Thanks for the review, you reviewed exactly the same color and interior as my car. I got this car about a month on the east coast. This year on east coast the weather is up and down, but even at around 30F I still get 23miles of EV range, and I got close to 30 miles when temperature around 50. Definitly a EV very close or above EPA says.
I have been driving the Canadian variant of the Prius Prime since July and am thoroughly enjoying it. Much more lively and comfortable than my Gen 3 Prius. Since my local driving suits the range, I am still on the original tank of gas - all my long distance driving (about 35,000 KM this year) has been in my Roadtrek. I do notice the EV range dropping as the weather gets cooler but it still works for our usual usage. Cool car!
The design is way better than the regular Prius. The back end is still 😷. I'm looking at this, Kia Niro, Volt and Bolt. Hope you can review the Niro and Bolt.
I tried both the Volt and Prime. The Volt would be my first pick based on overall impressions. However, after a few minutes of driving in that manual adjust seat, my back was in excruciating pain. There's no power seat option, and the whole ergo/seating geometry was completely off for me. It's been a week since I drove it and my back is still screwed up. I was heartbroken that I had to pass on the Volt. It really checked most of the boxes for me, except there was no sunroof option. So having had to write off the Volt, I tried the Prime. I am not a big fan of the goofy center stack dash layout concept of the Prius line in general. Frankly, it’s a big turn off for me, but I still need to objectively evaluate the overall car. The 11" display was certainly cool. Unfortunately, the sales person they assigned to me didn't know enough about it to demonstrate it in any detail or answer some of my technical questions. He had to go back into the dealership several times to get the answers I wanted. Handling, acceleration, and turning radius were all good. The lane keep assist worked fine. I am not a fan of the JBL system they put in these Prius models. It just doesn't have clarity at the highest volumes, where I like to listen to good headbanging music. To me, the Volt had the better sound system. One of the big pluses, and a key feature I look for in cars I'm evaluating, is the heating steering wheel, which comes standard with the Advanced package. When you open the lift gate you are greeted with a higher up than normal storage bed, due to the batteries residing in that area. My initial impression was that you might not even be able to stand a bag of groceries up in there, but on reflection, I think it was a matter of perspective. Still, it seems to be lagging in usable space in the hatch area. The Volt seemed to have more vertical space there, if I recall, but it had a much higher lip that you might be struggling with if you are lifting in/out heavier items. My overall side by side impressions between the two is really mixed. Since neither has an available sunroof, I'll leave that out of the equation. - Forgetting about my personal ergonomic and seating problems for a moment . . . . . For overall tech, performance, and presentation, I would lean toward the Volt. However, I would also shy away from it, given Chevy's overall ongoing quality and reliability issues across the brand, and the reliability downgrade in Consumer Reports. Robotic assembly may build the cars well, but that doesn't necessarily mean the design engineering will result in a car that will have minimal problems outside of the warranty. I have a lot experience in dealing with GM on warranty issues. Few have been pleasant experiences. They tend to pick and choose what warranty issues they want to address, and you need to find the right dealer to go to bat for you. One GM truck I had to get rid of because of an engine problem GM didn't care to address and the vehicle was only one year new. FYI, I currently own another GM truck, which has done pretty well over the years. So again, GM quality and warranty support is hit or miss. The Prime certainly had the tech and performance, but I liked the Volt’s road feel and sound system better. The EV range difference between the two is not an issue for me, as I’m not buying a vehicle to primarily use for EV driving and advantages. One of my hot buttons is to find a hybrid that also has a heated steering wheel. The center-centric dash layout leaves something to be desired, but I think that 11” screen more than makes up for it. Opinions will certainly vary on this. One thing that is a major plus for the Prime is the Toyota quality and reliability. So for my needs and criteria, I think the Prime would be the choice. YMMV depending on what your priorities are. In general, I would not rate one better than the other. I would say one may just have a few more pluses than the other, depending on your needs and preferences. HOWEVER . . . . . I am very interested in trying out the Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In. The regular hybrid version is due to show up around April 2017 and the Plug-in around Sept. 2017. It's been in the UK and European market for the past year already. So I've watched many RUclips reviews on it. This could be the one and it might be worth the wait. We'll see in September!
imaniguana I'm sorry that the seats in the Volt were incompatible with your back. If you really wanted the power train of the Volt and are willing to buy a used car, I would recommend looking at a Cadillac ELR. It is based on the first generation Volt and has power seats, but is a coupe with a small trunk and cramped back seats.
Even though the Volt doesn't have the MPG that the Prius Prime has and is more expensive, I would take the Volt over the Prime for the 53 miles with no use of gas, it is also more fun to drive too, so the Volt is my top pick.
I got the 4500 rebate. Sweet!! Have not fill gas for the past 2-3 months. But, I am not convinced about the acceleration or CVT. Finding difficult to adapt coming from a 6V vehicle. My wallet is happy though...
