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.
@@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.
@@Cinder-g2oexactly. 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.
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. 🤨
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.
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.
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.
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."
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 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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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!
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 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).
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.
@@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.
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.
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.
42 miles of range, wow thats almost as much as my 13 year old chevy volt which gets 50-55, except mine cost $6000 and has paid for itself during the last 2 years in fuel savings.
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.
@@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.
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..
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!
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?
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.
After watching this, I am more sure than ever I am getting a Tesla: frunk, crisp clear large screen, true 1 pedal driving, large deep underfloor storage in trunk, over the air updates, sleek/modern design in/out (100% admit beauty is in the eye of the beholder and in this case I am the beholder). Very reasonable points regarding lack of good charging infrastructure in rural areas. Excellent video, very engaging presenter and very well edited! Thank you!!!;)
We first looked at buying an EV, thinking PHEVs were the worst of both worlds, but settled on a Rav4 Prime. It's an EV 80% of the time because we don't usually drive more than 50 miles in a day. Then instead of buying a second, gas-guzzling car for long trips (which is what most Tesla owners around here do), or worrying about public charging, we just drive ONE CAR and get 40+mpg after the EV-only range is depleted. I now think that PHEVs are the best of both worlds.
I have a 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 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.
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.
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..
I understand you not wanting the fuel to get old but leaving lots of room inside the gas tank for long periods of time invites moisture. I wonder what Toyota’s official advice on this is? Would they prefer full tanks and maybe a little fuel stabilizer added or would they just tell you to use up an entire tank once every 6 months or so? It’s a great topic you have opened up here.
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.
Well demonstrated, thanks Tom. What I think this misses on the BEV side is that the locations you visited have no fewer than 10 potential level 2 charge stations and a fast charging station being installed in Anacortes. Yes, mostly destination charging for now, but that's why we're heading to these locations... hiking, sightseeing, browsing local towns and dining/shopping... all pursuits perfect for a dwell time in hours, rather than minutes. Although the PHEV can use these too (except the DCFC, when it's eventually live), the range it adds to a BEV removes any lingering anxiety, which these days is all but gone in most 250+ mile modern EVs. So while PHEV certainly still offers several benefits, BEVs close the gap with every additional charger... and there are A LOT more chargers in the pipeline! In effect, the buyer needs to think of not just this year, but where the market will be in a few years. Will anyone want the added complexity of a combustion engine when we reach the end of the decade? I have serious doubts, based on where EV technology is headed.
I'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.
Everywhere is putting ethanol in the fuel, which really doesn't last more than three months before going bad, so I prefer pure hybrids because its very cheap to run and you don't have to think about gas going old or having to ever plug in, it just works without thinking about it and you still get all the regenerative breaking and stop/start benefits. They are also often lighter weight so your tires last longer and when the battery eventually fails in say 12 years, its a lot cheaper to replace a hybrid battery compared to a plugin hybrid battery as they are much smaller.
The government indicates that stored properly, E10 fuel is rated for its octane for a period of 3 months. After 12 months I'm sure the fuel will still go "bang", but its probably dropped a few octanes. Here in Houston we also have super high humidity and ethanol is super water philic so it'll suck it all out of the air into the fuel. I just rather never worry about that or charging, especially since often you just want to park in front of the house not near a power outlet. at 50+ mpg your annual fuel usage will still be tiny. @@randalllewis4485
This is standard misinformation. The numbers show the PHEV can be cheaper to fuel in the long run and chances are the battery pack will never have to be replaced. 400 pounds won't make a noticeable difference in tire wear. Also, gas does not need to be used up in 90 days. Another myth.
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.
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.
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
Another great review. I tried the PHEV Range Rover Evoque and didn’t at all like the transition between the electric and ICE systems. I wonder if that was an outlier or if they are all like that. 🤔
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.
I drive my 2018 Prius Prime, and even with 24 mile fully charged electrical miles, I only need to fill the gas once every 2 months!!, and I always fill up half a tank... A full tank of gasoline is heavy!!
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.
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.
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 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.
Tom, are you sure that is a Cutting Edge exterior, it looks more like the grey. My friend has a Cutting Edge exterior on his 2023 Prius Hybrid and it is a silver color . Just asking? Enjoy your videos very much.
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.
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.
