2023 Toyota Prius Prime (Or Why Plug-In Hybrids Rule)
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- Опубликовано: 12 июн 2024
- There are reasons why pure electric vehicle don’t work everyone. For people without access to home Level 2 charging or commercial DC fast charging on road trip routes, plug-in hybrids might be the perfect solution. They’re EVs when wanted, gas when needed. The new 5th generation Toyota Prius Prime delivers up to 44 miles of electric range and fashion forward design. Could it be the perfect electrified option? Maybe, if you can find one to buy. Tom Voelk road trips a top trim XSE Premium model with the optional solar roof to Bow-Edison, WA and finds if quick, comfortable and engaging (but watch your head tall folks).
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About Tom: Tom Voelk is an award-winning automotive contributor to The New York Times. His podcast was the first to win an Emmy Award (and he's won for photography, editing, producing and reporting).
00:00 Intro
1:11 Efficiency
1:45 Pricing
2:29 Powertrain / Charging
4:00 Performance
4:46 Real World Range
5:21 Road Trip!
8:20 Driving Dynamics
9:25 Interior
11:22 Back Seat
12:31 Hybrid Strategy
13:36 Cargo
15:00 Red Light Green Light
16:06 Summary
17:18 Epilogue
18:12 Before I Go 
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For those wondering how much Toyota Connected Services cost for using the Toyota Interface in the Prius XLE or Limited, here ya go- after the 1 year complimentary trial there are three options- $15mo for cloud-based interface functionality and navigation- OR- $15mo for cloud based interface functionality and native music streaming (through existing Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts) or $25mo for both music and navigation functionality. FYI, emergency services (SOS emergency calling) is free for 10 years. There are 3 months complimentary SiriusXM and 30 days free Wi-Fi Connection (high speed internet hotspot).
they would be great if you could actually find one that wasn't $10k-$20k "market adjustment" on them. not paying $60k for a $43k MSRP car. If Toyota supply chain wasnt run by greed, I would have already purchased one.
I’m not paying 43k for PHEV compact car. Model 3 is cheaper
@@williamerazo3921 we already own an EV. The appeal of the PHEV for me is the wife and I can both run to work in full EV, but on road trips we dont have to sit at chargers all the time in the EV, we can make it all the way to the beach without having to stop for fuel.
@@user-gb3jq1io2cexactly. My brother has a Tesla MS and his wife has a M3. They go on trips with his 400 miles MS and still needed to be charged, 30 minutes minimum. PHEV works the best for us as well, 40 miles range is enough for commute to work and we can use it for long trip wo charging, putting in gas takes me 5 minutes and off we go again.
$2k markup here with SF Toyota. Though the wait maybe 3-6 months.
Best way to fix that mark up issue, is simply not make the purchase unless absolutely necessary.
Got my prime 1 month ago. Totally loved it. Best car ever. This is my 7th Toyota.
Best car ever? Never buy a hybrid.
Not to be rude but how old are you? And why is this your SEVENTH Toyota? You're spooking me here.
Wish they made a wagon version of the new Prius. Like an update version of the Lexus CT200h.
Did you pay a dealer price adjustment over MSRP?
your presentation style and your insights are far above other review channels. please keep up your exemplary work. Long time subscriber
One of the best reviews I've ever seen, and consistently informative and entertaining.
Your shots of PNW make me miss living in the area. I don't miss the housing prices tho.
I normally don’t comment on these things, but something about this guy I really like. Great video
Tom, Thanks for taking us along for the trip. The one time I visited your neck of the woods, I was driving a rented and very boxy 1987 Chevy Nova sedan. The scenery 🌲🌳looks just as good now as it did then. 😁 If I could fit inside this Prius and see through those gargantuan A pillars and tiny back window, I am sure I could learn to love it. 😉 In regard to Toyota's overarching Hybrid strategy, a lot more people would be 'on board' if Toyota would finally match their ongoing Hybrid promises with commensurate Hybrid production. 🤨
This barely Chevy Volt efficiency from 2011!
That's the point Toyota doesn't want you to remember. Tom alluded to it, subtly, with his Volt and ELS cameos. (nice)
As I hope you know, your reviews are thorough and great. Always a pleasure to watch them, Tom. Thank you!
Much appreciated, Abbott!
I have had my Honda Clarity PHEV for 4 years now, still the best the car I have had, and no desire to upgrade to a full EV. 48 mile EV range is all I need for daily run around. I drove it to Vegas and back, worked well but it used much more gas than a Nissan Sentra or a Corolla because mostly highway driving, and I had to use onboard generator to recharge, but I don’t go to Vegas everyday so occasional extra gas cost is ok for 0 range anxiety or sitting in a charging station for 30 minutes.
