The 2023 Toyota Prius Prime is a plug-in hybrid model of the standard 2023 Prius hybrid launched earlier this yr. It shares that automotive’s placing new form, the one which wowed reviewers and customers.
The Prime provides a a lot bigger battery that may be plugged into the grid to recharge—giving it an estimated EPA mixed electrical vary of as much as 44 miles for the bottom SE grade, or 39 miles for higher-level (and heavier) XSE and XSE Premium trims. It’s rated at 51 mpg mixed in hybrid mode with a depleted battery for the SE mannequin, 47 mpg for the XSE and XSE Premium—lower than the standard hybrid, which has scores from 49 to 57 mpg.
It’s a stealth EV, in contrast to its visually distinct earlier era. Thirty-five to 40 miles is a helpful all-electric vary, and the extra highly effective electrical motors—rated at 120 kilowatts (161 horsepower)—let it sustain in fast visitors with out requiring a mild foot on the accelerator to keep away from triggering the engine. That 2.0-liter engine is rated at 150 horsepower, however in contrast to the standard hybrid, non-compulsory all-wheel drive will not be obtainable.
2023 Toyota Prius Prime
Toyota will promote all of the new-generation Prius Primes it wants to remain compliant with state and federal emissions and zero-emission car gross sales necessities. How adept its salespeople are at explaining plug-in hybrids to customers newly interested in the Prius by its attractiveness stays to be seen.
However the greater query but is whether or not Toyota’s new Prius Prime surpasses what stays probably the most competent and interesting compact plug-in hybrid passenger automotive: the second-generation 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt, launched greater than seven years in the past with a 53-mile EPA vary. The Volt was killed in 2019 by Normal Motors because it ready for a way forward for Ultium battery-electric automobiles—for which we’re nonetheless principally ready.
2023 Toyota Prius Prime
Prius plug-in hybrid historical past
The brand new Prime is definitely the third era of Prius to be provided with a plug. The 2012-15 Prius Plug-In Hybrid had a 4.4-kilowatt-hour battery pack, simply giant sufficient to qualify it for a federal tax credit score, and a measly 11 miles of EPA-rated vary—although its electric-only energy was so low the engine needed to swap on at 6 miles, midway by the EPA’s easygoing check cycle.
Then got here the 2017 Prius Prime, visually fairly distinct from its conventional-hybrid sibling, with 8.8 kwh giving 25 miles of vary. Commendably, it operated as an EV solely so long as the battery had extra cost in it than the standard hybrid model. Now we’ve got the brand new 2023 Prius Prime, with a 13.6-kwh battery giving ranges of 39 to 44 miles, arriving at dealerships in Might.
2023 Toyota Prius Prime
2023 Toyota Prius Prime
2023 Toyota Prius Prime
Prius Prime design and styling
Whereas the outdated Prius Prime had many design variations from its plain outdated hybrid sibling—whose appears didn’t obtain good evaluations, to place it charitably—the brand new one is all however similar to the common hybrid model. Prius aficionados will discover the charge-port door on the proper rear flank, completely different wheel designs, and a barely completely different entrance decrease molding. That’s it.
The shortage of differentiation was deliberate, Toyota execs informed Inexperienced Automotive Stories. The concept was to put the Prime model on the high of the Prius mannequin vary, moderately than attempting to make it a separate and distinct mannequin because the earlier one had been.
Given the low volumes projected, that appears wise. Toyota says quantity for its first yr of the brand new Prius can be 30,000, with Primes representing 30 % of that, or as much as 10,000. For the complete 2024 yr, it expects these numbers to rise to 50,000 and 15,000. Provided that 240,000 Priuses in 4 completely different fashions have been offered ten years in the past, that’s a little bit of a comedown.
2023 Toyota Prius Prime
We drove two Prius Primes in and across the San Diego suburb of Carlsbad. One was a top-trim XSE Premium, whereas the opposite was a mid-level XSE. Each have been estimated at 39 miles of mixed EPA vary, however given the vary of driving modes, acceleration checks, and different driving variations, we couldn’t confirm whether or not that quantity was affordable. Expertise with the earlier era Prime suggests it in all probability is.
Prius Prime EV acceleration: sufficient to shock a truck bro
On the highway, electric-mode acceleration was brisk, particularly to 30 mph. We have been in a position to shock one truck bro in a really loud lifted pickup as soon as the sunshine turned. The accelerator detent that stops drivers from unintentionally triggering engine-on mode is agency, and the electrical motors are highly effective sufficient to spin an inside entrance wheel whereas accelerating round a curve.