Another good one from Tom. Wish he would cover more technical aspects, such as type of suspension used and whether it is a direct injection with or without a port injector. I haven't sat in the new Prius, but the lack of a rear wiper, a new common trend with hatchbacks sadly, could be a pain in the arse in city driving when reversing. How about no rear air vents, and at the money too! Those 'A' posts are ridiculous & downright dangerous as they have to block so much of your view. The instrument positioning is strange as a lot of testers have said the wheel blocks their view. The Prius is very low and will be a non-starter for old geezers like me due to ingress/egress issues. CUV's for me I guess. Tom makes a great point about using this as a taxi, as getting in the back will not be easy with that roofline. Best part of the car of course, is the performance/gas mileage. Hopefully Toyota will transfer this prime set up to the Corolla Cross. Finally, Tom is so right in stating it is all very well producing these cars for a road test, but good luck in finding one!
I wish Tom would actually go into detail about how it DRIVES. We can look up the technical specs ourselves. He shouldn't waste time on that. He SHOULD tell us what we can't find on the spec sheet: How it drives; How the suspension feels (in detail); How the steering feels; How the NVH is; etc.
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.
Because you're never felt stranded due to a low battery.....best of both worlds.....i have a 2018 Prius Prime i use gasoline very seldom......and when i go on a cross country trip i have nothing to worry about.
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
In Minnesota, we cannot get one. Dealers says that Midwest is not a priority for Toyota as PHEV is concerned…Then for normal hybrid in any Toyota model, waiting list is in months or years..Do not understand how Toyota can say that hybrid is overall more efficient than pure EV to quickly get CO2 down overall but then don ‘t have availability on the hybrid engines when customers are interested
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 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.
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).
About 2.9 million new plug-in hybrid electric cars sales were sold worldwide in 2022. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) sales accounted for around 28.4 percent of electric vehicle sales in 2022. Meanwhile, battery electric vehicles accounted for most of the global sales that same year.
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!
As an aircraft mechanic and a PHEV Chevy Volt owner which has 50 mile of EV range similar to the Prius I would op for the Tesla, unless you do a lot of long distance driving away from the supercharge network. The reason I say this is simple and logical ,a Tesla is going to be more efficient and much more reliable and simpler to maintain without a gas engine, fuel tank ,and emission, ect. So I bought this Volt with about 40k mile for half the price of a new Tesla, and really like it ,but I think my next car will be a new or used Tesla.
Once of the best things about PHEVs is that it dovetails people into the full EV segment. People realize they don't really need 300 miles of range. Unfortunately, many people don't understand this until they've owned a PHEV or full EV.
100% - PHEVs are BETTER for the world and their drivers than BEVs in 2023. You drive 90+% on electric, you can make 4x more cars with the same batteries, you can charge them off normal house power outlets and it's not going to take a freaking week, and you still can roadtrip on gas instead of the entirely insufficient DC-charging infrastructure. You lose what, a tiny bit of efficiency and a few gallons of gas burnt a year? Not even close - PHEV is the absolute best tech out there, and there aren't nearly enough options.
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.
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.
@@Cinder-g2oexactly. 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.
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)
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 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.
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.
As I hope you know, your reviews are thorough and great. Always a pleasure to watch them, Tom. Thank you!
Much appreciated, Abbott!
This fellow KNOWS his stuff! Love the writing, delivery, and top-notch production values. Just excellent! 😊
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.
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?
lol you better be 90 years old. 😂
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!
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 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.
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
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.
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.
Excellent video and analysis. We appreciate you!
For someone who has a short commute, (all electric),it seems having your gasoline go bad in the tank from age is a consideration
It’s not, people overreact to that. Also, that’s easily solved by doing what I do, buying half tanks of gas.
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.
8:09 Tom Voelk, the perfect customer for every vehicle type. Man I wish I were you.
I normally don’t comment on these things, but something about this guy I really like. Great video
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!
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.
One of the best automotive journalist. Keep up the good work sir.
Nikki Gordon Bloomfield of Transport Evolved
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!
Great content and professionally executed! Tom, you need to have 1M+ subs.
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 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).
The controversy about plug-ins is when they are company cars. The company pays for gas, but not for electricity so employees never charge them.
I have had a Chevy volt for seven years. When you own a plug in, the driving experience is just better in electrical mode, noise, vibration, instant torque, and it is so economical that you make sure to charge.
The biggest problem I can see with plug in hybrids is battery degradation. Charging and completely discharging the battery every day. A regular EV can drive a few days or a week depending on your driving needs.
Exactly 💯
@@aaronwalsh8469the problem you're pointing out is that Toyota (and most other brands tbh) have no intention of providing preventative maintenance or cell balancing for cars that are +7 years old.
Their business model is the problem.
@@aaronwalsh8469 Nope. Both our cars (mine 8 years old, hers 5 years old) have zero issues with the pack.
@@aaronwalsh8469
I own a 2014 Prius and haven't noticed any battery degradation.
