2023 Toyota Prius Prime XSE Review - The HOT New Plug-In Prius!

[@Incredulous_z]

You're the first reviewer I've seen talk about the driver attention system. Keep up the great content. Your unique observations stand out from most automotive journalists.

[@DannyFyffe]

Then you have not watched any Prius Prime videos. I have watched dozens and almost all talked about this months ago.

[@dark9hades]

looks better then any other Prius

[@kiraleaf]

yep, agree! Looks better than a Tesla.

[@bwofficial1776]

@@kiraleaf If you want to make a Tesla owner mad, tell them "nice Toyota".

[@kiraleaf]

@@bwofficial1776 then you pause and say, "Oh. Sorry."

[@ronwallace6226]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA@@kiraleaf

[@bwofficial1776]

The Prius has always been good at what it's supposed to do but Toyota has finally made it mainstream cool. So many car guys are saying "I shouldn't like a Prius but I can't help it, it's too good." Previous generations were surprisingly large on the inside so it's disappointing to see the lower roofline but sacrifices had to be made for style. That unlock chime is new and I like it. It's different form the beeper Toyota used on everything from a Prius to a Tundra. Hybrids and PHEVs are the future. Pure EVs simply don't work for large swaths of the population and area. PHEVs can do most or all daily driving on EV but there is no range anxiety. For those who don't have a place to plug in, a hybrid is more efficient than a pure ICE.

[@DevinDavidson18]

When my 2009 breaks down, I’m definitely getting a 2023 but it will be a normal one not a prime

[@Hwan.421]

Good looking Prius, never thought I’d say that! Hell I’d make love in this car, good love even.

[@CatBoiAnimationsIsEpic]

When I first saw the first pictures of the 2023 prius, I did not like this design, I thought it was way too sporty and didnt feel like a prius. However after seeing it in person a few times and now in this video at all sorts of angles, I actually do like this design more than the older ones. The older ones are extremely iconic and I love them with all my heart, but this prius takes that older design, and just improves it alot, and im happy its getting attention again. Still sorta sad they removed the iconic rear bottom window tho, even though it was sorta hard to see out of anyway. 😭

[@JakeTerch]

Interesting that they’ve changed the lock/unlock sound. Toyota had been using the same beep for almost two decades. My sister’s former 2007 Avalon, wife’s 2015 Corolla, and my 2020 Tacoma all have the same beep (B note).

[@kiraleaf]

Probably the *fastest* Prius on the road.. the Prime XSE can do 0-60mph in 6.5 seconds in hybrid mode. I'm always impressed that the RAV4 Prime XSE can do it in 5.5

[@bitemyshinnymetalass1569]

My only gripe is the slanting rooftop. My head is definitely hitting the upholstery and they should have added rear passenger air vents for those long hot drives.

[@kiraleaf]

Personally, I like the subdued chime. It's not as startling as a horn chirp at 3am.

[@EGHSRC]

If you would've told me in 2013 that the Prius would be sexy and the Mustang would be one of the most hideous SUVs of all time I don't think I would believe you.

[@SwordFishRiver]

Very nice looking car, love it but the wait is over a year. Good luck waiting.

[@joey86bu1]

Well done Toyota!

[@Dankcatvacs]

i don't like the gauge cluster and back seat head room 9:47 i hope you closed off the left and right front vents to increase the air flow to the back via the center vents.

[@watchingitallhere]

Excellent looking. I'll take it with a 1.0 liter petrol engine. That is all.

[@jasonweikert1922]

The new one is nice. Finally!

[@TexasVexes]

I was in the market for a new Toyota commuter car this would be it

[@smoguli]

One thing that I find very sad with the new Prius is the rectangle front plate support... it's hideous. They could have included a removeable plastic bracket for those infortunate enough to live where a front plate is mandated, and us lucky ones would have a much better looking front bumper.

[@phillyspitta8147]

People who don’t know cars could easily mistake it for Tesla if it’s blacked out with black shoes n tint on it .

[@mrxman581]

Nope.

[@Michka1001]

Damn that really looks the part!

[@nmpawel80]

great video !!

[@nathank-jw7uv]

#Prius #HiddenCompartment #WirelessCharger

[@kwaza8574]

Great review. Love to door lock chime.

[@kiraleaf]

I imagine that colored light bar under the dash can be personalized through the menu?

[@ShootingCars]

Not that I could find, but it might change for the production versions.