2023 Toyota Prius Prime
2023 Toyota Prius Prime
2023 Toyota Prius Prime
Sadly, regenerative braking felt no extra aggressive than that of the common Prius hybrid, regardless of the a lot bigger pack. Solely on downhill stretches did regen noticeably enhance, because the automotive saved itself to a set pace. However regardless of the all-electric nature of the Prime in EV mode, there was nothing approximating heavy regen, not to mention one-pedal driving.
However that, the bigger pack will accumulate considerably extra cost touring downhill than the standard hybrids. We truly gained 10 % of battery vary, or roughly 4 miles of all-electric working, throughout a number of downhill miles of the drive route.
A jarring transition to fuel
General the 2023 Prius Prime drives just about like a daily automotive in electrical mode. That’s admirable. But it surely made the transition to engine-hybrid energy extra jarring after the 30-plus miles we lined solely on battery energy.
In hybrid mode, the Prius Prime is comfortably quiet puttering round city. Engine noise is distant, up there within the nostril someplace. If it flips on at regular pace when the battery depletes, it’s not noticeable. Speed up onto a brief uphill on-ramp, nonetheless, and it will get loud rapidly—although neither as thrashy nor as desperate-sounding as earlier generations.
2023 Toyota Prius Prime
However, particularly after silent EV working with just some whine from the powertrain, that engine roar was notably jarring. It took about 10 miles to acclimatize, as recollections of easy, quiet electric-only propulsion pale away.
Our two Prius Primes every confirmed a cumulative common of three.1 miles per kwh, although we had no visibility into the earlier drive cycles these miles lined. And we appreciated the Hill Maintain function that saved the brakes engaged after a cease—although we discovered it irritating that it needed to be re-engaged after every energy cycle.
Does the brand new Prius form have an effect on cabin consolation?
The fifth-generation Prius stays a placing, handsome automotive, one for which its challenge workforce intentionally sacrificed a number of factors of aerodynamic drag—and, maybe, some practicality—to get the compelling form proper. Toyota’s entrepreneurs are taking full benefit of the brand new and surprising comeliness, with advertisements taglined, “Prius: It’s a Looker Now” and “Prius: It’s Rebellious Now.”
2023 Toyota Prius Prime
2023 Toyota Prius Prime
2023 Toyota Prius Prime
We’re unsure about precise riot, however its steeply raked windshield—at a 21.6-degree angle—nonetheless requires a hand on the pillar and a duck-and-twist movement to drop into the driving force’s seat with out banging your head. Inside, passengers sit low, and several other drivers complained in regards to the issue of discovering changes for the seat and steering wheel that permit them view the instrument cluster—on the base of the windshield—with out the wheel rubbing in opposition to their legs.
Powertrain apart, just about each remark we made in our first drive report on the standard 2023 Prius hybrid applies to the Prime. You’ll miss it in a car parking zone except you occur to see it plugged in.
Will homeowners plug them in? Toyota had no information on the earlier plug-in to share, although (as earlier than) it promised to analyze the query.
Prius Prime vs. used Volt?
So … again to that Chevy Volt. Greater than seven years after GM launched its second-generation plug-in hybrid hatchback—and 4 years after it was killed off—has Toyota constructed a greater Volt?
In vary, the reply is not any. The Volt was EPA-rated at 53 miles when it departed; all however the base Prius Prime are available in 27 % beneath that. Furthermore, the Volt stayed totally electrical even below foot-to-the-floor acceleration if its battery pack was charged; the Prius Prime will kick on its engine below these circumstances.
In appears, we’ve got to say Prius wins. The second-generation Volt was racy and engaging, however the 2023 Prius Prime nonetheless will get the nod for being merely a jaw-dropping form, one checked out and commented on far and extensive throughout our checks.
2023 Toyota Prius Prime
Will Volt homeowners seeking to exchange their six-year-old vehicles discover the Prius Prime a compelling entry? Perhaps. However totally a decade after Toyota’s first Prius with a plug, we will’t assist feeling the corporate nonetheless doesn’t actually wish to be doing EVs. Whereas it has dedicated $35 billion to battery-electric automobiles by 2030—the identical quantity as Normal Motors—its first EV entry, the underwhelming bZ4X compact SUV, hardly makes the case Toyota can design compelling EVs.
After handing over our Prius Prime, a last thought occurred: As a battery-electric mannequin, a Prius Prime EV would have been a much better car than the bZ4X. It could have had extra vary, and its visible enchantment would have attracted a brand new set of consumers wanting to have an EV—and saved the Prius identify related.
As it’s, the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime is an effective plug-in hybrid. However with much less vary and fewer efficiency than the Volt of seven years in the past, it’s not a fantastic plug-in hybrid.
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Toyota offered airfare, lodging, and meals to allow Inexperienced Automotive Stories to deliver you this first-person drive report.