Thanks for the (further) review! I had heard from seemingly-reliable sources that, on the P.Prime, unlike on the regular Prii, the B on the gearshift does not engage engine braking, but instead functions like Tesla's "normal mode," or the Bolt/Volt low-gear. That is, it instead engages much more regenerative braking as you ease off the accelerator pedal, and has no other effects.
Very informative. I'm not a Prius fan, but appreciate that it is a well built and has low cost of ownership. Your review brought up points why people still buy these.
Great review as usual Alex. However, I do think a bit more time on the safety technology in these cars is warranted. Although not safety per se, was wondering if you tried out the auto-park feature and your thoughts on it? Thanks.
I put it in hv mode occasionally on the 60mph. Stretch and manipulate the available EV. So I have it for town. The car learns your driving style and popular roads and knows to slow down for stops
One thing to be aware of is Chevrolet also puts cash on the hood of the Volt. I have a dealer near me that sells the fully loaded Volt for $37k all the time, that is before the rebate.
Aside from Alex's stellar review, I must be missing something as I don't see why the 'Prime" is a big deal. Would much rather see an all electric Prius. Toyota already has the platform. I would think they can produce an all electric Prius with a 200 mile range.
Correction: the base Prius Prime Plus comes standard with navigation, as well as auto emergency braking, radar cruise and powerful LED headlights. Even without government incentives, it is price competitive with comparably equipped conventional automatic hatchbacks like the Mazda3, Elantra GT, Civic, Cruze, GTI, Forte5 and Impreza. Even if you never plug it in, you will also save big time on fuel and maintenance. With $4500 or more in incentives, the Prius Prime Plus is a steal, with many more features than a conventional hatchback at $22600. And, you may be able to do most of your daily driving in EV mode -- it's like getting a high-tech "poor man's Tesla" for the price of a Civic.
Great review Alex, thank you. I have a question concerning the drive modes. What is the "electric" range on EV Auto mode and how does the fuel economy compare to the normal hybrid mode?
This prius looks a lot better than the standard model. It would be great if all of them looked this way, though I guess the better design is part of the incentive to pay for the prime model.
Alex once again a great review. I'm not crazy about the design, but it is a matter of taste. I think it will age fast. I'm surprise that the price of the Prius is not lower. After the million + sales since the beginning, the R&D costs must be paid by now and with the price of the battery cut by more then half??? Even with the rebate, it is hard to justify buying an hybrid or a plug-in compare with a regular car of the same size.
Very informative review. One of the best I've seen on the Prime. I was considering waiting for the Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in, but I recently read a Car and Driver review that said it gets around 51 MPG in hybrid mode, but the worst thing is that the car can never be driven in a purely EV mode. It seems to operate the way the first Prius Plugin did in that if you floor it, the gas engine helps out the EV battery. So, yes, it can get 27 miles in EV but you can never drive those 27 miles ONLY in EV. That's a deal breaker for me because it means I'll always end up using gas even though my daily commute is less than 27 miles. I foresee just getting on the a freeway onramp in LA causing the gan engine to kick in even if I"m in EV mode on the Ioniq. I like just about everything else in the Ioniq including the fact that you can get a moonroof on it, but no EV only mode for those 27 miles is a huge deal breaker. I already drive a 2004 Prius hybrid. I now want to drive an EV even if that only means I can do it for 25 miles at a time. I don't want to feel like I'm still driving a hybrid most of the time.
Operating cost vs the Chevy Volt. It also depends on the cost of electricity. Mine is about 1/2 as much as gas so I suspect my payback on the extra cost of the Volt would 3-4 years.
We're adding solar to our house roof now. Part of the plan is to sell our 2015 Prius and buy a plug-in. There are two big reasons I won't be buying a Prius Prime, and several smaller reasons. Big reasons 1) Only seats 4 2) I don't like the large LCD screen. Smaller reasons 1) The EV only range is just a bit tight for our daily drive. 2) I hate the white accents. 3) Missing rear window wiper. 4) 19 Cu Ft cargo space. 5) I've never liked the gauges being centered by the windshield (after 200K miles driving a Prius) 6) Outside looks of cars isn't a very important factor for me (evidence - I drive a Prius) but Toyota is going in a different direction than I am. I'm much more inclined to wait for the Hyundai Ionic Plug-In or Kia Niro Plug-In which are supposed to be available around the end of 2017. All of my issues with the Prime are answered in these two Korean offerings. The Kia Nire Plug-In also does only have 19 Cu Sq ft of cargo space which is a problem for us.
Hi Alex, @13:00 you are showing Sonata (PHEV?) all the way to the left in the graph. But it has a 27 mile EV range. It should be between Prime and Volt.
