The Toyota Prius has been a love-it or hate-it automobile primarily based on extra than simply its styling because it was first launched. When you might get previous the divisive seems and its political stereotyping, you continue to needed to take care of the truth that it is by no means been nice to drive. At finest, it has been wonderful, and at worst, it has been terribly bland and sluggish. The usual hybrid system got here first, adopted by the Prius Prime’s plug-in hybrid system, which permits house owners to cost the battery from an outlet earlier than driving to make sure most vary from a full battery. Neither has been significantly thrilling. For this newest technology, Toyota has addressed the styling and street manners in a bid to achieve extra clients.
We spent a day with the Prius Prime in wet San Diego, California, to get some perception into whether or not Toyota’s makes an attempt to make the Prius extra interesting have carried out the trick.
Styling: Coupe Form However With 4 Doorways
The fifth technology of the Prius is a wild departure from its conventional overly-futuristic design that was overtly centered on aerodynamics. Now, it has sportier styling aimed on the extra mainstream shopper with the purpose of attracting youthful patrons. It might be sleeker, wider, and flatter, however it nonetheless options a big pane of glass for the entrance windscreen that drops deep for visibility – one thing that appeared within the Prius’s fourth technology. Nonetheless, the newest design is far smoother and is not so jarring. Nonetheless, it comes with some sacrifices, together with a coefficient drag of 0.27 which is not as environment friendly because the earlier technology’s 0.24 CD.
The Prime mannequin is available in SE, XSE, and XSE Premium trim ranges. For reference, the Supersonic Crimson automobile in our photographs is an instance of the entry-level SE trim, and the silver automobile represents the XSE Premium grade, which tops the lineup. The SE grade options 17-inch alloy wheels with wheel covers whereas the XSE will get machine-finished 19-inch alloys as normal. The XSE Premium additionally has a hard and fast glass roof and an influence liftgate. The range-topping Premium trim will also be optioned with a 185 W photo voltaic roof able to including cost to the drive battery whereas parked.
Inside: Compromised
The inside of the new-gen Prius has been dialed again a bit to attraction to a wider viewers; for instance, the shifter is now in a traditional place, and issues are extra logically laid out. Seating is comfy, however discovering the proper driving place and having the ability to see the gauge cluster is hit-and-miss.
Visibility is great with that lengthy, deep slope of a windscreen, and a look over your shoulder to test a blind spot offers a transparent image of what is there. Nonetheless, the view within the rearview mirror of a small rear window is difficult and would not give a superb image of what is going on on behind you.
On the plus facet, there are many storage areas, together with one in entrance of the shifter on the dashboard that is effectively hidden from those who needn’t know it is there whereas being simple to entry for the driving force. Whereas seating is comfy for these up entrance and legroom within the again is affordable for a few adults for shorter journeys, the slope on the roof impacts headroom drastically, and actually tall folks will not be completely happy again there for too lengthy.
The dashboard gauge cluster is the place we now have the largest concern with the brand new Prius. Toyota insists on the gauge show being completely different from what’s at present on the market – however it feels completely different only for the sake of being different. It is as far ahead on the dashboard as attainable, and until you are the best physique sort and measurement, the steering wheel blocks the view. The gauge display itself is small, though it seems larger as the underside has a thick border of useless area to ostensibly accommodate the obstruction from the steering wheel. The top result’s a small display set as distant from the driving force as attainable, and filled with info. The principle cluster is a large number of icons for numerous driver aids, and the font is small, so all the things feels much more cluttered on the display.
We had been advised the concept of placing the gauge cluster to this point ahead is in order that the driving force’s eyes do not need to drop down as far to test info. That could be the case, however until you might be long-sighted, you will be wanting down longer to seek out and deal with that info. Whereas it isn’t unhealthy to the purpose of being harmful, it is from ideally suited.
