2023 Toyota Prius Prime PHEV - Bottom Line Review

PRIOR PROGENY OF GREEN CAR STAID: The first three generations of 21st century Toyota Prius gas battery electric hybrids innovated as quenched humped desert ungulates for the highway, while deliberate as hard shelled amphibians and striking as grounded aviarians. Offering the two more recent generation Priuses [or is it Prii] as plug-in hybrids still didn't move the needle past unemotional. With hybrid electrification having spread to the mainstream, the founder of the green motoring movement had become the anti-car poster child. An industry on road to zero tail pipe emissions wondered if there would be any successor to a car model called "Previous."

FIFTH GODFATHER OF GREEN CAR RE- INNOVATED: Like a swimmer escaping a rip current by moving perpendicular to the shoreline, the Japanese automotive conglomerate has decided to double down on the Beyond Zero strategy. A convincing successor to the original progeny of green would have to be equally defiant while the world awaits a comprehensive public charging and hydrogen fueling network. Thus, the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime PHEV is a cordable genuine hare which has been pulled out of the "Diversified Electrified" hat with the striking style of a swan.

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WHAT: 2023 Toyota Prius Prime XSE PHEV Mk.5 XW60 TNGA-C platform compact 5-door hatchback succeeds the XW50 series Toyota Prius Prime PHEV. It is the third series of Prius to be plug-in hybrid electric powered.

• Standard Power:
  • 1987 cc Atkinson cycle, dual VVT-i DOHC 16V start-stop idle I-4 cylinder gasoline engine
  • PowerShift™ Continuously Variable Transaxle, parallel shaft gearset coupled, with planetary first gear
• 220 hp (160 kW) / 139 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm; NET HYBRID

_{Manufacturer Provided Specifications @2023 Roadblazing.com}

• Energy Flow Modes x 3 = Automatic, Hybrid, BEV
• "B" regenerative slowing mode (not quite true single pedal driving)
• Drive Modes x 3 = Eco, Normal, Sport
• Battery EV preservation & recharge lockout control

_{Manufacturer Provided Specifications @2023 Roadblazing.com}

WHAT (A) STYLING DIFFERENCE: [From previous generation XW50 series Toyota Prius]   The awkward duckling has bloomed into a Swan. The fifth generation Godfather of Green driving profile ditches the tradition of whimsical upright slabsides, incongruous folds and prominent rear butressed split liftgate glass. The 2023 Toyota Prius adopts is more streamlined truer to the  Dustbuster™ inspiration. The silhouette is filled out by a Coke bottle fuselage, high rising beltline, rising crease to rear door cheatline. A more sharply raked hood with flanking valleys is matched by an acutely swept back windscreen rising and declining like a coaster hill, resulting in a slim greenhouse. The available darkened glass roof, with first and second row headliner shades, depicts a fighter aircraft canopy. The longer sloped liftgate falls off to a lateral raceway lightbar set within a piano black frame. The license plated bowl, also set in piano black, has been displaced to the mid lower bumper.

√ "Floating" split nose to hood wrapped with inboard lateral boomerang directionals / DRLs banded with lower segmented LED headlights; √ Darkened lower airdam louvers in metallic frame; √ Front & rear lower valances banded in piano black with lateral winglets; √ Piano black window frames + sailpanel mirrors + side pillars + wheel arches;  √ Body colored front door handles; √  C-pillar embedded rear door release levers.

WHY: Cordable Fifth generation Godfather of Green Car extends electric range, really flies and is easy on the eyes.

WHEN: On-Sale (in the U.S.) since late Spring 2023

WHERE: Toyota new vehicle dealers

WHERE MADE: Tsutsumi, Toyota Aichi Prefecture, Japan

HOW ROADWORTHY: The 2023 Toyota Prius Prime turns the model's performance character on its head, aligned with the mojo from the speedy RAV4 Prime PHEV SAV.  Lexicons henceforth shall strike the name as an adjective for deliberate or plodding driving. This second generation cordable compact hybrid no longer fears the overtaking left lane. Thank Toyota heavens for seventy-seven percent greater net hybrid power (220 hp).

Stabbing the accelerator for a juke overtaking in the more conservative automatic HEV mode won't fire up the 2.0L Atkinson gas four. Credit a doubly powerful (160 horses), extra magnet endowed synchronous AC traction motor for the astonishing 6.6 second sprint to 60 miles per hour. Assuming the commute is less than 40 miles, the velocity is kept below 85 miles per hour, and the temperature isn't extreme, nary a drop of petrol will be swallowed. In addition to the the superfluous Eco and Sport modes regenerative braking "B" drive mode returns for a weak attempt at single pedal driving.

• +1 Center console joystick drive mode selector replaces the old "Deau Chevaux" lower center dash faux lapis lazuli drive selector.
• -1 Darn noisy when the engine runs

HOW LIMBER: Not skimping on wheel control the redesigned 2023 Prius Prime upgrades to a double wishbone rear architecture. The traditional ride suppleness is retained but faster damper rebound control reduces yaw. The new "Godfather of Green" tracks the line more predictably. The XSE trim upgrades to a meaty footprint tire wrapping 19" inch alloys, delaying the eventual front nose plow. Noticeably quicker turn in, and a helm with heftier wind weighting are still met with road feel numbness. Disc binders occupying four corners exhibit more linear pedal action than of old, but it's not autocross tracking inspirational.