I hope one day you get to do Model 3 review! I watch many car reviews but you seem to be the best at doing it. I still think this may be my next car though. Unless I can hold off long enough for the model 3.
we have the grand down on the tesla 3 but I'm very concerned about the lack of charging availability on Long Island. I'm also concerned that while starting at $35K by the time you deck it out like you want it, you're going to have $50k in it. This seems like a very nice car (we have a 2009 now) and it was a great review. Thanks!
Nice. Video, I have a quick question If one drive the car without charging the battery from charge portal/home. How much Mileage it will give? If you driving the car down hill, won't it will charge the whole battery as its single piece.
The chevy Volt looks far better. The Prius looks like something out of a Japanese Cartoon. That twenty-five mile electric only range is modest. The Volt has the advantage on both range and design. The third generation Prius design was acceptable.
great review and information content as always. Really like the front end headlight design and the rear design much better than the regular Prius. The overall fuel economy number being worse than the level 2 trim eco is disappointing. The lack of three seats across the back makes it a TOTAL fail. And The Limited cargo space doesn't help either. Same issue with the Chevy Volt I'd be all over a Chevy Volt if you could put three people in the backseat. Toyota should have taken the time to redo the suspension or structure to keep that middle seat. You eliminate anybody that wants to use it for rideshare. and honestly 25 miles of range doesn't really get you much of anywhere where I live. So I guess I'll look at the level 2 Eco if I ever decide to upgrade. Or the Hyundai ioniq Kia Niro
VoltecRules the Volt's back seat is so small, I'm not sure how to get four people in it, let alone five. The Prime's biggest shortcoming is the raised floor in the rear hatch, considerably eating into the already-small storage space back there. A road trip for four people would be a struggle with the limited luggage space.
VoltecRules we have three TDIs including a 12 Passat DSG that has been outstanding. It has averaged 42 MPG over 110,000 miles including two coast-to-coast road trips. We are waiting for our Tesla Model 3, which will hopefully go into production soon. We got on the waiting list on day one, so we should be able to take advantage of the full federal tax credit. As for the Bolt EV, I looked at it in Detroit and it is very impressive. The packaging and interior space are both outstanding, power and range are good. Charging speed leaves a bit to be desired in a battery on its size, which will make it less than ideal for longer road trips. Hopefully Chevy boosts its quick charging ability to 100kW or more in the near future. The other downside is electric-only heat. I feel like a heat pump is a must on any electric vehicle. To be completely fair, Tesla hasn't adopted heat pumps yet either.
at 7:30 the trunk comfort index that you gave at 7 is WAY too generous. given how you are situated in a most uncomfortable manner, I'd give it a score of 3 perhaps a grade F
Great review Alex. I think if Tesla can make good on it's promise of a $35 to $50k EV, mass produced with minimal manufacturing time by the end of this year, cars like the Prius and Volt and Ioniq are going to become pretty forgettable before too long. A hybrid or plug-in hybrid can save you a few bucks on gas right now compared to a Honda Civic or a Nissan Max or Altima, but in the end you generally pay more for a hybrid, and you still have all the moving parts of an engine and transmission to deal with. To me, only a true EV is worth the added cost of going up to that next level of fuel economy over a simple 4-banger. Also I would not look for those cash incentives for hybrids and EVs to last much longer, as as many state governments will now feel empowered by Trump to cease subsidizing energy-efficient cars. Big oil is going to LOVE these next 4 years. But I eagerly await the day when I can buy American and give the finger to big oil, car dealers and Trump all at the same time!
The Tesla model 3's quoted pricing is after the rebate and after expected 5 year fuel savings which is an odd way to phrase it. As a luxury vehicle expect to see a decent delta between the Model 3 and the Ioniq, Volt or Prius. It's also important to know that the federal EV credit has a cap on it so while the first Model 3s may qualify it is likely to run out for Tesla very soon after production starts.
Quoted directly from the Tesla website: "$35,000 Starting price before incentives" But I agree that it is an entry-level luxury car, which is different from a plain Jane point A to point B car, so one would expect it to be better than the rest. It is very strange that the other manufacturers price their non-luxury cars so high, when a very easy argument can be made to save up a bit more to get the Tesla which would be better than the others mentioned here and come with autonomous driving capabilities. That said, it will be a couple of years before most people can buy one.
Except you won't be able to get a base $35K Model 3 at launch. Maybe a year later. Also, have you seen how sparsely equipped "base" luxury cars are such as a BMW 3 series? By the time you add options to make them comparably equipped to well equipped mainstream brands, they get super expensive.
Agreed! I am completely sold on the idea of EVs as your main and only car but they look like toys or just plain ugly (exception is the Te$las) and their range is still not there... It is like the manufacturers of EVs don't really want people to buy their cars... I am moving to Europe soon and there they've got the Renault Zoe which seems to be so far the only one where price/range have met. I've given up on finding a good looking EV I can afford...
You save more money by buying low cost non hybrid car (like Corolla)...... it would take 300,000 miles for a hybrid to make-up the Initital price premium (via gas savings) .
