2017 Toyota Prius Prime Advanced Car Review

[@shupinglan8171]

I love the looks of this car. It looks like a little space craft. It stands out in the parking lot. Toyota changed it's to look just like another Prius, that makes my 2017 even more unique!!

[@Insirtnamehear]

Everyone I have shown my Prime to in person has liked it. I guess the few that think it's ugly are very outspoken online or overcome by the anti-prius dogma.

[@SamuelForan]

Another great review!

[@Jackiewicz64]

We just bought this generation of Prius Prime and absolutely love it! Today we did all our running around town and didn't use a drop of gas. This was also in Phoenix, where it is 112 degrees outside, so we had the AC on high. And yes, it kept us very cool. lol

[@laxr265]

I like the Prius Prime I really like it

[@fe2nq]

This car is a tech nerds dream. Aluminum lightweight hood. Heads up display option. Carbon fiber trunk lid. High tech glass bubble for aerodynamics. Doesn’t need a wiper. I can go on. The build quality is excellent. It has a nice luxurious ride, because of a different suspension tuning than a regular Prius.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

It needs a wiper, said the guy from Seattle

[@wkomianos]

Ok, the styling may be a little out there, but with 3000 miles so far, I am getting 85mpg by charging every night. I’ll take that any day.

[@willoverkill]

Excellent review Tom, much respect for how you handled the "polarizing" style issue.

[@grisellimay]

i think the prime is far better looking than the mustached standard prius. All relative of course.

[@joeepstein2223]

You make the best reviews.

[@LiohJuney]

Tom Voelk is the G.O.A.T. Another superb review.

[@draven9594]

Lmao, "gas is inexpensive these days" "2024 has entered the chat"

[@fe2nq]

That’s because it’s being manipulated so the Dems get in again

[@pbasswil]

There are other plugin choices that may suit many folks' tastes better - notably the Koreans. But living in the north, one factor makes me opt for the Prime: It has an electric heater. Here we need heat for almost 6 months a year; and in an Ioniq, Kona, or Nero plugin, the gas engine will fire immediately to heat the cabin. So half the year you've effectively bought a normal hybrid - not what I want. Also, a Prius is about the most reliable car you could buy at any price. The Koreans have more of a mid-range reliability record. Note that ground clearance is barely adequate in the Prime - get ready for winters of non-stop shovelling your driveway! (A price I'm willing to pay.)

[@Mattisttam]

Excellent review! Been wanting a prime now for a while. But I'd stick at least 17 inch wheels on it so it doesn't look so dinky haha. Love the dramatic styling nonetheless and it's drag coefficient rating is just the icing on the cake making it all more efficient. And it's a Toyota so you know you're getting good resale and reliability.

[@dlevy5499]

While YOU may not have to take your Caddy plug-in to the gas station, in MA where it gets really cold in the winter, our Volt runs on gas sometimes even on a full charge because it needs to warm up the system. While we still have great mileage and run most of the year fully electric, it does increase the number of trips we take to the gas station.

[@christheneutral]

excellent remarks about the styling

[@fe2nq]

You don’t have to keep pushing the volume button. As long as you have the beep setting on, you’ll hear one beep if you keep your finger on it, it will continue to either go up or down.

[@cadsux]

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one making references to Transformers Optimus Prime! Although Optimus wouldn't have offspring, more like a new leader of the Autobots.

[@AutoStartTest]

I like this car, futuristic look and lots of space inside. Please have look at my full review of Prius Prime plug 🔌 in

[@pgreenx]

Where was this filmed?

[@6ec6YRFPTcC]

They need to start making affordable high performance hybrids and evs. I would consider one if I could get to 60 in less than 7 seconds

[@anunzie]

matt k Tesla Model 3

[@corystansbury]

matt k Volt is low to mid 7 seconds... not far off. Bolt is mid 6s.

[@MatrixDiscovery]

Call it ugly if you want. Toyota sold over 8 million Prius. That's a sale juggernaught folks.

[@itechiwizard83]

The VOlT is far far better. Great review btw.

[@kingrahman4172]

What’s wheels size?

[@sirreginalddukeofchutney234]

195/65r15 Looks good with a 225/45r17 or 18

[@sirreginalddukeofchutney234]

The white interior is not reflective. I have tested it.

[@saeedkazemi6633]

When drunk designers sit together on Saturday night to work on their project, Prius is born!

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Or maybe they weren't sitting together...

[@mowcowbell]

A bit of changes in the PHEV market. Honda Clarity is here with 47 miles of EV range in a much bigger package, and Chevy has discontinued the Volt.

[@sportsMike87]

Wheels do look smaller when he noted it.

[@johnpuccetti9383]

Great car! In Valencia CA you can buy the entry level $26,500.00.

[@DreamhopMusic]

niice !!

