2023 Toyota Prius Prime (Or Why Plug-In Hybrids Rule)
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 23 июл 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).
#automotive #cars #automobile #toyota #toyotaprius #toyotapriusprime
Get Free Real-World Pricing And Invoice Info! quotes.driven.ws
SUBSCRIBE HERE ► bit.ly/SUB2DRIVEN
TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS BY CLICKING THE “BELL” BUTTON AFTER SUBSCRIBING!
FOLLOW TOM VOELK ON TWITTER ► / tomvoelk
2023 Toyota Prius Prime, 2023 Toyota Prius Prime review, 2023 Toyota Prius Prime interior, 2023 Toyota Prius Prime solar roof,
Toyota Prius Prime price, Toyota Prius Prime charging, Tom Voelk, Tom Volk, Tom Voelk car reviews, Tom Volk car reviews, plug in hybrid, Prius plug in hybrid, Prius plug in hybrid range, car reviews, Driven, Driven Car Reviews, Bow Edison Washington, Breadfarm,
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 
Авто/Мото
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.
As I hope you know, your reviews are thorough and great. Always a pleasure to watch them, Tom. Thank you!
Much appreciated, Abbott!
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)
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.
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.
Excellent video and analysis. We appreciate you!
Great content and professionally executed! Tom, you need to have 1M+ subs.
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.
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?
I just love Tom’s reviews 👍🏻
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Great video, Tom.
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!
Great video as always--spotted a rare 20th Anniversary Edition GTI at 6:43, had one in the same color :)
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.
Your videos are the best!
I’m so glad you explained the TP, I thought you were buying all of that every time 😂
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.
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!
8:09 Tom Voelk, the perfect customer for every vehicle type. Man I wish I were you.
Great video, well done.
Very sensible review as usual from Tom
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.
One of the best automotive journalist. Keep up the good work sir.
Nikki Gordon Bloomfield of Transport Evolved
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).
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.
This video convinced me to buy one. Thank you from Alaska 🙂
Glad I could help!
I normally don’t comment on these things, but something about this guy I really like. Great video
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!
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 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.
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 🤷🏻
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, 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 🇬🇧👏🏻
This is the best I’ve watched in the Prius, thank you.
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!
Very informative
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 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.
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 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.
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.
There is an interesting video on plug-in hybrids and what one really needs to understand about them.
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...
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
Love your videos👍how’s your Chevy volt doing??
Great. No problems. Volts tend to be very reliable.
Wildy better than any Tesla ever made.
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!
Is it worth getting the prime or just a regular one
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
That subtle Cadillac ELR flex…haha
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.
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
Thanks!
I have a Chevy Volt, and I plug it in when I come home. It works great.
I have always loved the prime, this version is a beauty. Thanks Tom
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!
Are the catalytic converters better protected in this car model?
There's an available security cage that can be installed.
The Prius has always been the “king” of hybrids however they have always been rather small and not even the slightest bit interesting to look at. Toyota seems to have gotten the memo that people like their cars to look good not just be reliable and efficient. Personally I’m cool with a vehicle that isn’t attractive as long as it passes as safe, reliable, affordable, and fun to drive. That said it doesn’t hurt if said vehicle also looks cool. Awesome video as always Tom!!
I’ve got a 2nd gen Prius, if you saw the stuff I have hauled in that thing you would never call it small again. My wife and I even did cross country road trip and slept in it.
Prius since the 2nd gen have all been larger on the inside than they look. Our Prius v ( that’s the van version ) which I think is rather good looking is huge inside and you will find them in use as taxis all over Europe and NYC.
The Rav4 is not small. All the same technology from the Prius, but a bigger car with a bigger battery. I am baffled that Toyota doesn't make plug-in versions of more of its cars though. Why on Earth would they not offer a Camry Prime?
@@flt528 They can’t even come up with enough batteries for the Prime models they already have. Finding a RAV4 or Prius Prime is close to impossible and finding one for MSRP is actually important.
thank you good review
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.
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.
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.
So let me get this straight, so I drive 168 km to commute there and back. One way is 84KM and it's about 80/20 HWY driving.
Could I realistically get 64 km on one charge, plug it in well at work and get another 8 hours of charging for free and drive back home? I have no issues with plugging it in every day as this would greatly reduce my fuel consumption if this is how it actually goes. Even if I got let's say 124 km on just EV range total then this means I'm only using 40 km of fuel everyday. Would this not be bad fully depleting the battery twice a day?
I have no idea how fast or hard you drive, or the average temperature where you live. But on average, 60km should be doable for you if the climate is mild and your highway speed is 100kmh and under. I know someone that does kind of what you're planning with a Chevy Volt. I'm not sure about Toyota's battery endurance, last time I checked her she had 130K miles (210km) on her 2nd gen Volt and still gets 45 miles out of a charge.
Hey begley,
We got our 2024 Prime in March when temperatures were hovering between 5c and 9c. In those conditions I managed 60+Km on a charge. However, the thing is, that was only possible if there were no parasitic electrical loads. So, no AC or heat, and prudent driving of course.