Near the 1:10 mark of this video, it is said that the Prius Prime is available in all 50 states. REALLY? I've been trying to find a Prime available to look at / to possibly test drive / to possibly purchase, and so far: NO LUCK anywhere within 250 miles of where I live! (That "radius" includes portions of a total of six states.) SO... IF they are available in all 50 states, why are they virtually impossible to find??? In other words: a little HELP?!? Would LOVE to find one!
Really cool but deleting the center seat cuts practicality for when you need to squeeze that fifth wheel in the party. Would it have really been that much more engineering?
Jonathan Dittmar because depending on where you are and what your electricity rate is, it may be less expensive to charge with gasoline. Or perhaps you want to charge the battery up so that you have more power available for climbing a long mountain grade - think the Volt's mountain mode, but with it charging the battery up fully instead of partially.
VeeDubTDI why not just send the energy directly to the wheel instead of converting mechanical energy to electric energy back to mechanical energy. i don't see how that could be more efficient
@@JD-yx7be Because electric motors are a lot more efficient than ICE ones, hence converting mechanical energy to electricity and then to mechanical energy again via electric motor is more efficient.
Nice review and the car has some impressive technology but I don't really get the value proposition, at least not loaded. Why not get a Fit, with nearly comparable space and efficiency and save money? Or any of the more peppy and affordable compacts? How many people will drive a Prius enough to justify the cost of the tech? And at severe risk of coming off an old fart, I don't get why you need so many displays, modes etc. to drive around in a compact/midsize car with a little more than 100 hp.
The car that costs less than $20,000 which is none of the current hybrids. You save more money by buying low cost...... it would take 300,000 miles for a hybrid to make-up the Initital price premium (via gas savings) .
I actually like the rear end design of this. Recently saw it at the auto show and was better then it looked on pictures
Thanks for the review, you reviewed exactly the same color and interior as my car. I got this car about a month on the east coast. This year on east coast the weather is up and down, but even at around 30F I still get 23miles of EV range, and I got close to 30 miles when temperature around 50. Definitly a EV very close or above EPA says.
How many miles in total have you reach and how many on battery only
alex does the best reviews
think this car will be my next
conceptcs I'm 18 and I might put myself in debt because I love the car
I have been driving the Canadian variant of the Prius Prime since July and am thoroughly enjoying it. Much more lively and comfortable than my Gen 3 Prius. Since my local driving suits the range, I am still on the original tank of gas - all my long distance driving (about 35,000 KM this year) has been in my Roadtrek. I do notice the EV range dropping as the weather gets cooler but it still works for our usual usage. Cool car!
Thanks for review. Value of resale and reliability is important too.
Best reviews on RUclips. Thanks Alex
As a hybrid fan: I will buy it someday Alex.
The headlights remind me of the Acura Jeweled headlights
Cristian Henriquez Toyota is infamous for taking other design... save of designer cost.
The design is way better than the regular Prius. The back end is still 😷. I'm looking at this, Kia Niro, Volt and Bolt. Hope you can review the Niro and Bolt.
25 miles is more than sufficient. Many could use this and not use much gas, at least not during work week.
Arthur S I’m in that camp. My daily commute is well under 10 miles. I can go through the work week without using gas. This is a game changer.
Nowhere near enough range on EV. Need 40-50 miles.
Me too.
Then buy an actual EV...... 25 miles is plenty for a car that can run on gasoline or diesel for long trips
.
@@electrictroy2010 what's your point exactly?
very thorough review! I like the status bar on the right side. nice!
Alex has the best auto reviews of them all.
I tried both the Volt and Prime. The Volt would be my first pick based on overall impressions. However, after a few minutes of driving in that manual adjust seat, my back was in excruciating pain. There's no power seat option, and the whole ergo/seating geometry was completely off for me. It's been a week since I drove it and my back is still screwed up. I was heartbroken
that I had to pass on the Volt. It really checked most of the boxes for me, except there was no sunroof option. So having had to write off the Volt, I tried the Prime.
I am not a big fan of the goofy center stack dash layout concept of the Prius line in general. Frankly, it’s a big turn off for me, but I still need to objectively evaluate the overall car. The 11" display was certainly cool. Unfortunately, the sales person they assigned to me didn't know enough about it to demonstrate it in any detail or answer some of my technical questions. He had
to go back into the dealership several times to get the answers I wanted.
Handling, acceleration, and turning radius were all good. The lane keep assist worked fine. I am not a fan of the JBL
system they put in these Prius models. It just doesn't have clarity at the highest volumes, where I like to listen to good headbanging music. To me, the Volt had the better sound system. One of the big pluses, and a key feature I look for in cars I'm evaluating, is the heating steering wheel, which comes standard with the Advanced package.