Good PHEVs are awesome!!! I have a '23 BMW X5 45e (paid MSRP minus the $7500 tax credit) and it just amazing. It is so smooth, so quite, and 70% of my miles have been in full electric mode. It gets over 1000miles between tanks of gas (I never have to fill up, which is awesome). When power or range is needed I have an excellent turbo charged inline-6 on hand that kicks up pretty fast (it does take a split second or so, but not really ever a problem). I charge mostly on off-peak power which is basically free at $0.03/kWh. The great thing is you get nearly all the advantages of a full battery electric vehicle, without ever having to worry about charging, range, or charging infrastructure. I can put on the AC at anytime without having to turn the gas engine on. It is so much better than a regular car in so many ways. I think if more people knew about them, everyone would be getting them. They are much better than a ICE or full battery electric powered car.
I totally agree. We're so happy with our Rav4 Prime. I believe that most car buyers think a PHEV only uses its battery for the first 45 miles or whatever, then becomes a "regular gas car" that gets 20mpg or whatever. They don't understand that it's either an EV burning no gas, or a hybrid getting 45mpg. It's incredible that Toyota and other PHEV manufacturers don't try to educate the public.
All of your accolades apply to my 455HP Volvo recharge except I pay $.17 a kilowatt hour in SE Pa. Where do you live? 104 mpg over 11,000 miles for mine, same ~70% on electric.
I concur. Got myself a ‘21 X5 45e during the height of the pandemic here in Socal. Paid below invoice along with the tax credit at 0.9% interest rate. It is the best vehicle in its class. It’s getting Prius mpg range but takes 5 hours to charge using a level 2 charger. Hybrids are going to get better and better and the new Prius looks good.
Excellent video and analysis. We appreciate you!
Great content and professionally executed! Tom, you need to have 1M+ subs.
I just love Tom’s reviews 👍🏻
Great stuff Tom! As always. I had a RAV4 Prime….are you able to put the powertrain in charge mode so the motor charges the batteries while you’re driving? I used to do that sometimes when I would go on long trips so I had EV power for local traffic…it dinged my gas MPG by a couple MPG, but I liked having the EV power to drive on local roads.
8:09 Tom Voelk, the perfect customer for every vehicle type. Man I wish I were you.
Great video, Tom.
Priuses have really evolved well. More power, more efficiency. Toyota has done well with their hybrid technology. This and the Corolla Cross Hybrid are on our shortlist for an urban commuter. That town is so cute! Like Napa without the throngs of people.
Edison Bow is a microtown vs anything in California. But it's really sweet actually and in a very sweet region.
I've got a 2018 Honda Clarity PHEV and I've gotta say my experiences are pretty similar to yours (though my gas range is not!). On a hot summer day (an increasing majority in the south) or the coldest days of winter, I can do 35-40 miles on a full charge. When the summer cools off into fall and early winter -and- when winter begins to warm into spring, I can do 45-48 miles on a single charge. Either way, it's plenty for going to work, doing some shopping or going to hang out with friends after work, and heading back home.
I went and complicated things for myself, though, by living in an apartment that doesn't have any EVSE installed, but at least there's a shopping center nearby where I can plug in my car and go for a walk. It's a pretty good routine!
I do a lot of longer-distance driving (relatively speaking) on the weekends, though, and that's where the gas engine shows up. I wouldn't say it shines, but I can do 280-310 miles on a 6 gallon tank, so it's doing better than ICE cars and a lot of bigger hybrids, but it always feels disappointing to have to fuel up 2x as much as your friends with gas cars (even though their tanks are 3x as big and only go 2x as far). With that said, I've never been afraid of running out of range.
One thing my PHEV has taught me, though, is that I reaaaally want to get a full EV, especially since public rapid chargers are becoming a lot more widespread! I can tell when my car is in hybrid mode. The acceleration goes from zippy and fun to slow and a touch anemic. The quiet EV experience becomes filled with something many Clarity drivers have dubbed "the angry bees" under the hood.
Your videos are the best!
Very sensible review as usual from Tom
Hello. I subscribed. Thanks for testing this unfound unit. I have 2 PHEV’s, and I like to see who is catching me. My 2017 Audi A3 eTron can only manage 24 electric miles, but after 3.5 years my stats are 86 mpge and 46 mpg. …and the Prius nameplate has an interesting effect on some people. They either love it or hate it.