[@morashc]

First, the drive system is in no way similar to a volt. The volt is a serial hybrid only. The Prius serial-parallel. Second the Prius does NOT have a CVT transmission. It uses a sun ring planetary gear set power split device. no pulleys as is found in a CVT.

[@The8BitGuy]

Actually, the drivetrain is almost identical to the 2nd-Gen Volt, other than just being much less powerful.

[@richthetrashpicker-upper5244]

So that's where all the toilet paper went I'm joking

[@СеменПогосов-б2з]

Интересная машина, особенно с фед.поддержкой ..!

[@zaptv8880]

if its reliable its toyota and its a prius. gas station once in 18 months. thats all i want

[@catsspat]

But gasoline goes bad, and I thought Volt (and the Caddy) had the smarts to use up the gas as needed to flush out really old gasoline. I'd have thought 18 months is a bit to long.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

First the car came with a tank of gas so it was 9 months, not 18. The Voltec powertrain has a fuel maintenance mode that looks at the average age of the gas (apparently it resets when gasoline is added). After a year or so, a message comes on to burn it off. There's also a regular engine maintenance mode that runs the engine for a few minutes (seems like like it's a 4-6 week cycle). I've spoken to the GM engineers and they say old gas is not an issue due in part to a sealed fuel system. They figured that people would try to avoid using the generator completely and factored the software for that.

[@fe2nq]

It’s funny how Americans are sensitive to polarizing style, but they walk around and they weigh twice of what they should in their body weight

[@DiwaGalvez]

What plug-in hybrid do you own, Tom? Chevy Bolt? :)

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Cadillac ELR. The car no one has ever heard of.

[@TinLeadHammer]

Ah, the handsome Volt.

[@petedavis8701]

Interesting Tom, I'm looking for a second car and favour a hybrid, I've been in several Prius taxis, the drivers say how good they are. I live in the UK

[@DrivenCarReviews]

True. They tend to be durable and fuel efficient, like most hybrids. I've talked to cab drivers that swear by the Ford Escape hybrid. They say they're indestructible.

[@rototumassi]

I'll buy it for 25k tops. I need discount for the looks

[@patricksoon85]

The old prius plugin was discontinued early?

[@2quick2come]

I'll be at tha gaz station, thank you very much sir. people will look at me weird in this thing.

[@urbanturbine]

I am a long time prius owner. i have 2012 and i was looking forward to upgrading but i was truly disappointed with what the heck they have done to the style of the car. i love the practicality of a prius more than anything. i don't want to make a bold (and dumb) statement with my cars style. Everything about the prius is great except style. Toyota failed on this one. Actually, prime is a little better than regular prius. The style of the regular prius is absolutely horrific.

[@caroad2008]

You compare a Prius Prime to a Volt.. are you serious? They are two very different concept, technology and platform.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Nope, they are both plug-in hybrids. Sure different tech but the same result.

[@MarioDallaRiva]

Tom, is it true there's an "Ugly Tax" applied to this appliance in the USA? Thank goodness for Teslas.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Personally, I'm lukewarm on the X design

[@Matt-tb5un]

I rather visit gas stations on the regular than drive something with that style. But I'm also a terrible person. Great review!

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Well, knowing you're a terrible person is the first step in becoming a better one. I think Kermit the Frog said that.

[@texanfournow]

Kermit was fired for being "difficult"...and Miss Piggy thinks too highly of herself to say anything that self-aware...

[@JamaicanMeCrazy]

I'm thrifty but I just realize I might be a little vain. too polarizing for me

[@AsianNationGaming99]

HA!! EFFICIENCY WILL ALWAYS BE PRIME! GET IT?

[@MyTrevonne]

They're trying way to hard with the styling. It's a Prius, just design it conservatively.

[@30mmBalistic]

A white dash would blow out my eyeballs for sure..deal breaker

[@avinashpenmatcha3339]

As Brian Cooley would say - " Ugly is included at no extra cost" This thing is hideous inside out

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Oh, I'm so stealing that line.

[@imtoostonedtocomeupwithaus5976]

You probably drive a truck and get like 10 mpg

[@DrivenCarReviews]

But I would never drive while stoned

[@xtins]

avinash varma this car it's awesome. Can't afford it still?

[@NivitaUSA]

avinash varma Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder. I LOVE the interior. I have the Prime Advance and it looks exactly like the one in the video.

[@baldheadlogic]

Hey Tom. Great Review. I don't care if this gets 75 mpg, the styling is truly awful.

[@DanLekin]

Very good technology packed in a ugly ass design. They would sell much more units if the design wouldn't be that "special". The 15" rims look tiny, the small trunk is a joke, they should make a Prius+ like back for this model.