When you open the lift gate you are greeted with a higher up than normal storage bed, due to the batteries residing in that area. My initial impression was that you might not even be able to stand a bag of groceries up in there, but on reflection, I think it was a matter of perspective. Still, it seems to be lagging in usable space in the hatch area. The Volt seemed to have more vertical space there, if I recall, but it had a much higher lip that you might be struggling with if you are lifting in/out heavier items.
My overall side by side impressions between the two is really mixed. Since neither has an available sunroof, I'll
leave that out of the equation.
- Forgetting about my personal ergonomic and seating problems for a moment . . . . . For overall tech, performance, and presentation, I would lean toward the Volt. However, I would also shy away from it, given Chevy's overall ongoing
quality and reliability issues across the brand, and the reliability downgrade in Consumer Reports. Robotic assembly
may build the cars well, but that doesn't necessarily mean the design engineering will result in a car that will have minimal problems outside of the warranty. I have a lot experience in dealing with GM on warranty issues. Few have been pleasant experiences. They tend to pick and choose what warranty issues they want to address, and you need to find the right dealer to go to bat for you. One GM truck I had to get rid of because of an engine problem GM didn't care to address and the vehicle was only one year new. FYI, I currently own another GM truck, which has done pretty well over the years. So again, GM quality and warranty support is hit or miss.
The Prime certainly had the tech and performance, but I liked the Volt’s road feel and sound system better. The EV range difference between the two is not an issue for me, as I’m not buying a vehicle to primarily use for EV driving and advantages. One of my hot buttons is to find a hybrid that also has a heated steering wheel. The center-centric dash layout leaves
something to be desired, but I think that 11” screen more than makes up for it. Opinions will certainly vary on this. One thing that is a major plus for the Prime is the Toyota quality and reliability.
So for my needs and criteria, I think the Prime would be the choice. YMMV depending on what your priorities are. In general, I would not rate one better than the other. I would say one may just have a few more pluses than the other, depending on your needs and preferences.
HOWEVER . . . . . I am very interested in trying out the Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In. The regular hybrid version is due to show up around April 2017 and the Plug-in around Sept. 2017. It's been in the UK and European market for the past year already. So I've watched many RUclips reviews on it. This could be the one and it might be worth the wait. We'll see in September!
imaniguana I'm sorry that the seats in the Volt were incompatible with your back. If you really wanted the power train of the Volt and are willing to buy a used car, I would recommend looking at a Cadillac ELR. It is based on the first generation Volt and has power seats, but is a coupe with a small trunk and cramped back seats.
Even though the Volt doesn't have the MPG that the Prius Prime has and is more expensive, I would take the Volt over the Prime for the 53 miles with no use of gas, it is also more fun to drive too, so the Volt is my top pick.
I got the 4500 rebate. Sweet!! Have not fill gas for the past 2-3 months. But, I am not convinced about the acceleration or CVT. Finding difficult to adapt coming from a 6V vehicle. My wallet is happy though...
As always, great review! Any news about the next Prius v?
This not age well 👁👄👁
thanks for the in depth reviews with standardized methodology. Also the amount of cars you review is impressive, appreciate the work.
17:38 thanks for leaving that in the video, living in Jersey I see this way more than I'd like every Winter.
Thanks for the (further) review!
I had heard from seemingly-reliable sources that, on the P.Prime, unlike on the regular Prii, the B on the gearshift does not engage engine braking, but instead functions like Tesla's "normal mode," or the Bolt/Volt low-gear. That is, it instead engages much more regenerative braking as you ease off the accelerator pedal, and has no other effects.
Hey Alex, Awesome video as always. I am thinking between a volt/prius prime. Can you do a in depth comparison of these two cars?
Can't wait to see Hyundai Ioniq review. Alex. I'm considering getting one.
Very informative. I'm not a Prius fan, but appreciate that it is a well built and has low cost of ownership. Your review brought up points why people still buy these.
I like the Roman warbird look in the back.
Excellent review. This really helps in the decision making process.
Great review ... is this quicker or does if feel any quicker that the regular Prius Two?
Great review as usual Alex. However, I do think a bit more time on the safety technology in these cars is warranted. Although not safety per se, was wondering if you tried out the auto-park feature and your thoughts on it? Thanks.
Matt Pfeffer no
I put it in hv mode occasionally on the 60mph. Stretch and manipulate the available EV. So I have it for town. The car learns your driving style and popular roads and knows to slow down for stops
One thing to be aware of is Chevrolet also puts cash on the hood of the Volt. I have a dealer near me that sells the fully loaded Volt for $37k all the time, that is before the rebate.
As always I appreciate your detailed reviews. Thank you.
Aside from Alex's stellar review, I must be missing something as I don't see why the 'Prime" is a big deal. Would much rather see an all electric Prius. Toyota already has the platform. I would think they can produce an all electric Prius with a 200 mile range.
Your car reviews are just stupid good. Plain and simple.