I previously owned a Gen 2 model, and on my economy test of 118 miles, (preformed on all of my cars since 2009) the Prius used 1.7 gallons. 69 mpg. That was a champion for years. The Audi used 1.5 gallons at 79 mpg. For 3.5 years, it was at the top of the leaderboard, replacing the 2005 Prius. My latest addition, 2019 Ford Fusion Energi made the trip using 1.3 gallons at 90 mpg. (From Boomtown NV to Arden Fair in Sacramento, CA.) PHEV’s are more efficient, and have a longer range
Thanks as always for the thoughtful review! I get a lot of valuable information from your reviews and they've guided the last 3 purchases my family has made over the past 7 years (Honda Fit, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Rav4 Prime). Last year my wife was hit by a driver going over 100 mph in a 55 mph zone while driving the Impreza and the first responders at the scene claimed that car saved her life.
Wow, hope she didn't have any major injuries. My family has totaled a bunch of Volvos but nothing like that. And thanks so much for the support. Martin gets coffee this weekend! Also, Subaru Impreza drops tomorrow.
I’m so glad you explained the TP, I thought you were buying all of that every time 😂
The controversy about plug-ins is when they are company cars. The company pays for gas, but not for electricity so employees never charge them.
I have had a Chevy volt for seven years. When you own a plug in, the driving experience is just better in electrical mode, noise, vibration, instant torque, and it is so economical that you make sure to charge.
The biggest problem I can see with plug in hybrids is battery degradation. Charging and completely discharging the battery every day. A regular EV can drive a few days or a week depending on your driving needs.
Exactly 💯
@@aaronwalsh8469the problem you're pointing out is that Toyota (and most other brands tbh) have no intention of providing preventative maintenance or cell balancing for cars that are +7 years old.
Their business model is the problem.
@@aaronwalsh8469 Nope. Both our cars (mine 8 years old, hers 5 years old) have zero issues with the pack.
@@aaronwalsh8469
I own a 2014 Prius and haven't noticed any battery degradation.
20yrs & They still welcome you for their t.p. test & same people still work there?! That's some small town hospitality I wish more places had.
Great video as always--spotted a rare 20th Anniversary Edition GTI at 6:43, had one in the same color :)
One of the best automotive journalist. Keep up the good work sir.
Nikki Gordon Bloomfield of Transport Evolved
Nice review Tom. I currently own a 2019 Kia Niro PHEV. I'm considering a 2023 Niro. What are pros & cons of Prius over Niro other than about 10% more range per charge. Thanks!
Great video, well done.
I really love the potential of this car, but even up here in Québec where EVs are a common sight, I am have only seen a few. They need to make a lot more of them. Love your videos.
especially in Quebec, EVs make lots of sense and plug-ins much less depending of your use case.
See plenty of these in the SF Bay Area….although no as much as Teslas.
This video convinced me to buy one. Thank you from Alaska 🙂
Glad I could help!
Great video, as always. I do agree that it all comes down to the individual owner's driving needs. I owned a Volt and after a few years realized I could easily do all my road trips with a pure EV because of the robust charging network and the fact that my long trips were around 300 miles a few times a year. But others may have different needs. I think Toyota did a great job with the Prius/Prime, and if it works for you - and you can get it at a decent price - go for it.
Agreed. We both understand that a range of 200 miles is really all we need and will be going full EV in the future. But those are our conditions. Buy the vehicle that works for your needs.
@@DrivenCarReviewsi have a 2019 Chevy Volt too. I was wondering, since you reviewed both, is the Prius Prime superior? Is it with trading my almost five year old Volt for a Prius. Has five years made a difference or are they basically the same car?
This is the best I’ve watched in the Prius, thank you.
Very informative
Just got mine last month. Very impressed with this car! My other car is an EV and this will be our road tripping vehicle.
Now that makes perfect sense. Just bought my wife a 2024 Lexus NX350H. I am now waiting to see how the next gen Lexus ES looks or if an PHEV will be offered. If not, I might just buy a Lucid Air Pure for less than 200 miles trip and use the NX350H on long trips.
Your term - "road tripping vehicle" - perfectly illustrates the problem with BEVs as they're actually used. The vast majority of people who own a Tesla have another car, IN ADDITION to their Tesla, that they drive whenever they're going on a "road trip," i.e. any trip where they'd have to sit at a charging station. 99% of the time, that "road tripping vehicle" is a gas guzzler, not a hybrid. They end up buying more cars AND buying more gas than if they just owned a single PHEV that is an EV most days and a 40+mpg hybrid on "road trips."
true, though maaaany households need two cars if not more, anyway! so there's that.@@flt528
Hah, the EV owner had to go back to ice to even be able to go on trips.
@@AmericanBusinessman422 and I still save $1800 a year on gas driving an EV. My suffering is unbearable!
They definitely need to make more of these. There aren't any I can find within a few hundred miles of me in Central Texas.
