IS 2023 Toyota Prius Prime BETTER than an EV?

Hot on the heels of the 2023 Prius Hybrid, which is faster, better-appointed, and overall more fun to drive over any previous model, is the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime. Not only does it have even more power it looks just as good as the regular model which if you remember had looks only a mother could love.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:26 Exterior
1:39 Under The Hood
2:48 Cargo Space
3:10 Pricing
3:38 What We Don't LIke
3:57 Interior And Tech
7:09 Driving
12:28 Verdict
From the outside, there are some minor badging changes, including the rear tailgate which now says Prime, and it gets sportier-looking 19-inch wheels on its XSE and XSE Premium trims. At the front, there's some silver trim around the lower air dam, and accompanying the gas flap on the other side is an SAE J1772 charging port.
Powertrain and Transmission
Under the hood lurks the upgraded engine and mechanicals that make all the difference here. The Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder expands from 1.8 to 2.0 liters and now has a much more respectable 150 horsepower and 139 pound-feet of torque.
But there's more the engine works with 2 permanent-magnet AC electric motors one which drives the front wheels and the second is integrated into the Prius Prime's planetary gear set. Together they produce 161 hp which combined with the gas engine gives you 220 hp in total which is almost 100 hp over the outgoing Prime. Power is routed to the front wheels only (there's talk of an AWD model) via a CVT transmission.
Those extra horses pay huge dividends, 0-60 now takes a mere 6.5 seconds which is almost 4 seconds faster than the 2022 model. Staggering!! More good news Toyota has fitted a bigger lithium-ion battery which provides up to 44 miles of electric-only range (SE model, the XS and XSE have 39 miles), and even with the battery depleted, it will deliver an impressive 48-mpg.
The battery will recharge in about eleven hours on a standard 120V home outlet and in about 4 hours on a level II charger under ideal conditions. And if you can’t plug it in, it’s okay, the Prius Prime won't leave you stranded since it will continue to run as a hybrid. As an added bonus my tester came with a solar roof ($610) which Toyota says can feed up to 185 watts to the battery or the 12-volt electrical system, which is enough for a few shopping trips.
2023 Toyota Prius Prime XSE Premium Numbers
BASE PRICE: $39,170
AS TESTED PRICE: $43,703
ENGINE: DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle inline-4 + 2 AC motors,
POWER: 150 hp, 139 lb-ft
COMBINED POWER: 220 HP
BATTERY: 10.9-kWh lithium-ion battery pack
TRANSMISSION: Continuously variable automatic
ZERO TO 60 MPH: 6.5
CURB WEIGHT: 3,571 lb
TIRES: TOYO All Season 195/50R-19
CARGO SPACE: 20.3 ft³, 26.7 ft³ with seat area
FUEL ECONOMY: Combined/City/Highway - 48/50/47 mpg
OUR OBSERVED: 38.9 mpg
PROS: Great styling, zippy, on-road handling, doesn’t like fuel
CONS: Buzzy 4-cylinder, reduced rear headroom, no rear seat vents

[@margolehman5482]

I have the same car (sans the solar roof, mores the pity) and I got 47.5 all EV miles two days ago. Very happy with it. Digital Mirror is pretty essential if you keep the back seats up.

[@Martinko_Pcik]

In Canada $5000 Federal rebate makes it a no brainer compared with hybrid version.
Price is too close to Tesla Model 3 - the car which stays relevant for years thanks to periodic sw updates. I have a dilemma to solve.

[@BugsMXII]

Helpful review, thanks.

[@paranoidhumanoid]

After seeing deep freeze on Tesla's batteries and charging station fails, the PHEVs like this Prius Prime is a more worthwhile and practical option. Most daily commutes are under 30 miles so this is PERFECT.

[@mrxman581]

I read that there are HVAC vents underneath the front seats.

[@tommyjakobsen5504]

NO its NOT... its a Hybrid wast of time and money.