Connect with us

2017 Toyota Prius Prime Review: Toned Down, but Toyota Still Tried Too Hard

(Credit: © Toyota)

Latest Car News

2017 Toyota Prius Prime Review: Toned Down, but Toyota Still Tried Too Hard

The Toyota Prius is the hybrid that started it all. Unfortunately, Toyota became a touch complacent and the Prius went stagnant over the years. That said, with its complete redesign in 2016, then the release of the plug-in Prius Prime in 2017, the Prius lineup became anything but the same ol’ hybrid.

I recently spent a week behind the wheel of the 2017 Prius Prime, getting familiar with all its awesomeness and quirks at the same time. Continue reading to find out what I loved about the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime and what I could have lived without.

Visually, the new-generation Prius is a hot mess, but the Prius Prime takes a somewhat more traditional look, which is a bit unexpected considering it’s the more advanced of the two. Regardless, the Prius Prime has a more palatable look, but it’s still a bit over the top for most buyers.

2017 Toyota Prius Prime (Credit: © Toyota)

Inside, the Prius Prime is pretty much the same complete mess as the standard Prius. Yes, it looks pretty neat at first glance with its shiny trim work and massive 11.6-inch touchscreen, but these are also its biggest shortcomings. All that gloss trim will look terrible in just a few years — yes, scratches happen, and they show even worse on glossy surfaces — and that touchscreen completely washes out under even moderate sunlight. A close third in terrible design are the rear seats — there are only two of them because of the larger battery.

Back to that touchscreen, this massive hunk of technology not only washes out easily, but the entire infotainment system is awful. There is no rhyme or reason to its menu setup, the system is slow to respond, and half the time the menu keys cover up the dang navigation map. I used to think Lexus’ Remote Touch Interface was the worst infotainment system, but this officially beats it. There are a few strong points on the inside, though, as the JBL audio system sounds nice, the fake leather feels good, and the wireless charging pad works flawlessly.

After lots of complaining, let’s get to the good stuff. The Prius Primes’ powertrain is definitely a strong point. Its 1.8-liter engine pairs with an electric motor to produce 121 horsepower. Sure, that’s not much, but the immediate availability of the torque from the electric motor makes low-speed acceleration decent. And its 25 miles of electric range should be enough to get the average commuter to work on electricity only. That said, 25 miles is half of the Chevy Volt’s range, making the Prius Prime a tough sale based on its electric range.

2017 Toyota Prius Prime (Credit: © Toyota)

Despite its lack of EV range relative to the Volt, the Prius Prime’s fuel economy sits at 133 mpg-e, which is significantly higher than the Volt’s 106 mpg-e. This is partly because the Prius Prime’s hybrid fuel economy rings in at 54 mpg — 12 mpg higher than the Volt — and partly because it only uses 25 kWh of energy to travel 100 miles to the Bolt’s 31 kWh. In the real world, I drove to work and back — a 50-mile round trip — for a week and never needed gas. In fact, I still had a half tank left when Toyota picked the car up.

Overall, if you’re looking for the most hybrid bang for your buck, the Prius Prime is a great deal — especially with its $27,100 starting price. That said, there is a lot of negative to overcome before deciding on the latest in the long line of Priuses.

Base MSRP: $27,100
MSRP as Tested: $33,100 (Advance trim)

Pros

  • Toned-down styling compared to base Prius
  • Decent acceleration from a stop
  • Great fuel economy
  • Very normal driving feel

Cons

  • Only four seats
  • Terrible infotainment system and screen
  • Glossy trim is a scratch magnet
  • EV range is subpar
  • Limited cargo room

Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

More in Latest Car News

SPONSORED

Newsletter

Get Our StoriesIn Your Inbox

Subscribe for our latest news, reviews, and lists.

Popular Stories

Recent Posts

SPONSORED
To Top