By: Joshua Lee
June 20, 2024
There is no doubt that you’ve seen a Prius on the road before, but the fifth generation might get more people talking about the popular hybrid vehicle from Toyota. Unveiled back in November of 2022, the Toyota Prius comes fully redesigned in both hybrid and plug-in hybrid formats. We were excited to get the keys to the plug-in hybrid, the 2024 Toyota Prius Prime XSE, provided by Toyota Canada Inc.
The Prius gets a more powerful four-cylinder engine with a bigger displacement from 1.8L to 2.0L. The Prime adds two electric motors for a combined output of 220 horsepower and 139 lb-ft of torque. Power is greatly improved over its previous model and driving the Prius Prime was enjoyable as it doesn’t show hesitation when accelerating. The automatic CVT transmission isn’t droning either. It’s also important to mention that the plug-in hybrid is strictly front-wheel drive while the normal Prius is all-wheel drive.
The Prius Prime is built on Toyota’s TNGA-C platform, which gives the vehicle better handling dynamics. The battery is lighter, which reduces weight, and is placed under the rear seats for a lower center of gravity. It is a fun car to get behind the wheel of as it feels composed on the road with great steering response. There is no one-pedal driving in the Prius Prime, but the regenerative braking is smooth and consistent during our commute.
This is by far the best-looking Prius to date, as the hatchback comes in a sleek wedge shape that looks like it will cut through the air with ease. Our Prime XSE comes in a Reservoir Blue paint finish with 19-inch alloy wheels. The new LED headlights blend nicely into the car’s overall shape and we love the thin LED rear lighting setup. Large glass panels from the long windshield, fixed glass roof, and the rear tailgate help make the car look polished and more upscale.
This aerodynamic styling does come with its own set of drawbacks, as you come to notice that visibility isn’t the greatest when you’re inside the vehicle. The new shape looks great, but the roofline is two inches lower than the previous generation, meaning less headroom for both front and rear seat passengers. Outward visibility isn’t great either, as the pillars are thick and the back window is small. Buyers might want to bump up to the XSE Premium, as it comes with a digital display rearview mirror.
The cabin is also redesigned with a clean layout and easy-to-reach controls. The XSE features black SofTex seats with red accents and heated seats for both rows. The 8-way power adjustable front seats are supportive and comfortable. No matter how you adjust your seat, the heated steering wheel, the 7-inch driver’s display that’s pushed very forward is tiny.
The steering wheel also blocks quite a bit of the display, and there is too much information showing on the screen. The 12.3-inch touchscreen, however, was easy to use and features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There is sufficient cubby space, a wireless charging pad beside the slim gear selector. Cargo capacity behind the rear seats is 575L and expands up to 756L with them down. It’s enough for groceries and a few backpacks, but it will be a challenge fitting luggage for all five passengers on a road trip.
Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 is equipped on the Prius Prime, which features a pre-collision system, adaptive cruise control with curve speed management, lane departure alert, and automatic high beams. The Prius Prime also features traffic jam assist that will offer driving assistance in stop-and-go driving.
Toyota gives the Prius Prime a fuel economy rating of 4.7L/100KM city, 5.0L/100KM highway, for a combined 4.9L/100KM. The 13.6kWh battery provides around 64KM of range on the XSE, whereas you can see around 72 KM on the base SE model. It can take around 11 hours to charge with a 120-volt outlet and around 4 hours using a level 2 charger. Our week-long test showed that we achieved 2.8L/100KM with city and highway driving. It’s astonishing to see such low numbers and the EV range is perfect if your commute to and from work is short.
The Prius Prime SE starts at $42,542.58 and the top-of-the-line XSE Premium starts at $51,042.58. Our mid-trim XSE will cost $47,282.58 and there’s a rebate of $5000 from the iZEV Program.
We’re impressed since the new Prius debuted, and seeing it in person makes us like the vehicle even more. Its unique styling draws positive attention and it’s easy to handle, which makes the car quite appealing. The Prius Prime has better performance and a reasonable EV range, allowing consumers to travel shorter distances without the need to use the gasoline engine. Pairing both together means a longer range, but remember to pack smart.
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