Some states don't sell them as they are more or less marketed to states that have energy restrictions and or state tax rebates in addition to the federal one.. I was looking a year or so ago from Michigan, couldn't order it locally and the closest dealers with stock or allowed to get one shipped in were NY, IL and generally they had 1 car maybe ...it's mostly east coast west coast and illinois..
I own one. 1600 miles on it. I've spent $9.00 on gas (yes, that's right). mostly town driving and plug it in each night means I, literally, don't need gas until I leave town. Love this thing. My iphone 13 pro charges fine, but, I don't use a case (and you do).
I thoroughly enjoyed this review. I'm looking to change to fully electric, but hybrid is maybe the way to go.
Hi from across the pond.
There is an interesting video on plug-in hybrids and what one really needs to understand about them.
Great review, thank you. I am delighted to hear that Toyota have changed their mind and are now going to bring the new Prius to the UK in 2024 🇬🇧👏🏻
I like the new Prius but no air vents in the back are kind of a shame.
The steering wheel and display are a shame.
Yeah, the rear air vent is my only grip, otherwise i will put a deposit on one tomorrow. Now I am waiting for the next gen Lexus ES hybrid, hopefully Lexus will offer a PHEV version as well. If not I will still go with the Lexus ES hybrid for the rear vent alone.
Outstanding car. I opted for the AWD Hybrid Corolla for 12k Less. The hashtags are tacky, cheap and stupid. When toyota ditches the hashtags and introduces an AWD Prime I'll buy the prius.
Love your videos👍how’s your Chevy volt doing??
Great. No problems. Volts tend to be very reliable.
thank you good review
I bought my 23 Prius prime XSE in July. I love the car. Until recently in Vancouver, WA I could commute 20 miles round trip to work on EV only. As the rain and cold comes in if you need a defrost heater you have to use the gas engine. On my way home (11PM) the car kicks on the engine in EV mode until the coolant is hot enough. It’s usually 3 miles. The ICE kicks on as needed. Great car. It’s awesome but don’t expect to only be in EV mode year around. For me personally, having to use .1 gallons of gas a day is not a real problem 🤷🏻
Your reviews are very nicely done. Thank you. I have a Volvo PHEV Sedan. The secret for good fuel mileage in this Volvo on a longer trip is called “predictive energy function.” It’s a secret because no one reads the manual. If your trip (or round-trip) is plotted in the navigation system, the battery will be apportioned over the entire trip wherever advantageous. In my experience, this is worth another 15 to 20% in fuel mileage compared to just draining the battery first. My car is substantially heavier than this Prius, and has 455 hp and 523 lb. ft., but will regularly get 55 mpg on a 175 mile trip.
I should have been more clear. I burned the pack first to check its efficiency on the highway. Kind of PHEV 101 to save the pack for city use.
I am biased being a Corolla owner, but I think Toyota have done a great job with the new gen Prius. I wonder why they did not offer the Prime in AWD? Maybe a lack of space? Only negative for me is the gauge cluster....not being able to see the gauge cluster in full would annoy.
I enjoy this review you have made Tom. I am enjoying my toyota prius phev 2020, here in the UK. Sadly, this prius phev model is not coming to the UK. No range anxiety. I Charge daily at home, and I also charge at a public charge point, that is just 1min drive from where I work.
Thankfully Toyota has U-turned and it’s coming to the UK now.
@nicholasdevlin4582 oh waoo, that's good news. Prius would save me from going full EV, best of both worlds.
Great review... Now that my son is in college I no longer need to use my SUV for carpooling. I ended up getting a 2023 Prius Prime. No regrets here; the fuel economy is great. My commute to and from work is now just EV. Best of all, my one time fill up in the three months that I have driven it was $27.00 vs one fillup in my X5 of $118.00 every third week.... Its a no brainer. Best if all, I guess, my market markup was $4700.00. I didn't realize the price markup can be insane with other dealerships.
yep. By next summer, mark ups will be mark downs quite possibly, or at least by two summer from now. We'll possibly be back to a typical car e.g. Rav4, at 4K below msrp, as it always was and even was in '21!
We first looked at buying an EV, thinking PHEVs were the worst of both worlds, but settled on a Rav4 Prime. It's an EV 80% of the time because we don't usually drive more than 50 miles in a day. Then instead of buying a second, gas-guzzling car for long trips (which is what most Tesla owners around here do), or worrying about public charging, we just drive ONE CAR and get 40+mpg after the EV-only range is depleted. I now think that PHEVs are the best of both worlds.
I have a Chevy Volt, and I plug it in when I come home. It works great.
Thanks!