Correction: the base Prius Prime Plus comes standard with navigation, as well as auto emergency braking, radar cruise and powerful LED headlights. Even without government incentives, it is price competitive with comparably equipped conventional automatic hatchbacks like the Mazda3, Elantra GT, Civic, Cruze, GTI, Forte5 and Impreza. Even if you never plug it in, you will also save big time on fuel and maintenance. With $4500 or more in incentives, the Prius Prime Plus is a steal, with many more features than a conventional hatchback at $22600. And, you may be able to do most of your daily driving in EV mode -- it's like getting a high-tech "poor man's Tesla" for the price of a Civic.
Great review Alex, thank you. I have a question concerning the drive modes. What is the "electric" range on EV Auto mode and how does the fuel economy compare to the normal hybrid mode?
This prius looks a lot better than the standard model. It would be great if all of them looked this way, though I guess the better design is part of the incentive to pay for the prime model.
GREAT ANALYSIS AND COMPARISON
I guess it's too early to tell. I just hope that the faulty piston and rings from the 2nd and 3rd gen Prius are fixed.
Alex once again a great review. I'm not crazy about the design, but it is a matter of taste. I think it will age fast. I'm surprise that the price of the Prius is not lower. After the million + sales since the beginning, the R&D costs must be paid by now and with the price of the battery cut by more then half??? Even with the rebate, it is hard to justify buying an hybrid or a plug-in compare with a regular car of the same size.
Very informative review. One of the best I've seen on the Prime.
I was considering waiting for the Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in, but I recently read a Car and Driver review that said it gets around 51 MPG in hybrid mode, but the worst thing is that the car can never be driven in a purely EV mode. It seems to operate the way the first Prius Plugin did in that if you floor it, the gas engine helps out the EV battery. So, yes, it can get 27 miles in EV but you can never drive those 27 miles ONLY in EV. That's a deal breaker for me because it means I'll always end up using gas even though my daily commute is less than 27 miles. I foresee just getting on the a freeway onramp in LA causing the gan engine to kick in even if I"m in EV mode on the Ioniq. I like just about everything else in the Ioniq including the fact that you can get a moonroof on it, but no EV only mode for those 27 miles is a huge deal breaker.
I already drive a 2004 Prius hybrid. I now want to drive an EV even if that only means I can do it for 25 miles at a time. I don't want to feel like I'm still driving a hybrid most of the time.
You can drive the Ioniq in EV only. My girlfriend has one, we do it all the time.
Love your reviews style. Do you mind sharing what area did you do the road test in?
Operating cost vs the Chevy Volt. It also depends on the cost of electricity. Mine is about 1/2 as much as gas so I suspect my payback on the extra cost of the Volt would 3-4 years.
Great job, Alex. And before I forget, I love "Miles Away" from Madonna, too. One of the good ones from that album...
great review! I'm enjoying mine!
We're adding solar to our house roof now. Part of the plan is to sell our 2015 Prius and buy a plug-in. There are two big reasons I won't be buying a Prius Prime, and several smaller reasons. Big reasons 1) Only seats 4 2) I don't like the large LCD screen. Smaller reasons 1) The EV only range is just a bit tight for our daily drive. 2) I hate the white accents. 3) Missing rear window wiper. 4) 19 Cu Ft cargo space. 5) I've never liked the gauges being centered by the windshield (after 200K miles driving a Prius) 6) Outside looks of cars isn't a very important factor for me (evidence - I drive a Prius) but Toyota is going in a different direction than I am.
I'm much more inclined to wait for the Hyundai Ionic Plug-In or Kia Niro Plug-In which are supposed to be available around the end of 2017. All of my issues with the Prime are answered in these two Korean offerings. The Kia Nire Plug-In also does only have 19 Cu Sq ft of cargo space which is a problem for us.
Waiting for your review on Hyundai Ioniq plug-in hybrid and EV . Thanks for the detailed review!
Enjoyed the review and comparisons !
Thanks
Joe
Alex, you're an honest guy. What does EV-Only mode get in cold weather? Can you test drive on a CA cold night? Does it stay in EV-Only mode???
Great Review Alex. Can you test the 2017 Highlander Hybrid XLE?
Hi Alex, @13:00 you are showing Sonata (PHEV?) all the way to the left in the graph. But it has a 27 mile EV range. It should be between Prime and Volt.
Excellent review video! 🦅👍🏻👍🏻🇺🇸
One thing to keep in mind is Toyota's reputation for quality and long-lasting vehicles.
Actually you can get the huge tablet touchscreen on the regular Prius. Just make sure it’s a 4 touring.
I hope one day you get to do Model 3 review! I watch many car reviews but you seem to be the best at doing it. I still think this may be my next car though. Unless I can hold off long enough for the model 3.
You should come to Michigan in the winter if you want to see some big potholes.