[@Othawize721]

It's funny you're comparing to the pos volt or bolt, they are both garbage 😂

[@jamespatrick6939]

I like the idea of a plugin hybrid, I don't like the idea of driving a starship thing in the street, I still prefer a volt, even if it is more expensive at least I won't have to apologize to people when they see it coming...

[@sportsMike87]

Hyundai Ionic looks best in this class.

[@GrumpyShihTzu]

Oooooooogly!!

[@jody024]

We get it, you want to save the planet.... but does the Prius REALLY have to be so darn ugly ?!?!

[@Azmodan911]

Hideous. Absolutely hideous. Beaten relentlessly with the ugly stick. But great review, Tom!

[@xtins]

Such a bad review...

[@TinLeadHammer]

I don't get plug-ins. Either get a hybrid, which uses both gasoline engine and the battery efficiently, or get an electric car. The plug-in is stupid: it carries the whole extra engine around, which may not be used for... how long, Tom? 18 months? How does the oil do in the oil pan, has it oxidized yet? What about the gasoline, has it clogged up yet? Because cracked gasoline is known to clog after about a year, which is why it must be used timely, and this is why the long-term storing of gasoline is not advised. EDIT: I saw your reply to a similar comment. So it is 9 months, not 18. Have you intentionally burned the gasoline? "Honey, we HAVE to go on a road trip, otherwise the fuel will go bad". ;-)

[@DrivenCarReviews]

The GM Voltec system is engineered so that the gas burns off when the system determines it needs to be done. Programming forces the engine on, no need for the owner to do anything (or go on a long road trip). An oil monitor determines the condition then recommends changing it. I'm about to have my first oil change since it's at 15% of it's life. GM engineers say they are conservative with their estimates to make sure the car isn't affected by old gas or oil. Depending on circumstances, plug-ins make perfect sense and may be better than an electric car. Yes, I'm carrying around an engine but some Tesla Model S owners carry around a HUGE battery pack that seldom sees it's full potential used. Building a battery that size takes significant resources and arguably a large carbon footprint. Both positions can be argued all day long. In the end, it depends on the user's needs. I like that I can drive round trip to Portland, OR or Vancouver BC in a day without stopping to charge. I just use two different power sources. And yet, I seldom have to hit the Shell station. This works very well for me.

[@TinLeadHammer]

Thanks for the explanation! I see your point about carrying around a gasoline engine vs. carrying around a huge battery pack. I suppose, in the U.S., where most families have more than one car, it may be sensible to have a small electric car for around town errands, like the 500 or the Leaf, and a larger hybrid car for long trips.

[@KZSoze]

You do realize that even a regular hybrid like a Prius has both an electric motor and a gasoline engine. When it drives off the battery, the battery does not magically propel the vehicle without a motor. Comparatively, in an already proven system like the Volt which seems more in line with what you seem to be worried about, if you rarely use the gas motor, you could conceivably go the better part of a year (if ever) without using gas or having to change oil. And you can look up or watch plenty of vids of guys going tens of thousands of miles having hardly changed any oil, etc. The high tech computer systems and safeguards also come into play as already outlined. There have been no widespread problems that you're hypothesizing about. The Volt is considered one of the best cars GM ever manufactured with the highest consumer satisfaction of any car they've ever made. The Prius is the best selling regular hybrid, which is the #3 consistently longest lasting automobile of ANY kind.

[@TinLeadHammer]

You do realize that you brought nothing to the above discussion?

[@KZSoze]

LeadHammer, I'm not the one who thinks there's this whole other engine in a plug in, but doesn't realize there's been this whole other engine/motor in a hybrid for the better part of two decades now. Hence, the reason I replied. Your entire hypothesis was wrong from start to finish. The other poster handled the other portion of your query. Of course most people don't understand that the way a Volt uses it's gasoline motor versus the way a Prius does, is entirely different, even if neither is running on electric at the moment.

[@anunzie]

Who in their right mind would choose this over a Model 3?

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Someone who can't charge on a regular basis. Full electric isn't for everyone.

[@jackolantern7342]

That is one un-pretty car.

[@Sanpedranoazul]

Ewwwwwwwwww

[@BTC909]

Come standard with a toilet bowl. Those rims. The insurance costs after several hundred people run into the back of these ugly things. No AA or ACP. The laughable cargo area. The exposed 2nd row armrest when the back seats are dropped down. If you make enough to play the Federal Tax Credit game + any state incentives this is cheaper than a regular mid trim or higher Prius.

[@Infantry4Life.WarFighters]

The vehicle is SOOOO ugly.... Here comes the Hyundai Ioniq and Tesla Model 3.

[@NATNETINARELLI]

The design is horrible...*ucking horrible.

[@ScooniePenn10]

holy chit, who designed that monstrosity? I guess some people like ugly but come on that is fugly.