2023 Toyota Prius Prime Overview, Pricing, and Specs
Overview
Like its gasoline-electric hybrid counterpart, the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime plug-in hybrid sheds its prior ugly-duckling design and turns into a proverbial swan. Decrease, wider, and longer than earlier than, the most recent Prius Prime nearly appears, dare we are saying, sporty. Complementing its new sheetmetal is a much-improved powertrain that pumps out a complete of 220 horsepower—almost 100 horses greater than its predecessor. Even higher, Toyota claims the most recent plug-in beats the final Prime’s EPA-rated 25 miles of driving vary by 19 miles. Within the context of a Prius, this new Prime is each a magnificence and a beast.
What’s New for 2023?
Toyota has fully redesigned the Prius Prime for 2023, giving the plug-in hybrid a brand new look and a totally renovated chassis. Marking the second technology of the Japanese automaker’s TNGA-C structure, the Prius Prime’s new underpinnings are reportedly extra inflexible, weigh much less, and supply a decrease middle of gravity relative to the previous-generation TNGA-C bones of final 12 months’s Prius. A bigger engine works with the automotive’s electrical motors to supply a further 99 horsepower relative to the outgoing Prius Prime, whereas a brand new lithium-ion battery pack should afford the most recent plug-in Prius rather less than 40 miles of all-electric driving vary.
Pricing and Which One to Purchase
For 2023, the LE, XLE, and Restricted trims aren’t any extra. As an alternative, the Prius Prime now is available in SE, XSE, and XSE Premium grades, all of which replicate the mannequin’s newfound athleticism. We might choose the XSE, because it comes gadgets corresponding to keyless entry, an automated tailgate, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and heated entrance seats. In fact, these XSE goodies are an addition to the 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a heated steering wheel, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise management, lane centering, and automated high-beam headlights that every one come customary.
Engine, Transmission, and Efficiency
Final 12 months’s 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine is not any extra. Instead is a bigger 160-hp 2.0-liter unit. It pairs with two electrical motors: one which powers the drive wheels and one other that controls a planetary gearset to mete out the gasoline engine’s grunt in a way that resembles a belt-driven constantly variable automated transmission. The result’s 220 horsepower–extra horsepower than a base Mazda 3, Honda Civic Si, or the Subaru Impreza. What a time to be alive. The Prius Prime is a front-drive-only affair; nonetheless, Toyota could supply all-wheel-drive as an extra-cost merchandise. If so, then anticipate a so-equipped Prius Prime to incorporate a further electrical motor that completely powers the automotive’s rear axle.
Gas Economic system and Actual-World MPGe
A brand new lithium-ion battery pack offers the Prius Prime extra electrical driving vary from its outgoing 25 miles of EPA-rated vary to as a lot as 44 miles. Including a cost to the Prius Prime’s battery is simpler than ever, too, due to roof-mounted photo voltaic panels that recharge the pack when the automotive’s parked. Take the Prius Prime out for a drive and people photo voltaic panels ship energy to accent gadgets, such because the air-conditioning system. Alas, these photo voltaic panels should not obtainable on the lower-end SE and XSE trims. When counting on each its electrical motors and four-cylinder engine for motivation, the 2023 Prius Prime almost meets the 2022 mannequin’s EPA mixed fuel-economy determine of 54 mpg, with a score of as much as 53 mpg in addition to its total score of 121 MPGe. For extra details about the Prius Prime’s gasoline economic system, go to the EPA’s website.
Inside, Consolation, and Cargo
The Prius Prime’s insides are as good-looking because the automotive’s outsides. Sharing design cues with the bZ4X electrical SUV, the Prime’s cabin contains a stylish wraparound sprint match with a sizeable center-mounted infotainment display screen. Gone is the center-mounted gauge cluster of Priuses previous. As an alternative, the 2023 automotive contains a cluster mounted instantly in entrance of the motive force. Moreover, the brand new Prime sees its shifter transfer from the sprint to the middle console. We discovered the motive force’s seat to supply simply sufficient headroom, however the backseat low roof leaves even much less room for heads.
Infotainment and Connectivity
An 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system comes customary on Prius Prime SE and XSE fashions, although a extra gargantuan 12.3-inch unit is optionally obtainable on the latter. The massive-screen system comes customary on the top-of-the-line XSE Premium, as does a premium JBL audio system. No matter trim, each Prius Prime contains six USB-C ports and wi-fi Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility.
Security and Driver-Help Options
Toyota suits the Prius Prime with a number of customary driver-assistance applied sciences; nonetheless, gadgets corresponding to a surround-view digital camera and entrance and rear parking help programs are non-obligatory. For extra details about the Prius Prime’s crash-test outcomes, go to the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security (IIHS) web sites. Key security options embody:
- Normal automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Normal lane-departure warning with lane-keeping help
- Normal adaptive cruise management
Guarantee and Upkeep Protection
Toyota’s guarantee protection matches up with the plans provided by a lot of its competitors, even outdoing some rivals by together with two scheduled upkeep visits throughout the first two years of possession.
- Restricted guarantee covers three years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain guarantee covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
- Hybrid elements are lined for 10 years or 150,000 miles
- Complimentary upkeep is roofed for 2 years or 25,000 miles
Specs
Specs
2023 Toyota Prius Prime
Car Kind: front-engine, front-motor, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback
PRICE
Base: SE, $33,445; XSE, $36,695; XSE Premium, $40,265
POWERTRAIN
DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle inline-4, 150 hp, 139 lb-ft + 2 AC motors, 161 and 94 hp (mixed output: 220 hp; 10.9-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, C/D est; 3.5-kW onboard charger)
Transmission: constantly variable automated
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 108.3 in
Size: 181.1 in
Width: 70.2 in
Top: 55.9-56.3 in
Passenger Quantity, F/R: 53/39 ft3
Cargo Quantity, Behind F/R: 27/20 ft3
Curb Weight (C/D est): 3500-3600 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
60 mph: 6.5 sec
1/4-Mile: 15.3 sec
High Velocity: 115 mph
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Mixed/Metropolis/Freeway: 48-52/50-53/47-51 mpg
Mixed Gasoline + Electrical energy: 114-127 MPGe
EV Vary: 39-44 mi
Extra Options and Specs
