8 Exciting Things About the Toyota Prius Prime
The Toyota Prius Prime is a more economical car than the traditional Toyota Prius Hybrid, except for the plug-in hybrid feature. The primary difference between a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid is the battery functionality. In a plug-in hybrid, the battery can be charged externally, whereas, in a usual hybrid, the battery is charged via the vehicle’s onboard systems. So, here’s what you should know about the Toyota Prius Prime:
Toyota Prius Prime
The Toyota Prius Prime doesn’t come with many notable changes. However, the vehicle does provide better acceleration than its predecessor while also supporting loads of safety features in each trim model. The available trim variants include the LE, XLE, and Limited. Here are the most noteworthy features of this car:
Exterior Styling
The Toyota Prius Prime features a sharp hood with angular designs on the front and slim headlights flanking each side of the Toyota logo. The fenders at the front have been well-extended below the hood to give the vehicle its muscular structure. The vehicle’s rear looks like a hatchback with similar angular taillights and extended rear bumpers.
Interior Styling
The Toyota Prius Prime is a very easy car to get in and out of. The dashboard layout is quite unconventional, with a large touchscreen infotainment system in the middle with several buttons and dials beneath it. Above the infotainment system, a digital instrument cluster alongside a three-spoke steering wheel. The interiors are all black, with slight silver trims on the dashboard and the steering wheel.
Performance
The Toyota Prius Prime obtains its power from a 1.8-liter inline 4-cylinder engine and two electric motors. Thus, the total system output has been rated at 121 hp. Furthermore, the vehicle can do 0-60 mph in 10 seconds. Additionally, you can enjoy a total driving range of 640-mile with a 25-mile electric range.
Comfort
The front seats on the Toyota Prius Prime have been softly padded, making the vehicle comfortable in the long haul. Furthermore, the vehicle’s cabin remains quiet even when the vehicle is in operation. Additionally, the climate control system works well too.
Technology
The base trim model of the Toyota Prius Prime comes with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. However, the higher-end models come with an 11.6-inch touchscreen display. All trim models support Apple Carplay and Android Auto integration. Also, the LE gets a 6-speaker music system, the XLE gets a 7-speaker system, and the higher-end model comes with a 10-speaker system from JBL.
Storage
Regarding cargo space, the Toyota Prius Prime has less space than the traditional Prius. The legroom of the first and second rows is 43.2 inches and 33.4 inches, respectively. Also, the cargo space is 19.8 cubic feet.
Fuel Economy
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, all trim models of the Toyota Prius Prime offer a fuel economy of 55 mpg in the city and 53 mpg on the highway. The vehicle can clock 133 Miles Per Gallon-equivalent with its electric motors.
Safety
The Toyota Prius Prime is rated “Good” and “5-Star’ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and NHTSA, respectively, in crash and rollover tests. It implements proper safety for its driver and passengers. Additionally, the vehicle sports other safety features such as lane departure warning, forward collision warning, automatic high beams, steering assist, road-sign assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection.
Thus, it can be concluded that the Toyota Prius Prime offers excellent fuel economy, high-quality equipment, features, and a usable electric motor range of 25 miles. Furthermore, opting for the XLE variant for a fraction higher price than the base trim model is suggested to get wireless charging functionality for your smartphone and a larger infotainment touchscreen display.