I love my used PHEV Fusion Energi as i have enough range to get to work and back without using any fuel. I also charge at home and can go on 700-800 miles before filling up. Previously my Tacoma and gx460 were my daily drivers getting 13-15mpg on average.
Have you had any issues with transmission or major problems? I see used energi getting cheaper
@@snoopingasusualisee3903 I just got the car a month ago so I can't really comment on that. However, my research so far the Fusion Energi and hybrid have both been very reliable base on owners reviews. I think the small trunk of the Energi is what's causing the low price tag as there's not storage space.
Honestly before we had a Pryus Pryme our power bill was $150. We made a few changes and it dropped to under $100 for a few years. Now it's back to $150. So even tho' we juice up our car on electric commonly, we seem to pay nothing more. Interesting stuff!
Glad to see this getting taction.. most posters just post the vanity stuff to get views but not at all practical for the majority of ppl.
A couple of years ago we would have bought a RAV4 Prime had we been able to find one. We ended up getting a fully electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 and are glad we did. We’ve had no difficulties with charging on road trips. It requires planning ahead but it’s not difficult.
I totally agree with everything you said.
Do the new model Prius's work for overnight camping like the earlier generations? Is there enough room for comfort w/ seats folded flat?
Not a high use situation so I didn’t test that
I own both a model Y & a Phev. I like them both, I plug both daily. Fanboys always say no one plugs in a Phev. To me, it is one thing I have complete control. I am lucky to own my house with a garage & I'm qualified to wire up L2 charger for just material costs for the Y. The Phev, otoh, 120vac is fine. We use the Y for trips, Phev for errands etc. I put in 10 gal ⛽ (driving everyday) for 3 months. There is a lot of use cases where Phev is good enough: rental, ❄️...until charging infrastructure & 🔋 supply, even production capacity, tip the scale, hybrid tech has a role, to reduce fossil use.
I have always loved the prime, this version is a beauty. Thanks Tom
Great review! Question, is there any feature that will switch to gas to burn it before it gets too old? Or is that purely up to the driver to track? Nearly all of our trips could be made on the battery. (Maybe that just means I should get an EV - but I'm still curious.)
I would think that using to gas motor once in awhile would be a good practice.
I believe there is (just like Volt and ELR). But I think you'll find on a day-to-day basis, you'll use the petrol little by little. Then one big trip means a trip to the gas station. Again, I fill mine half way.
Good idea to buy some marine grade Stabil so the gasoline does not get old as fast, for lots of short trips.
Yes, you can choose either Hybrid mode (will run both engine and EV motors even if battery is fully charged) or charge mode (will run engine only until battery is fully charged).
Nice review Tom, still remember your review of Mazda Speed 3 many years ago, I must have watched that video at least 50 times. If Toyota can allow consumers to upgrade the full EV mode to at least 60-100miles per charge, these will sell like hotcakes.
Toyota's biggest issue with their Prime lineup is making enough of them. Sure, people will want them, but because of the limited availability, they're hard to find. This also means dealers will mark them up, forcing people to pay even more for it than they need to.
So yeah, they can build more Primes with a given battery amount compared to say, a Tesla Model S. But the question is, are they? As it stands now, you can get a Tesla fairly quickly, and you don't have to deal with the dealer BS games ("Let me talk to my manager") either. Plus it qualifies for the US Federal tax credit for plug-ins, which Toyota currently doesn't, bringing the cost down even further for many. And starting Jan 1st, 2024, that tax credit can be applied during the time of sale, instead of having to wait for the tax year to end.
I wish Toyota well on this plug-in hybrid endeavor, but I hope they build enough to meet demand for these cars and upcoming Prime versions of their other vehicles.
I have ordered a Prius Prime but we can't get the solar roof in Canada. I tried a 2023 M3 but did not like it so I sold it. I love driving electric (had hints of it with a 2008 Escape and then 11 years of bliss with the Chevrolet Volt. The Volt was kept in a garage or covered and plugged in every night. It was operating with 80 Kms of range when I sold it, so the batteries were in excellent shape. I would buy it back if I could find it, but will have to settle for the Prius with its shorter electric range since GM ditched plug ins and is pretending to go all electric (compare how many Lyriqs have been built compared to Lyriqs actually delivered). Yes a plug in is complicated, but as I found with the Volt, if it is done right, it is great.
That subtle Cadillac ELR flex…haha
Is it worth getting the prime or just a regular one
My dream car rn. Someday I WILL be able to afford one!
I wonder if there is only a seat pocket on the passenger side seat because that's the one the driver can access. I remember back in the day when we used to use big map books pre Google days, I used to store the map in that rear passenger pocket.