I thought Michigan always has potholes.
runforit420 in the winter, they're worse.
excellent review. Thanks Alex.
Can't wait to hear your thoughts on the Chevy BOLT. Thanks
we have the grand down on the tesla 3 but I'm very concerned about the lack of charging availability on Long Island. I'm also concerned that while starting at $35K by the time you deck it out like you want it, you're going to have $50k in it. This seems like a very nice car (we have a 2009 now) and it was a great review. Thanks!
You do a great job . Very precise . Love it.
The rear design is a lot more like the Honda parentheses/ C shaped tailights they use on many models.
Nice. Video, I have a quick question
If one drive the car without charging the battery from charge portal/home. How much Mileage it will give?
If you driving the car down hill, won't it will charge the whole battery as its single piece.
The chevy Volt looks far better. The Prius looks like something out of a Japanese Cartoon. That twenty-five mile electric only range is modest. The Volt has the advantage on both range and design. The third generation Prius design was acceptable.
farmerinchico lol the Chevy won’t even last half as long as the Prius.
Wish it had a rear wiper. I like the design though. It looks very unique.
Hi Alex, when can we expect a new CRV review?
Great video, so informative.
Nice review, please have look at my full review of this car.
17:44 alex points out the "car-size" potholes rampant in the bay area 🤣🤣
Hi! Are you going to review the Chevy BoltEV?
great review and information content as always.
Really like the front end headlight design and the rear design much better than the regular Prius. The overall fuel economy number being worse than the level 2 trim eco is disappointing. The lack of three seats across the back makes it a TOTAL fail. And The Limited cargo space doesn't help either. Same issue with the Chevy Volt I'd be all over a Chevy Volt if you could put three people in the backseat.
Toyota should have taken the time to redo the suspension or structure to keep that middle seat. You eliminate anybody that wants to use it for rideshare. and honestly 25 miles of range doesn't really get you much of anywhere where I live. So I guess I'll look at the level 2 Eco if I ever decide to upgrade. Or the Hyundai ioniq Kia Niro
that unit is the killer tho, that's why I'd take the volt
Wished the prime had a full back seat. I want a 5 seater! So this is a no go for me
Tech Defender the 5th seat would make the rear tight, with 4 seats you can get 4 comfortable up to 6 feet people
Maybe there will a be a Prius v Prime someday. Watch this space........
VoltecRules the Volt's back seat is so small, I'm not sure how to get four people in it, let alone five. The Prime's biggest shortcoming is the raised floor in the rear hatch, considerably eating into the already-small storage space back there. A road trip for four people would be a struggle with the limited luggage space.
VoltecRules we have three TDIs including a 12 Passat DSG that has been outstanding. It has averaged 42 MPG over 110,000 miles including two coast-to-coast road trips. We are waiting for our Tesla Model 3, which will hopefully go into production soon. We got on the waiting list on day one, so we should be able to take advantage of the full federal tax credit.
As for the Bolt EV, I looked at it in Detroit and it is very impressive. The packaging and interior space are both outstanding, power and range are good. Charging speed leaves a bit to be desired in a battery on its size, which will make it less than ideal for longer road trips. Hopefully Chevy boosts its quick charging ability to 100kW or more in the near future. The other downside is electric-only heat. I feel like a heat pump is a must on any electric vehicle. To be completely fair, Tesla hasn't adopted heat pumps yet either.
at 7:30 the trunk comfort index that you gave at 7 is WAY too generous. given how you are situated in a most uncomfortable manner, I'd give it a score of 3 perhaps a grade F
Great review Alex. I think if Tesla can make good on it's promise of a $35 to $50k EV, mass produced with minimal manufacturing time by the end of this year, cars like the Prius and Volt and Ioniq are going to become pretty forgettable before too long. A hybrid or plug-in hybrid can save you a few bucks on gas right now compared to a Honda Civic or a Nissan Max or Altima, but in the end you generally pay more for a hybrid, and you still have all the moving parts of an engine and transmission to deal with. To me, only a true EV is worth the added cost of going up to that next level of fuel economy over a simple 4-banger. Also I would not look for those cash incentives for hybrids and EVs to last much longer, as as many state governments will now feel empowered by Trump to cease subsidizing energy-efficient cars. Big oil is going to LOVE these next 4 years. But I eagerly await the day when I can buy American and give the finger to big oil, car dealers and Trump all at the same time!
The Tesla model 3's quoted pricing is after the rebate and after expected 5 year fuel savings which is an odd way to phrase it. As a luxury vehicle expect to see a decent delta between the Model 3 and the Ioniq, Volt or Prius. It's also important to know that the federal EV credit has a cap on it so while the first Model 3s may qualify it is likely to run out for Tesla very soon after production starts.