[@kiraleaf]

@@ShootingCars hopefully, it seems like it'd be a nice touch. I noticed it by how the camera reacted during one of the driving sequences and realized it was an LED.

[@trash_miner]

Its very nice but the new styling in the rear kills the large cargo area that the prius is famous for, the need to bring back the V wagon variant

[@mrxman581]

Though, technically, this new Prius Prime has more cargo space than the previous version. So, yes, the regular Prius has less cargo space than the old one, but that's not the case regarding the new Prime to okd Prime.

[@nekokoneko84]

Wait.... My prius prime still beeps when locking and unlocking.

[@aerohk]

43MPG is kinda disappointing

[@Blu3_777]

Your disappointing

[@bwofficial1776]

It's likely a press car that's been driven hard. As a 3rd-gen driver, it's easy to get 50MPG.

[@wigletron2846]

Yeah there's ICE econoboxes that are getting close to that for less money

[@aerohk]

@@wigletron2846 My last gen Prius gets mid-high 50s. I would question if the plug-in is really worth it, given the added cost compared to the regular version.

[@smoguli]

@@wigletron2846 with an hybrid you get much better economy in city driving. He mentionned that it was almost all highway miles. With my 2020 Hyundai Ioniq plug-in the worst fuel economy I got so far was 60 mpg, and that was on the highway going 75 mph with a front wind and an almost depleted battery (so in regular hybrid mode). On a tank of gas (which is 10 gallons) I usually do between 650 an 700 miles total, since I'm charging the battery every chance I've got.

[@TomLawlor-iq6gm]

The "Hold Charge" switch makes no sense. Why would you want the gas engine to charge the Traction Battery. Running in this Mode would result in awful milage. Our 2024 Prime has the feature, we'll never use it.

[@drewzfoster]

where in IL do you live?

[@jimmyjimjims7483]

Dual zone climate control is a scourge on auto repair, if an HVAC system is going to break you can bet your ass its going to be a dual-zone (especially a Nissan or Ford unit). I'm glad they didn't include it in this beautiful car, don't be lazy and just adjust the air independently. I really like the looks and everything about the new Prius it really is beautiful, although I'd disable that driver attentiveness thing the very moment I got the car that's just plain creepy...

[@dave11686]

Awesome

[@gm12551]

BS Zach it fit!

[@FTRVDenny]

How do you open the back doors?

[@bwofficial1776]

There are handles on the c-pillar. They're in the blacked-out part of the door just behind the window.

[@dominicfong6341]

The word "prime" in cursive sticks out like a sore thumb--would be the first thing to peel off if I am to own one. Wished Toyota would trade a few ponies for enhanced fuel economy.

[@James-mw6se]

Nice

[@DannyFyffe]

You should not show that video from your 360 camera off the back of the car. It appears the car is bouncing at least a foot up and down. That is no doubt a huge misrepresentation.

[@ronwallace6226]

Hi. What are all the flakes??

[@FTRVDenny]

I don't understand why you have to plug that in but don't plug i the older Prius'

[@bwofficial1776]

Not all Priuses are plug-in hybrids. Most are regular hybrids.

[@wigletron2846]

I'd rather have the regular hybrid tbh

[@FTRVDenny]

@@bwofficial1776 I'm an electrician and the whole Hybrid thing boggles my mind. I guess they somehow charge off of the engine. Now I'm installing my first Tesla charger but it looks simple.

[@smoguli]

@@FTRVDenny a regular hybrid charges the battery when slowing down or braking. So instead of wasting the kinetic energy to heat by braking, it uses one of the electric motor as a generator instead of the mechanical brakes (when appropriate) and thus slows down the car with the resistance of this generator. When you're accelerating, it uses this stored energy in the battery to run the electric motor to help the gas engine so you reuse the energy that would have been lost otherwise. It can also use the electric motor only, but for short distances and at slower speeds. With a plug-in hybrid (like the Prime), you can plug it in a wall socket or EV charger (usually the AC ones, not the DC fast chargers) and charge a battery that is bigger than a in a normal hybrid, but smaller than a full EV. For example an hybrid Prius has something like a 1.2KW/H battery, while the Prius Prime has a 13.6KW/H battery. For comparison a Tesla has a way bigger battery, up to 100KW/H. The Prime has also a more powerful electric motor than the regular Prius, so it can drive like a pure EV for 35 miles at highway speeds (not using the gas engine at all). After that, it reverts back to being a normal hybrid.

[@FTRVDenny]

Wow! Thanks for the education! I understand it now but always wondered in the past@@smoguli