It's cost savings. People sitting in back want places to put things. Think about two kids back there fighting over one pocket.
Wildy better than any Tesla ever made.
You are the next great Brian Cooley of CNET!
This car is perfect for my wife. At one point , she worked two jobs as a caretaker, one was almost two miles one-way and the other was three blocks. Based on the Prius's Electric miles only of 40miles max, she'll only have to plug TWICE overnight in a month.
I have a Honda Clarity that I bought 5 years ago. The range is rated at 47 miles and most of the year, I get that, but in the winter, it is less than 40 miles. For me though, that is more than enough. I literally go months at a time without using a drop of gas and I have gone a year between filling up. When I take trips, I use Hybrid mode, and I routinely get 43 MPG on the highway. Around town in hybrid mode, I can get 60 MPG. I have 220 volt charger and I had it installed right next to where the car is parked, and I charge the car every time I drive it, so every time I get into it, the battery state of charge is 100%. I am totally sold on having a plug in hybrid and Toyota got it about right with the battery capacity because most people can commute to work and home on a battery charge.
Does the solar roof option create more headroom than the sunroof?
Toyota's specs don't show any difference. Sit in both to make sure.
Loved it.
What I thought that I hadn't thought of before is that a PHEV doesn't need reverse on the transmission as all electric mode can cover that with this system. I've only seen one vehicle reviewed where this is apparently true...a $200,000 plus dollar McClaren but, hey if that's what it takes to get people to think
Great Review. Hands down…Best looking Prius ever IMHO. The interior packaging takes a dive though. Nice features…No turn signal mounted mirrors??? Oh well..
It takes a dive because it's pretty pretentious in trying to appear premium
Turn signal mirrors (+auto folding) only outside of NA - for some reasons...
This is a good looking Prius. Nice job Toyota, finally got me to look Priuses way.
Are the catalytic converters better protected in this car model?
There's an available security cage that can be installed.
Remarkable windshield rake.
Hey Tom, I noticed that you have a Cadillac ELR as well, and wondering how you compare to the new Prius Prime XSE.
I ask, as my ELR was written off, and picked up the Prius Prime 2 weeks ago.
The ELR was an amazing car, and most people dont know how good it is. I would ha e bought another one if I could have, but very rare in Canada.
I am very impreased with the prime XSE so far and have noticed a number of similarities, almost like Toyota followed a lot of the ELR traits.
I do miss the overall luxury of the ELR though.
I would like to know your thoughts.
The ELR is a beautiful unicorn and I like mine a lot, especially since I got a screaming deal on it. But it's not for everyone, especially being a two door with limited trunk space. And then there's the limited parts, especially body panels. The ELR has a much nicer cabin than the Prius but the Toyota will be supported well for years. Sounds like yours was totaled, hoping everyone was okay. Enjoy the Prius!
I wish they would make the sienna into a plug-in hybrid! It is already amazing, but it could be better!
I was thinking of getting one of these until I sat in it and found it too low compared to my current Prius. They keep calling it 'sexy' but I call it call it 'confining'. I ended up getting a used Honda Clarity PHEV.
Toyota has done an incredible job remaking the Prius, increasing performance without sacrificing mpg. This review of it is the best I have seen, by far. Video editing and commentary are top notch, a joy to watch and listen to. However, a Tesla Model 3 RWD costs less than this top spec Prius and has much better performance, stereo system, and features. It also has $7500 tax credit available (maybe less in 2024), making it $7500 less expensive for people that are eligible for the full credit.
Tom's charging situation, 120 V only, would also work for a Model 3 or other EV. It can provide 40-50 miles per overnight charge. Since that is enough for Tom's daily driving in a PHEV, it will be no different for an EV. The difference is that Tom would need to use superchargers instead of stoping at gas stations when taking a long trip.
120V would give around 35-40 miles overnight, I've done it. That works for some, not for others. You're comparing a top spec Prius with a base Model 3 and I would argue that Tesla does not have a better sound system and or features. But some of that is subjective. And road tripping a base 3 with 220 miles of real world range would mean a lot more charging on road trips (vs over 500 with the Prime). As always, but the vehicle that works for your needs.
@@DrivenCarReviews I agree that 120 V changing works for some, but not for everyone. Most people will need 240 V and it still is nice to have for the ones that don’t need it. As for road trips, my non-intuitive take is that it takes far more time to refuel a 500-mile Prius, than a 220-mile Tesla. For the Prius I will need to spend 5-10 minutes to stop at a gas station, fill up, pay, and leave. I will also stop for restroom breaks (I can’t go 500 miles), and for meals. For the Tesla I don’t have to stop at a gas station at all. I just charge during my restroom and meal stops, so zero time spent charging 2-4 times, vs. 5-10 minutes for refilling the Prius once.