Quoted directly from the Tesla website: "$35,000 Starting price before incentives" But I agree that it is an entry-level luxury car, which is different from a plain Jane point A to point B car, so one would expect it to be better than the rest. It is very strange that the other manufacturers price their non-luxury cars so high, when a very easy argument can be made to save up a bit more to get the Tesla which would be better than the others mentioned here and come with autonomous driving capabilities. That said, it will be a couple of years before most people can buy one.
Except you won't be able to get a base $35K Model 3 at launch. Maybe a year later. Also, have you seen how sparsely equipped "base" luxury cars are such as a BMW 3 series? By the time you add options to make them comparably equipped to well equipped mainstream brands, they get super expensive.
Agreed! I am completely sold on the idea of EVs as your main and only car but they look like toys or just plain ugly (exception is the Te$las) and their range is still not there... It is like the manufacturers of EVs don't really want people to buy their cars... I am moving to Europe soon and there they've got the Renault Zoe which seems to be so far the only one where price/range have met. I've given up on finding a good looking EV I can afford...
You save more money by buying low cost non hybrid car (like Corolla)...... it would take 300,000 miles for a hybrid to make-up the Initital price premium (via gas savings)
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Not even close. From switching my RAV4 to a Prius I save 900$ on a SLOW month.
im planing to buy a hybrid car, really overwhelming，fusion？or prius？or hybrid camry？
Near the 1:10 mark of this video, it is said that the Prius Prime is available in all 50 states. REALLY? I've been trying to find a Prime available to look at / to possibly test drive / to possibly purchase, and so far: NO LUCK anywhere within 250 miles of where I live! (That "radius" includes portions of a total of six states.) SO... IF they are available in all 50 states, why are they virtually impossible to find???
In other words: a little HELP?!? Would LOVE to find one!
Really cool but deleting the center seat cuts practicality for when you need to squeeze that fifth wheel in the party. Would it have really been that much more engineering?
Is it possible to use the ICE to charge the Prius' battery pack? Is there some kind of setting or button to push?
Yes
Dave Zuk why would you want to charge your car with an more expensive fuel then an electric outlet
Jonathan Dittmar because depending on where you are and what your electricity rate is, it may be less expensive to charge with gasoline. Or perhaps you want to charge the battery up so that you have more power available for climbing a long mountain grade - think the Volt's mountain mode, but with it charging the battery up fully instead of partially.
VeeDubTDI why not just send the energy directly to the wheel instead of converting mechanical energy to electric energy back to mechanical energy. i don't see how that could be more efficient
@@JD-yx7be Because electric motors are a lot more efficient than ICE ones, hence converting mechanical energy to electricity and then to mechanical energy again via electric motor is more efficient.
Alex,
Can the Prius Prime run the a/c while being plugged into power?
Ryan O yessir
I still love my CMax , comfortable, nice to drive, and roomy (I'm a big guy).
I still like my CMax too, comfortable car and the high seating position and visibility are great. More people should take a look at the deals on them.
It is more attractive than the regular Prius, but only because the regular Prius has a front end only a rental company would buy.
would love to see ya review the 2017 CR-V touring. I bought one and can give feedback if you want
Great vid. Thanks
Alex, please do the new Audi A4!
With exclusive Trunk Comfort Index !!
Please review the new Subaru Impreza
I think 0-60mph in power drive mode is six seconds. The red screen.
You could lose a car in some of these potholes :) lol Alex you're hilarious!
Nice review and the car has some impressive technology but I don't really get the value proposition, at least not loaded. Why not get a Fit, with nearly comparable space and efficiency and save money? Or any of the more peppy and affordable compacts? How many people will drive a Prius enough to justify the cost of the tech? And at severe risk of coming off an old fart, I don't get why you need so many displays, modes etc. to drive around in a compact/midsize car with a little more than 100 hp.
i want it
Great car - 2019 is 5 seated :)
why are there 2 reviews of the same car, what am i missing?
Can't wait for model 3
Anti: So go to the Tesla fanboi forums, and enjoy your wait.
Roger Geyer Nah I bough a big old V8 BMW M5 instead :) Enjoy your Prius
So it's not nessecary to plug in ever? Can I just use it as a hybrid I fill up with gasoline and never use the plug in?
Correct, you could if you decide to, never plug the Prius Prime in and use it in hybrid mode only.
He meant 45 mpg highway not 35 mpg right?
Keep your eyes on mate, that's a long way drop
I have the 2015 and I love the design.. I do not like the curves that the 2016 and 17 has it is almost the same in the Prime..
which is better and why ?
Prius prime 2017 or honda Accord hybrid 2017 ?
The car that costs less than $20,000 which is none of the current hybrids. You save more money by buying low cost...... it would take 300,000 miles for a hybrid to make-up the Initital price premium (via gas savings)
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no spare tire?
the volt not streetwordy indicators
Hyundai Ioniq with lifetime battery warranty is a lot more attractive plus the prime only seats 4, what a deal breaker.
Soon there will be cars with no wipers, who needs them