Now, with summer-like daily highs around 16 on average, the battery will take me (but not my wife, they should have called her Mario), at least 80Km (same rule for loads). Since March we have only filled the tank once in over 3,000Km and that was in aid of a 300Km trek. On that day at 100Kph the battery lasted for 81.5Km. Today after 38Km the computer said the remaining range was over 50Km with 56% charge left. Gas here is around 6.75 a US Gallon. Hydro is just 14.3Kwh. After the power ran out and the hybrid kicked-in we got over 61Mpg on the by-way route home. BTW, you cant fully deplete the Traction battery nor, can you actually charge it to 100%. There are "buffers", high and low to help the battery last longer.
Loved it.
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.
My dream car rn. Someday I WILL be able to afford one!
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.
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 😁
I wish they would make the sienna into a plug-in hybrid! It is already amazing, but it could be better!
This is a good looking Prius. Nice job Toyota, finally got me to look Priuses way.
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.
I can get 50 miles out of a charge on my Rav4 Prime sticking to the streets, but full charge at 80mph it gets like 20 miles. I always use gas at highway speeds.
I like the plug-in hybrid concept. I like the fact that electricity, so far, costs much less per mile than a gallon of gas and even more so if you can tap into your own excess home solar panel capacity. What I don’t like is the EV only range. The common 25-35 mile range needs to be doubled or tripled . Most commuters just can’t get to and from work within that range. I’d also like for them to be upgraded to 150 k watt or above fast charging and include an NACS charging interface. Maybe it will get figured out by 2025 or 2026.
As the presenter said, assuming the car will always being charged overnight and used daily it will run at least 10 000 miles a year on electricity. That's like 80 percent of the average distance driven in the US.
And with a bit of planning all city use when the MPG is at its worst electricity can be used.
Most important, this gives you a choice, two ways to propel come brown/black outs, price hikes, nat disasters. Choice is good.
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.
Not providing two rear seat pockets is psychologically annoying to me, due in part to my desire for symmetry. Then again, I get upset about there being a steering wheel and pedals on one side only.😋
You are the next great Brian Cooley of CNET!
Is it possible to drive this in gas mode and never charge the vehicle ? I was told that by using gas it charges hence you can then drive electric. Is this true ?
1. There is no “gas” mode, it’s just regular hybrid mode which does run on a combined use of the high voltage battery and gas.
2. The “hold charge” feature as mentioned in the video is used to hold the battery power for use later. As with any hybrid, the battery can be recharged automatically using the gas engine and regenerative braking. However, these alone are not enough to charge the battery to full capacity, and would be extremely inefficient to do so. You will need to plug the vehicle in to fully charge the battery, and make the most of your EV range.
If that's your intention, buy the standard Prius Hybrid. You'd be wasting money with the Prime.
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 inquired about a prius snd thr dealership wanted 10k above MSRP. I hate Toyota and their dealerships. I bought a Tesla instead and absolutely love it. Everything was perfect, from the buying experisnce to the delivery of the vehicle. Love my Model Y.
A friend of mine found one for MSRP. Shop around.
That severely raked windshield would be a deal killer for me. I currently drive a Lincoln MKZ whose windshield is raked less severely than the Prius (but still pretty steep), and I have found many times that maneuvering in tight spaces is difficult because the A pillar blocks so much of the view (I nearly hit a woman in a parking lot once because she was completely hidden!). This Prius would be even worse. Other than that, this new generation has a lot going for it.
It's really bad for countries with much smaller more sane roads like in Europe.
Glad you explained the TP test, always wondered if you had an arrangement with a local COSTCO
The A pillar is on the thin side so it has that going for it. But you really need to check, get in the car.
They try to make it up with a lot of extra sensors and automatic braking features. And 360 if you splurge
Well, I’m at the opposite end of the spectrum, with my lowly but much-loved Prius gen 3. There are a couple, not many, proper comparisons out there that show over certain journeys PHEVs are almost exactly as expensive as hybrids. In fact, more expensive for certain use-cases. This backs up what was said at the beginning, right off the bat, that in effect using a power drill to hammer-in a nail, was not a productive use of tools (! I paraphrase). Pause while I imagine Tom doing this…ok, so what I can say for sure is, the most common thought to go through my head while gingerly coaxing my gen 3 to do this particular route home I have, where I can make it 2 miles on EV alone (lots of downhill, but mixed, you’d still have to use gasoline if it wasn’t a hybrid), that thought is ‘if only it had a slightly bigger battery’.
I have tumbled around in my mind how much of a bigger battery and concluded that the outer limit would be 4 x the present size, therefore winding back, we get to 2x or 3x - for a ‘normal’ hybrid. And that’s the trouble. As soon as you spec the hybrid, with a 5kWh battery or so, it starts to scream out ‘Can’t you give me the feature to charge directly from residential electrical outlets?’ The whole hybrid schtick is the juggling, which any hybrid driver will be familiar with, the vehicle has to do between the ICE engine and the EV battery. The more I think about this, the bigger I think the issue is of creating the ‘thinking’ or algorithm, to deal with this.