Powertrain: Precise Energy
Toyota’s fifth-generation hybrid powertrain pairs a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a brand new compact drive motor and delivers energy to the entrance wheels by way of a repeatedly variable transmission. Two electrical motors are used to make the engine extra responsive and cost the lithium-ion battery unit. The result’s 220 horsepower and 139 lb.-ft of torque, and a 6.6-second 0-60 mph time. That is not spectacular within the automobile business, however it’s an enormous enchancment over the earlier technology’s torpid 10+ second time.
And by an enormous enchancment, we do imply huge. The Prius Prime is now a automobile you drive in a brisk and business-like style and may stand up to freeway speeds with out feeling such as you’re pushing the engine to its limits. The regenerative braking system utilizing the 2 additional motors additionally makes an enormous distinction, whereas the normal hydraulic booster retains the brakes feeling pure.
On The Street: Takes A Second To get Used To
Leaving the venue on the outset, the very first thing we seen was the dimensions of the steering wheel. It is surprisingly small for a mainstream automobile and one thing you’ll look forward to finding in a sports activities automobile. Whereas it did not add or take away something from the expertise, it was moderately surprising, and a few could discover it unnerving. The steering is constructive and correct, and by correct, we imply it did not take any getting used to for {smooth} driving.
We did not discover the trip high quality for some time, which is a good factor in a automobile that is designed to have miles placed on it day by day. It soaks up metropolis lumps and bumps with out making a fuss however retains the automobile flat in corners when shifting briskly. Toyota describes the brand new Prius vary as being sporty, however that is not our expertise. Whereas it grips okay and handles higher than the earlier technology, it isn’t a sporty automobile by any means – and that is wonderful. No person is shopping for a Prius to burn by means of again roads or set lap instances on a observe day. It is a automobile primarily based round effectivity.
That being mentioned, we did attempt Sport mode however rapidly did what the overwhelming majority of Prius house owners will do – went again to Eco or Regular mode and forgot it existed for the remainder of the time we drove the automobile. Eco mode merely softens the throttle pedals response to make it simpler for the driving force to drive with a light-weight foot, and we discovered it to be excellent for metropolis driving. Regular mode labored properly for all the things else. When you drive with a light-weight foot anyway, Regular mode should not make an actual distinction.
We have already addressed the gauge cluster, and it is a matter when driving. It is arduous to look at rapidly and get the knowledge you want, though, with familiarity, it ought to be simple to regulate the velocity indicator. The shifter is super-simple and comes into its personal when it’s good to maneuver in someplace like a decent parking zone.
The 44 miles of electric-only vary on the SE trim is a large 75-percent enchancment over the earlier technology. This vary can also be completely useable for each day duties and getting round city. The XSE mannequin positive factors weight – which impacts vary – however nonetheless provides a dramatic enchancment over the previous mannequin at 39 miles. Situations and driving type will have an effect on the vary, although.
In electric-only mode, the Prius Prime is super-smooth to drive and is completely fitted to the city surroundings. It cements the Prius Prime as having a close-to-perfect drivetrain for commuters.
Conclusion: Confusion And Readability
When you contemplate the Prius’s ethos to be an uncompromising hybrid automobile, then the uncompromising half has gone. To make the Prius Prime a up to date, fashionable, and interesting sedan, Toyota has made compromises in rear-passenger headroom and aerodynamic effectivity. As a hybrid, the gasoline effectivity is comparable with the final technology at 53/51/52 mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed for the SE, however it’s down a bit. Nonetheless, the estimated 44 or 39 miles of all-electric vary (relying on trim) is far improved and correctly helpful for each day commuting, significantly if there is a charger at your office. For those that will solely carry children slight-sized adults within the again often, it will be wonderful. Nonetheless, we might nonetheless suggest a correct take a look at drive first to verify this, and the driving place to see the gauge cluster, works for you.
The underside line right here is that the brand new Prius and Prius Prime look nice now – and it is really a pleasure to drive. Nonetheless, it does nonetheless have an inside that does not fully make sense to us. When you prefer it and get on with it, the Prius Prime is a wonderful automobile for those who wish to reduce their fuel utilization with out coping with the ache of EV charging.