. When you increase your range, you use even less gas, which lets you save money faster. The quality of Prius’s interior has improved with this latest model, but some complex plastic parts still stand out. When the doors close, they feel shaky and make a tinny sound.

The Prius went through a significant redesign that turned it from a candidate for the “ugliest car” to a sleek and well-designed vehicle. The Prime improves on that by giving the electric range and performance options more room to grow. It feels more like an electric car than a pretentious hybrid, and you can still get more than 50 mpg even if the battery dies. The Prime is more appealing than the standard Prius because it is more fuel-efficient, more fun to drive, and has a higher value.

We like the XSE in the middle range. If a current hybrid doesn’t have keyless entry, it feels more high-tech than the XSE. Buyers also get heated front seats and upholstery made of synthetic leather. They can also choose which XSE Premium features they want without paying for the whole deal.

Toyota Prius Prime models

There are three trim options for the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime: SE, XSE, and XSE Premium. All of them are driven by the same hybrid engine with 220 horsepower. All-wheel drive can be added to a Prius that doesn’t have a plug-in, but it comes standard on all Primes.