HOW FAR: 54 combined miles per gallon; 500 miles maximum hybrid range, 30 g CO2/ mile; 93 MPGe

• EV Mode range ≈ 39 miles at up to 84 mph Battery Hold mode preserves charge state for future intended pure electric driving

2023 Toyota Prius Prime PHEV Consumption by comparison

_{Manufacturer Provided Specifications @2023 Roadblazing.com}

HOW BIG/ LITTLE: A sleeker 2023 Toyota Prius Prime compromised slightly on occupant space. The dual glass moonroof shaves what is already scanty head room. The dash is shallower but the center console has risen above hip height and widened. The slimmer greenhouse and thick "C" pillar presents more blind spots. The deep dashboard and generous cargo space consume what could have been more passenger space. Good aerodynamic looks have further taken a bite out of cargo space.

2023 Toyota Prius Prime PHEV Space by comparison:

_{Manufacturer Provided Specifications @2023 Roadblazing.com}

HOW USEFUL: √ Cargo bay = 2 full size cases and two carry-ons; √ Luggage liftover is conveniently low; √ 60/40% split folding rear seat backs expand to immense home improvement store shopping spree load space.

• +1 Generous center armrest bin and glovebox; Retracing cargo bay wall bag hooks; Chrome load floor anchors
• /- Sliding front center armrest can obstruct aftmost cupholder
• -1 Sparse front door pocket space
• -1 Shallow rear center seatbelt receiver recess

HOW SAFE: IIHS 2023 Top Safety Pick Plus = √ 8 airbags, √ Rear camera w/ fixed gridlines, √ Sonar park audible park assist;

Driver assist technology: STANDARD Toyota SafetySense 3.0 = √ Pedestrian & daytime cyclist detection braking; √ Forward collision avoidance braking; √ Blind spot &rear cross traffic warning; √ Lane departure, Road edge & Sway Warning; √ Lane Keep Assist; √ Adaptive cruise control - partial; √ Automatic High Beam headlights; √ Rear seat reminder

• AVAILABLE: ♦ Front + rear park warning^{(std. XSE+)}; ♦ 360^o Surround cameras^{(pkg. XSE Prem.)}

HOW PEOPLE FRIENDLY:  Not to be outdone by the radical exterior rethink, the 2023 Toyota Prius interior has emphatically quit the Cyclopean center dashboard display strategies. Instead, a motorcycle sized TFT singular dial instrument cluster is set atop an arch aft of the steering wheel. Not absolutely devoid of unconventional the instruments are viewed above the steering wheel upper rim. The rest of the cabin exudes a sporty compact environment though sometimes skimping on materials. Toyota Connected infotainment, with its "wakeup phrase" voice command abilities is aboard but its modern appearance is dimly illuminated and not that quick to respond.

√ Softex leatherette seats w/ red accents, 1st Row heated, front sport seats, driver's 8-way power, pax 6-way manual adjustment; √ Power windows w/ full auto operation x 4; √ Keyless approach access, push button ignition; √ 1-Zone automatic climate control; √ Thick padded front and rear door armrests; √ Enhanced cabin insulation; √ Glass roof, front power open

• +1 Fatigue reducing seats pay off; 1st Row pax seat height adjustment
• -1 Non-height adjusting front passenger seat

Cool Gizmo(s): √ 185W solar roof charging panel ^{(available, not on test vehicle)}; √ Toyota Connected Wake Up query powered by Google browser; √ Cockpit overhead touch trace activated 1st & 2nd Row LED lighting

Details Done Right: √ Red seat accents + contrast stitching; √ Red & satin metallic "U" band middle dash accent; √ Dense pile carpet; √ Red mid dash lateral ambient light line; √ Tight mesh headliner; √ Piano gloss black center console bezel; √ Tight pebble grained soft mid dash and upper door panels

Nearly Non Descript: -1 Outboard driver's side dashboard switches obstructed; Hard dash top; "plain Jane" door panel switches; No available heated steering wheel

HOW "CONNECTED:  √ Toyota Connected center dash tablet 12.3"-inch landscape oriented, capacitive touch LCD infotainment screen ^{(replaces SE, XSE 8.0" touch screen)}; √ Drive Connect "Hey Toyota" system voice interaction; √ Bluetooth hands-free communications x 2 phones; √ GPS HDD cloud Navigation w/ 3-D map, voice guidance, Google POI data, OTA updates; √ SMS voice to text messaging; √ Wireless Android Auto / Apple CarPlay phone projection; √ USB-C x 6, 12V x 1 120V AC x 1, 1500W ^{(XSE Premium cargo bay)}; √ Qi wireless inductive charging pad (center console slot)

• +1 New Toyota Connected infotainment user interface enhances intuitive voice command functions; Bluetooth handsfree connection for two phones simultaneously
• +/- When is a tablet style infotainment screen too large?
• -1 Non-concealed forward center console wireless device storage shelf

HOW ENTERTAINING: 6-speaker, 240 Watt HD Radio streaming audio = more than adequate ^{(800 watt, 8 speaker 8-channel JBL Quantum-Logic DTS w/ Clari-Fi audio exclusive to XSE Premium)}

HOW "APP" -LICABLE: √ wireless Android Auto / Apple Car Play smart phone projection; √ Toyota Apps; √ Digital Key

By Subscription (trial): ♦ Sirius XM radio (3 mo.); ♦ WiFi by AT&T (2 GB trial); ♦ Toyota Connected Services (3 yrs.)

HOW MUCH: $39,130 = estimated as tested 2023 Toyota Prius Prime XSE PHEV

WHAT'S MISSING: Outward visibility and 2nd Row headroom of prior Priuses; Heated steering option

ANY COMPETITION: Kia Niro PHEV: conventional crossover utility

FINAL WORD: Who could have thought possible such a thorough rethink of the Corded Godfather of Hybrid Green.