I used to do a bit of programming, and this is why I never do it any more - haha. Drove me nuts, I had to have it perfect, and it never is. But it has given me a little insight into what hybrid makers like Toyota have had to do - and essentially it’s this: it’s a rubber ball in a tube. At one end, is fully empty battery, at the other is fully charged battery. However, for good reasons to do with battery longevity and also keeping the ICE warm (you couldn’t miss writing that, come on!), Toyota et al, make sure the rubber ball never gets to either end of the tube. So their algorithm essentially, mimics you having this tube, say 3 feet long, with a rubber ball inside, and you see-saw all day long. You drop one end a half-inch and the ball rolls toward full battery…then before it reaches this, you go ‘woh!’ and see-saw it back towards empty battery…but almost as soon as you’ve done that, the ball almost reaches the ‘empty’ end of the tube. And so you see-saw all day long, and sometimes the ball does hit one end or the other, as long as it’s nit often that’s fine…
…and the analogy can be continued…the bigger the battery in your hybrid/PHEV, the longer that tube is in effect. You can be in the mode of heading for fully discharged, for a lot longer, and indeed tip that tube more, make the ball run faster. You then dutifully tip the tube back before it reaches the ‘fully discharged’ end, and you’ve got longer to go that way too. But, bear in mind, every long run down to the ‘fully charged’ end, is your car having to be braked, or find a nice hill to regen-brake down, and a bigger battery means a longer time working on filling it up. But, there is the reward of course, in that you can go ages, discharging ie electric-only drive.
This is what their software has to manage, this flip-flopping or see-sawing from the mode of charging-up, to the mode of discharging, all day long. I realised, with my analogy, the bigger the battery, the more this effort can go kinda wrong. They don’t know what topography you have where you live or maybe even what route you are taking. [Asterisk here - this was covered of course by Tom later in the vid]. So their poor algorithm cannot even say ‘hey, there’s a great downhill coming soon, I can expend ALL my energy in helping get up this side of the hill, because I know there’s a big recharge section coming up, I can tailor this to expend most of the battery energy, just about the hill’s peak’. Making the hybrid a PHEV means there’s a sigh of relief - now, the job is simply to make sure you use all the electric if possible, before starting the gasoline engine. Or, make like a ‘normal’ hybrid if that’s the mode chosen by the driver (this is my understanding, you have these options).
So it’s an EV that drags a gas engine around all day, or a gasoline car that drags a big battery and powerful electric motor all day, or just a ‘normal’ hybrid. It does make enormous sense, if you have your own power station ie solar panels or a wind turbine, as anyone watching this video probably knows. The issue is, who’s able to capitalise on this particular concept? If you are pretty affluent, you would have to be nuts (imho) not to be rigged up with at least some solar panels etc, for your home. But then, that’s offsetting your home electric bill possibly not generating enough to charge this PHEV car, extra?
Didn’t mean to ramble - too late IKR - but will end my view by saying this is where transition phases place everyone. Back when a car was a new thing, you’d have been mad to buy one if you already had a stable, 4 horses, and a carriage. One was noisy and smelly, the other one not. One worked with refuelling en route anywhere there’s a grass verge (!), the other needed special smelly flammable liquid, and was an actual ‘contraption’ really. Probably less reliable than a horse.
But once motor cars became widespread, it became the case that having a horse and carriage was the problem way to go. Fewer blacksmiths. Harder roads. Vet bills. Feed bills, etc. Anyway, I bought the exact type of vehicle I could make best use of - it has boatloads of wasted heat energy, suiting my northern climate where we are (Northern England), and a small battery so it’s not hugely expensive to mend or replace. It also happens to be free of our UK ‘road tax’ by a quirk of the taxation at the time (now no longer), although our insurance for motor vehicles in the UK has just about DOUBLED for whatever reason, in the last 12 months. Thereby, handing every penny of my ‘saved’ tax money, over to the insurance company.
Ah well. I told my MP (our congress reps) I’d vote for whoever halves fuel taxation. They seemed horrified. But having a hybrid, doesn’t make you immune from ridiculous gasoline prices, it literally rolls them simply down to what they were two years ago, or put another way, still way above what drivers in the US pay. Good review though, thanks. Take care all.
So, what are you paying for fuel in The UK. I should know as we were there in April.
I went to Aurora Toyota, here in Ontario, Canada, and I asked what is the wait time for a Prius Prime? He replied that due to the extremely high demand, the wait time is anywhere from 3.5 years to 4 years. My jaw dropped and hit the floor when he said that !!! 4 years ?!?!
extremely low production rates, doesn't mean that car is actually really popular, it only means that there are few times more people who wants one than there is production lines for it.
At the event that I attended a few months back, Toyota said they were bringing 10,000 to the US in 2023, 15,000 in 2024. Personally, I think that is far too low but again, it’s one of the complaints I have about Toyota’s stance on EVs versus hybrids. They just don’t make enough of the hybrids.
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.