@@DrivenCarReviews 500miles w/ Prime, and then a three minute fill up vs much more time, if can even find an open or functioning charger on the hwy or road trip
actually in some areas of California, there are so many local incentives that the totals have gotten over 20K in incentives total!
Shame the solar roof is a US only option. Vancouver, CA get the same amount of sun as Seattle.
Purchased a Q5 PHEV two days ago. Very few on the lots so the dealer hit us hard on the price.
Not many buying and not many being produced, so you will not find bunch of those on a dealers lot just standing there while they could occupy that space with more popular cars.
About 2.9 million new plug-in hybrid electric cars sales were sold worldwide in 2022. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) sales accounted for around 28.4 percent of electric vehicle sales in 2022. Meanwhile, battery electric vehicles accounted for most of the global sales that same year.
Would've liked to hear more about that gauge cluster...so you could see it ok over the wheel (except for font size) at your height? Did your wife test ability to see it at her height? Still trying to figure out if seeing it is height dependent or if you'd have to put the wheel in an awkward position just to see it.
Different people have different opinions. It depend on your torso length. You can't figure it out by looking at a video. You have to get your butt in the seat and check it for yourself.
I can definitely see the customer for this, still not sure it's worth it in multiple car households. Coming in just over the price of the base RWD model 3 (assuming you actually get one for MSRP, which is tough with Toyota lately) it shows its value, but as configured, it's still more than even a Y LR if you can qualify for that sweet federal $7500 incentive. And well it definitely won't drive like one if you want the best part of a BEV, the guilt free, quiet, ability to step on it anywhere you feel the urge. But if nothing else they're practical and definitely can just sip on the gas. And honestly, the reduced use of those precious metals in the battery is commendable and probably makes them the "green" pick in most cases.
Edison is of course only 7 miles from the Burlington Supercharger and you'd surely have had to drive right by it on the way out there, hard to really find a location in western WA that's tough trip in a Tesla anymore, but not all BEVs are as lucky today until access opens up. A trip to Republic, WA and back might make for a more interesting far from infrastructure route that most BEVs would struggle with today (A Lucid can probably stretch its legs and make it, but most will require extended level 2 use to make the trip). The Cascade loop might be another one that requires a little more resourceful charging.
Our 2024 Prime was $39,000 CAD, before the $5,000 rebate. A model 3 here costs $67,000 CAD before the $7,000 rebate. The thing is 3 months old and we have put gas in it once after over 3,000Km. And, we have an extra $20,000 in the bank.
Thank you Tom, thank you Mrs Voelk, and thank you Martin Campbell. To Mrs Voelk, don't be shy. We've already seen you in previous videos, and you are very pretty.
My wife says thanks for the compliment. She's too shy to comment herself.
@@DrivenCarReviews I understand. I used to be shy too. Mr Voelk makes up for Mrs Voelk's shyness 😁
Everywhere is putting ethanol in the fuel, which really doesn't last more than three months before going bad, so I prefer pure hybrids because its very cheap to run and you don't have to think about gas going old or having to ever plug in, it just works without thinking about it and you still get all the regenerative breaking and stop/start benefits. They are also often lighter weight so your tires last longer and when the battery eventually fails in say 12 years, its a lot cheaper to replace a hybrid battery compared to a plugin hybrid battery as they are much smaller.
FYI: Toyota's official guidance on gasoline (from the RAV4 Prime user manual) is "refuel at least 5.3 gallons of fuel every 12 months."
The government indicates that stored properly, E10 fuel is rated for its octane for a period of 3 months. After 12 months I'm sure the fuel will still go "bang", but its probably dropped a few octanes. Here in Houston we also have super high humidity and ethanol is super water philic so it'll suck it all out of the air into the fuel. I just rather never worry about that or charging, especially since often you just want to park in front of the house not near a power outlet. at 50+ mpg your annual fuel usage will still be tiny. @@randalllewis4485
This is standard misinformation. The numbers show the PHEV can be cheaper to fuel in the long run and chances are the battery pack will never have to be replaced. 400 pounds won't make a noticeable difference in tire wear. Also, gas does not need to be used up in 90 days. Another myth.
Might be my next car
At .30¢ an kWh for electric and gas prices around mid $3 a prime or ev has very little advantage over my non plug in Prius. It may even increase the cost depending on variables such as season, cost per gallon and ev efficiency. I’d still like an ev so I don’t have to do oil changes, stop for gas and have fewer moving parts.
i am buying a 07 Prius with only 25k on it today. NOT for $60k, LOL. It is like new, and @6'1", I am not even interested in this new model. Very good review. Thank you very much.