20yrs & They still welcome you for their t.p. test & same people still work there?! That's some small town hospitality I wish more places had.
I’m so glad you explained the TP, I thought you were buying all of that every time 😂
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.
Thanks!
This video convinced me to buy one. Thank you from Alaska 🙂
Glad I could help!
Wildy better than any Tesla ever made.
This is the best I’ve watched in the Prius, thank you.
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.
Really enjoyed the review and your neighbourhood is fantastic!
I can't afford to live there.
42 miles of range, wow thats almost as much as my 13 year old chevy volt which gets 50-55, except mine cost $6000 and has paid for itself during the last 2 years in fuel savings.
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.
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..
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!
Great video, Tom.
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 👍🏻
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.
After watching this, I am more sure than ever I am getting a Tesla: frunk, crisp clear large screen, true 1 pedal driving, large deep underfloor storage in trunk, over the air updates, sleek/modern design in/out (100% admit beauty is in the eye of the beholder and in this case I am the beholder). Very reasonable points regarding lack of good charging infrastructure in rural areas. Excellent video, very engaging presenter and very well edited! Thank you!!!;)
We first looked at buying an EV, thinking PHEVs were the worst of both worlds, but settled on a Rav4 Prime. It's an EV 80% of the time because we don't usually drive more than 50 miles in a day. Then instead of buying a second, gas-guzzling car for long trips (which is what most Tesla owners around here do), or worrying about public charging, we just drive ONE CAR and get 40+mpg after the EV-only range is depleted. I now think that PHEVs are the best of both worlds.
I have a 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.
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 🇬🇧👏🏻
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.
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.
Very sensible review as usual from Tom
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.
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...
Actually enjoyed watching this!
I understand you not wanting the fuel to get old but leaving lots of room inside the gas tank for long periods of time invites moisture. I wonder what Toyota’s official advice on this is? Would they prefer full tanks and maybe a little fuel stabilizer added or would they just tell you to use up an entire tank once every 6 months or so? It’s a great topic you have opened up here.
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.
Great review and a wonderful car.
We are really enjoying ours.
Well demonstrated, thanks Tom.
What I think this misses on the BEV side is that the locations you visited have no fewer than 10 potential level 2 charge stations and a fast charging station being installed in Anacortes. Yes, mostly destination charging for now, but that's why we're heading to these locations... hiking, sightseeing, browsing local towns and dining/shopping... all pursuits perfect for a dwell time in hours, rather than minutes.
Although the PHEV can use these too (except the DCFC, when it's eventually live), the range it adds to a BEV removes any lingering anxiety, which these days is all but gone in most 250+ mile modern EVs.
So while PHEV certainly still offers several benefits, BEVs close the gap with every additional charger... and there are A LOT more chargers in the pipeline! In effect, the buyer needs to think of not just this year, but where the market will be in a few years. Will anyone want the added complexity of a combustion engine when we reach the end of the decade? I have serious doubts, based on where EV technology is headed.
I'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.
Everywhere is putting ethanol in the fuel, which really doesn't last more than three months before going bad, so I prefer pure hybrids because its very cheap to run and you don't have to think about gas going old or having to ever plug in, it just works without thinking about it and you still get all the regenerative breaking and stop/start benefits. They are also often lighter weight so your tires last longer and when the battery eventually fails in say 12 years, its a lot cheaper to replace a hybrid battery compared to a plugin hybrid battery as they are much smaller.
FYI: Toyota's official guidance on gasoline (from the RAV4 Prime user manual) is "refuel at least 5.3 gallons of fuel every 12 months."
The government indicates that stored properly, E10 fuel is rated for its octane for a period of 3 months. After 12 months I'm sure the fuel will still go "bang", but its probably dropped a few octanes. Here in Houston we also have super high humidity and ethanol is super water philic so it'll suck it all out of the air into the fuel. I just rather never worry about that or charging, especially since often you just want to park in front of the house not near a power outlet. at 50+ mpg your annual fuel usage will still be tiny. @@randalllewis4485
This is standard misinformation. The numbers show the PHEV can be cheaper to fuel in the long run and chances are the battery pack will never have to be replaced. 400 pounds won't make a noticeable difference in tire wear. Also, gas does not need to be used up in 90 days. Another myth.
The vast majority of gasoline sold in the US is E10 (90% gas / 10% Ethanol) and 90 days is the maximum shelf life.
Great video as always--spotted a rare 20th Anniversary Edition GTI at 6:43, had one in the same color :)
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.
Your videos are the best!
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.
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
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.
