Textual content by Tom Appel
2024 Toyota Prius Prime SE
Specs
Class: Compact Automobile
Shade: Reservoir Blue
Seating Capability: 5
Miles pushed: 148
CG Report Card
Room and ComfortB-
Energy and PerformanceB
Match and FinishC
Gas EconomyA
ValueA
Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different automobiles in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim stage evaluated, and should not replicate Client Information’s impressions of your complete mannequin lineup.
Huge & Tall Consolation
Huge GuyB-
Tall GuyC
Huge & Tall consolation scores are for entrance seats solely. “Huge” ranking primarily based on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” ranking primarily based on 6’6″-tall male tester.
Drivetrain
Engine Specs220-horsepower 2.0-liter
Engine TypeHybrid 4-cylinder
Transmission CVT Automated
Drive WheelsFront-wheel drive
Actual-world gas economic system: 51.4 mpg
Driving combine: 65% metropolis, 35% freeway
EPA-estimated gas economic system: 127 MPGe/52 mpg (metropolis/freeway mixed)
EPA-estimated battery vary: 44 miles
Gas kind: Common-grade gasoline
Base worth: $32,975 (not together with $1095 vacation spot cost)
Choices: Mats ($299), door-sill protectors ($250), mudguards ($150), wheel locks ($80), front-and-rear park help ($35)
Value as examined: $34,884
Professionals and Cons
The good: Out standing gas economic system, new sporty character
The nice: Easy controls, freeway quietness and refinement
The not so good: Small door openings, low-cost cabin supplies
Evaluation
The 2024 Toyota Prius is slightly like that high-school acquaintance you stumble upon after a dozen or two years of radio silence. You recall your pal as a stand-up man, however now, years later, he’s pleasant, articulate, and reportedly profitable, too. Worse but, he’s buff, and planning to run a triathlon simply as quickly as he takes his firm public.
And whereas the Prius shouldn’t be in coaching for a aggressive swim, bike, and run occasion, it did somewhat all of a sudden reveal itself to be extra than simply the world’s longest-running hybrid automotive. Fully redesigned for 2023, the Prius is now, frankly, horny, however no much less pleasant than it has all the time been. In reality, the Prius stays a stand-up man, however additionally it is, for the primary time ever, cool.
Redesign
The Prius redesign comes at a wierd time, as most U.S.-market Toyota-brand fashions are supplied in hybrid trim. Moreover, hybrid variants of the model’s Corolla compact sedan come near matching the Prius in EPA-rated gas economic system.
That mentioned, the brand new fifth-generation Prius seems nothing just like the Corolla, in reality it seems nothing like anything on the street—in a great way.
The 2024 Prius is little modified following its 2023 redesign, and few modifications are anticipated for 2025. That is all effective with us, as the brand new Prius is fairly good simply as it’s.
Trim Ranges
Toyota’s legendary frugality machine is once more supplied in commonplace and plug-in hybrid Prime variations. Customary fashions are powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to a pair of electrical motors. Whole system output involves 194 horsepower with entrance wheel drive, and 196 horsepower with accessible “e-AWD.”
Engines
The plug-in Prius Prime makes use of a model of the identical 4-cylinder engine once more mated to a pair of electrical motors. Whole output is 220 horsepower. The Prime shouldn’t be supplied with AWD. Each commonplace and Prime fashions make use of a CVT-style computerized transmission, and each run on regular-grade gasoline. Additionally a part of the Prime system is a 14-kWh battery. Per the EPA, when totally charged, the battery offers between 40 and 44 miles of electric-only operation. Vary varies primarily based on trim stage and wheel dimension.
Costs
For ’24, commonplace Prii (Toyota’s personal plural type of Prius) are supplied in six trim ranges, LE, LE AWD, XLE, XLE AWD, Restricted, and Restricted, AWD, with base costs starting from just below $30,000 to only beneath $38,000.
Prius Prime fashions ascend up by a wholly completely different trio of trim-level designations, starting with the SE ($34,110), and together with the midlevel XSE ($37,360), and topline XSE Premium ($40,805).
Check Drive
Client Information not too long ago spent every week behind the wheel of a 2024 Prius Prime SE in Reservoir Blue. Flippantly optioned and together with vacation spot cost, our check automotive got here to $34,884.
Design
As we’ve already famous, the up to date Prius is a rakish design departure from its forebearers, that includes a steeply sloped windshield and cutting-edge sharp foreword hood conclusion, and a really low wanting roof. Whereas the Prius’s glossy profile pays off within the type division, and certain helps with aerodynamic effectivity, it’s does affect cabin house. This 6-foot, drive discovered the Prius tough to enter and exit, and did on one event bang his head on the roof whereas settling down into the automotive.
Room and Consolation
The numbers bear the perceived cabin shrinkage out: Versus the 2022, the 2023 And 2024 Prius misplaced 1.5-linches of headroom within the entrance row, and half an inch within the again. On the plus aspect, legroom is barely extra beneficiant in each seating rows.
For this driver, the Prius cabin was lots roomy as soon as located behind the wheel, it was simply the getting-in and getting-out factor that pissed off.
Cabin
Not shocking at this worth, the Prius cabin, which seems cool and clear, is completed in principally budget-grade laborious plastic. And whereas Related-price Hyundai automobiles shine on this regard, the Prius inside feels open and fashionable. Some passengers have been particularly taken with the rose/copper sprint accent, which presents with a premium vibe.
Energy and Efficiency
On the street the Prius Prime shocked us with a sporty character earlier absent from the mannequin. With greater than 200 horsepower on faucet, the Prime strikes out with rewarding authority, and makes simple work of reducing and slicing by rush-hour site visitors. And, in contrast to previous-generation Prii (sorry), the brand new automotive has loads of reserve punch at freeway velocity for passing and merging.
Experience and Dealing with
Additionally shocking is the automotive’s sharp dealing with and fashionable freeway demeanor. We admire the sporty steering, however are extra impressed by the graceful and quiet freeway expertise. On this regard, the Prius punches above its worth class.
Gas Financial system
Together with one full battery cost, and no supplemental plug-ins, we averaged higher than 52 mpg. Having loved higher gas economic system from earlier Prius check automobiles, we suspect the brand new automotive will ship higher mileage within the fingers of extra restrained drivers with the wherewithal to plug-in day by day. Nonetheless…52 mpg? Laborious to not be impressed.
Worth
Whereas this huge editor is slightly bummed concerning the smaller door openings and decrease roofline, we at Client Information assume that Toyota has constructed one of the best Prius but. Whereas remaining a fuel-economy star, the Prius, particularly in Prime trim, is improved by nearly each metric that issues. Like that outdated acquaintance that has made the a lot of the previous twenty years, Toyota has refined the Prius to such an extent it’s laborious to imaging making it higher.
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2024 Toyota Prius Prime SE Photos
Click on beneath for enlarged photos
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