2022 Toyota Prius Prime

• Overview

  

  With the growing need for ecologically friendly vehicles and the entire industry being revolutionized by the electric power movement, it was only a matter of time before one got an aesthetically pleasing makeover. This combination of style and performance is brought to us by Toyota, the same company that revolutionized the market several years ago when they offered efficient vehicles during a worldwide energy crisis. Since that time, the Japanese-based manufacturer hasn’t stopped or slowed down in its efforts to bring economical and viable solutions to the average consumer. The 2022 Toyota Prius Prime is an excellent compromise of two worlds.

  While offering consumers the fuel economy that’s become a necessity, Toyota also brings its unique flair of style and an array of safety features to provide peace of mind and cost-effectiveness. The 2022 Prius Prime is the perfect option for anyone who needs a commuter vehicle to handle the daily drive to and from work and all the errands in between. With this safe hybrid in your driveway, you will be ready to ride in comfort and style.

  121

  Horsepower (hp)

  25

  Electric-Only Range (mi)

  133

  Fuel Economy (comb MPGe)

  Starting at

  $28,220^[a]

• Performance

  

  Engine and Transmission Setup

  There was a time when hybrids were thought of as underpowered and slow. We can all thank Toyota for eradicating that misconception from our collective thought process. The Prius Prime combines a variety of attributes to boost performance and push the capability of the hybrid further than it’s ever been before. Beneath the hood is a 1.8L 4-cylinder plug-in hybrid engine. While aficionados of high-octane power might scoff at its ability to only generate 95 horsepower and 105 lb-ft of torque, there’s a method to this motor. A hybrid powertrain compliments the 4-cylinder to bring the Prius Prime up to 121 horsepower. By combining the best of gasoline and electric power engineering together, Toyota has reached a compromise that’s as effective as it is impressive.

  Another crucial element to the Prius Prime’s powertrain is an eCVT (electrically controlled continuously variable transmission). For those unfamiliar with the term and its definition, the eCVT is nothing new, but many modern vehicles are benefitting from the technology. While the eCVT operates in many of the same ways that an automatic transmission does, they tend to last longer and promote better fuel efficiency. This is in part to the transmission's ability to adapt to driving situations and maintain a consistent amount of velocity. This consumes less fuel and operates much smoother than the “jerks” one experiences when a normal automatic transmission shifts gears during acceleration.

  Exceptional Fuel Economy

  With its unique powertrain, the Prius Prime offers drivers a substantial fuel economy that rivals many four-door sedans within their class, as well as the entire industry. A full tank of gas allows the Prius Prime a range of 640 miles, with an electric-only range of 25 miles. However, when you are using the full hybrid capability, you can expect to get about 133 MPGe combined. If you are just using the gas power, that number is still beyond impressive, with a combined 54 MPG, providing consumers with a vehicle that gives them more distance for their dime. When one considers the Prius Prime’s starting MSRP, this fuel-saving makes for an entirely new way to look at cost-effectiveness.

• Safety

  

  While the industry and how vehicles are marketed have evolved greatly over the years, there’s one constant variable that remains unchanged—the importance of being safe. Safety and driving assistance features are more advanced today than they’ve ever been before, and the ingenuity and innovation that manufacturers provide with each passing model year is nothing short of remarkable. And as we’ll see, Toyota has brought their best minds to the matter of keeping the average consumer safe.

  Putting Safety at the Forefront

  First and foremost, allow us to go straight to the heart of the matter and evaluate the Prius Prime’s results in crash testing. The NHTSA awarded Toyota’s plug-in hybrid a five-star overall safety rating. In an age where safety has progressed much further than talking crash test dummies telling us to buckle our safety belts, Toyota has continued to manufacture vehicles that keep their customers safe and sound. When it comes to providing features that reflect this growing outreach of safety, Toyota offers more to consumers than the average company.

  As anyone might notice when paying attention to the various car commercials and advertisements, many of the same safety features are offered by the various competing manufacturers. This is par for the course, as safety is always going to be a top consideration no matter what the competition looks like. In fact, it's becoming more and more difficult to find a vehicle that doesn't at least have some kind of forward collision prevention system or lane departure warning. Of course, the Toyota Prius Prime has all those things and much, much more. Just to illustrate the availability that Toyota places upon their safety features, we’re going to examine what they offer on their introductory trim line.

  Some of the Base Toyota Safety Features

  One of the features that instantly grabbed our attention was the extra year of roadside assistance from the date of purchase, extending peace of mind to a three-year period. Aside from this impressive offering, Toyota makes two safety and driver assistance packages standard on the introductory trim level.

  • Toyota Safety Sense is an abundance of features that exist upon the cutting edge of technology. These include the Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Automatic High Beams, Road Sign Assist, Lane Tracing Assist, and the Full-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.
  • The Star Safety System provides more features such as enhanced vehicle stability control, traction control, brake assist, and smart stop technology. These are more subtle features that will do a lot to keep your journey going smoothly.

  By providing a wide range of features, Toyota makes the very best in safety more available than ever before. As a matter of fact, the Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and color head-up display are the only driver assistance features that aren’t standard and reserved for the top trim level.

• Comfort

  

  The 2022 Toyota Prius Prims is truly a seamless blend of style, safety, and performance. While the outside and functionality are all there, it doesn't mean much if the inside isn't comfortable, right? Luckily, the Prius Prime is definitely a vehicle you will find yourself wanting to spend time in. After all, what’s the point of looking good and saving at the pump if you can’t be comfortable while doing so?

  A Car You Will Want to Spend Time In

  When one first sits behind the wheel of the Prius Prime, they’re confronted with a layout that’s unlike any other we’ve seen before. The centerpiece of the interior is the standard 7.0-inch infotainment screen (Though one that measures 11.6 inches is available on select trim levels). The gear shifter and instrument gauges are placed in the center dashboard, giving the Prius Prime the feel of a cockpit from a sci-fi novel. Toyota abandoning typical conventions and expectations might not agree with everyone's taste, but one cannot help but praise the manufacturer for thinking outside the box.

  Standard on all trim levels is an advanced climate control system with pollen filtration, great news for people who battle allergies each year. The stereo and entertainment options vary per trim level, but each one is more than enough to drown out stress. The introductory trim level features a six-speaker system as well as capabilities to work in conjunction with Apple, Android, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM. The next level up features six speakers as well, but the addition of an amplifier and built-in navigation makes for a thoroughly enjoyable trip. And finally, those who decide to opt for the top-level trim will be treated to a mind-blowing ten-speaker JBL system with an amplifier.

It’s Prime Time for the Prius Prime at Performance Toyota