Toyota has up the game by a big margin in terms of styling this gen Prius inside and out.
That's only surface deep.
The inside part is not enough. It has the bones of a 2018 Corolla Hybrid with an added HV plugin battery 5 years later.
Sure, if there was more variation of body designs, a sport Prius would be excellent, but there isn't any variety. It's effectively a premium, exclusive offering. That's not a good look for Toyota who are a decade behind EVs eating its market share
@@toyotaprius79I would prefer Corolla hatchback hybrid to Prius, but in the US Corolla hybrid only comes as a sedan.
Used volts are a good 2nd option than the primes. I can usually find 2nd gens fro under 20k and under 75k miles. Minus the potential porblems of a chevy they are on par with the specs. The prime is definitely more luxurious though!!
I've been driving a Prius Prime Advanced for 5 years. If you expect to exceed the battery range, the correct way to use the vehicle is to switch to HV mode as soon as you get on the highway or as soon as your destination is out of range ot the remaining charge. Don't drain the battery to "empty" (30%). As you approach your destination and get into the range of the remaining charge, switch back to EV mode. You want to use the low speed efficiency of electric motor to get up to speed at the beginning of your trip and for the slower driving as you get near your destination. It's time to plug in. Switch to free or discounted night electricity if available.
Otherwise, great job.
In the winter, we put it in HV mode at the start of any long trip where we leave in the morning. The engine runs, warming up the car and the battery, and the outside temp goes up as the day goes on. Once car and air temp are warmer, we put it back in EV, even though we're usually on the highway at that point. Cold temps have a huge impact on battery range - more so than highway vs city, I believe.
We finally got our 24 Prime after a 21 month wait. Love it already after 3 months of ownership. We have driven it almost 3,000Km now, almost all of it in EV Mode and actually put gas in it for the first time a week ago. And that was because we had to drive a 300Km highway round trip. When I drive in EV Mode, the car usually exceeds the advertised range, my best day was 81.5Km with 28% charge left. My wife has a heavier right foot so her results reflect that.
In a way, I was somewhat disappointed with that first highway trip. In anticipation, we had charged the battery to 100% thinking that in Hybrid Mode (the first time we'd selected it), the car would alternate between gas and electric (like our first 2 non-Prime Prius' did), and return very high milage numbers. But, not so. Even in Hybrid Mode the car ran strictly on battery until it died at almost 85km. Why. Still, when the engine did kick-in we wound-up with over 61Mpg at the end of the trip. We have 17" wheels and did not need to use AC/heat on the trip (oh, and I was driving), God love her.
The A pillar is an issue. I owned a 2004 Prius and had the opportunity to drive a friend’s new Prius. I noticed greater difficulty getting in and out of the seat. Beyond that, a much more attractive vehicle.
On a separate note, the plug-in hybrid option would be, I think, a wise option in much of the truck market. I’m a big fan of EV’s, have one myself, but Toyota is at least partially correct. Plug-in hybrids are sometimes the smarter option.
We have to ask ourselves, what has taken Toyota so long to still not offer a Prius pickup?
The Ford Maverick hybrid was made over a decade after the Escape, puts Toyota to shame
Toyota executives have squandered everything
Great review! I love my RAV4 Prime. One small nitpick.. at 7:15 in the video, I think you meant to say “PHEVs work best in Urban areas…” you said rural. Did I mishear that?
In contrast to a BEV, they make a lot of sense in rural where DCFC infrastructure doesn't exist and you still want to minimize gas usage.
Like this car unfortunately they are not bringing to the uk
Aha! You solved the mystery of how the passenger seat was empty/unoccupied during your road trip. [it had me puzzled]
Well demonstrated, thanks Tom.
What I think this misses on the BEV side is that the locations you visited have no fewer than 10 potential level 2 charge stations and a fast charging station being installed in Anacortes. Yes, mostly destination charging for now, but that's why we're heading to these locations... hiking, sightseeing, browsing local towns and dining/shopping... all pursuits perfect for a dwell time in hours, rather than minutes.
Although the PHEV can use these too (except the DCFC, when it's eventually live), the range it adds to a BEV removes any lingering anxiety, which these days is all but gone in most 250+ mile modern EVs.
So while PHEV certainly still offers several benefits, BEVs close the gap with every additional charger... and there are A LOT more chargers in the pipeline! In effect, the buyer needs to think of not just this year, but where the market will be in a few years. Will anyone want the added complexity of a combustion engine when we reach the end of the decade? I have serious doubts, based on where EV technology is headed.
I want a plug in Sienna.