Another great review. I tried the PHEV Range Rover Evoque and didn’t at all like the transition between the electric and ICE systems. I wonder if that was an outlier or if they are all like that. 🤔
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.
I have a Chevy Volt, and I plug it in when I come home. It works great.
I drive my 2018 Prius Prime, and even with 24 mile fully charged electrical miles, I only need to fill the gas once every 2 months!!, and I always fill up half a tank... A full tank of gasoline is heavy!!
I have always loved the prime, this version is a beauty. Thanks Tom
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.
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 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.
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 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.
Tom, are you sure that is a Cutting Edge exterior, it looks more like the grey.
My friend has a Cutting Edge exterior on his 2023 Prius Hybrid and it is a silver color .
Just asking? Enjoy your videos very much.
It's what the Monroney said.
As I said I have enjoyed your content all the way back to the days of NY Times.@@DrivenCarReviews
Tom’s Prius Prime color is Guardian Gray.
Great video, well done.
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.
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 😁
Another good one from Tom. Wish he would cover more technical aspects, such as type of suspension used and whether it is a direct injection with or without a port injector. I haven't sat in the new Prius, but the lack of a rear wiper, a new common trend with hatchbacks sadly, could be a pain in the arse in city driving when reversing. How about no rear air vents, and at the money too! Those 'A' posts are ridiculous & downright dangerous as they have to block so much of your view. The instrument positioning is strange as a lot of testers have said the wheel blocks their view. The Prius is very low and will be a non-starter for old geezers like me due to ingress/egress issues. CUV's for me I guess. Tom makes a great point about using this as a taxi, as getting in the back will not be easy with that roofline. Best part of the car of course, is the performance/gas mileage. Hopefully Toyota will transfer this prime set up to the Corolla Cross. Finally, Tom is so right in stating it is all very well producing these cars for a road test, but good luck in finding one!
I wish Tom would actually go into detail about how it DRIVES. We can look up the technical specs ourselves. He shouldn't waste time on that. He SHOULD tell us what we can't find on the spec sheet: How it drives; How the suspension feels (in detail); How the steering feels; How the NVH is; etc.
Are the catalytic converters better protected in this car model?
There's an available security cage that can be installed.
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.
Because you're never felt stranded due to a low battery.....best of both worlds.....i have a 2018 Prius Prime i use gasoline very seldom......and when i go on a cross country trip i have nothing to worry about.
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
In Minnesota, we cannot get one. Dealers says that Midwest is not a priority for Toyota as PHEV is concerned…Then for normal hybrid in any Toyota model, waiting list is in months or years..Do not understand how Toyota can say that hybrid is overall more efficient than pure EV to quickly get CO2 down overall but then don ‘t have availability on the hybrid engines when customers are interested
It's not just in Minnesota. A quick check here n the Seattle area finds one in a 250 mile radius. Toyota doesn't make enough to satisfy demand.
@@DrivenCarReviews We waited 21 months for our 2024 Prime. At the pick-up the dealer told us the wait is now 3 years.
thank you good review
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).
Love your videos👍how’s your Chevy volt doing??
Great. No problems. Volts tend to be very reliable.
About 2.9 million new plug-in hybrid electric cars sales were sold worldwide in 2022. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) sales accounted for around 28.4 percent of electric vehicle sales in 2022. Meanwhile, battery electric vehicles accounted for most of the global sales that same year.
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!
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.
You are the next great Brian Cooley of CNET!
As an aircraft mechanic and a PHEV Chevy Volt owner which has 50 mile of EV range similar to the Prius I would op for the Tesla, unless you do a lot of long distance driving away from the supercharge network. The reason I say this is simple and logical ,a Tesla is going to be more efficient and much more reliable and simpler to maintain without a gas engine, fuel tank ,and emission, ect. So I bought this Volt with about 40k mile for half the price of a new Tesla, and really like it ,but I think my next car will be a new or used Tesla.
Once of the best things about PHEVs is that it dovetails people into the full EV segment. People realize they don't really need 300 miles of range. Unfortunately, many people don't understand this until they've owned a PHEV or full EV.
This is a good looking Prius. Nice job Toyota, finally got me to look Priuses way.
100% - PHEVs are BETTER for the world and their drivers than BEVs in 2023.
You drive 90+% on electric, you can make 4x more cars with the same batteries, you can charge them off normal house power outlets and it's not going to take a freaking week, and you still can roadtrip on gas instead of the entirely insufficient DC-charging infrastructure. You lose what, a tiny bit of efficiency and a few gallons of gas burnt a year? Not even close - PHEV is the absolute best tech out there, and there aren't nearly enough options.
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.