Is the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime a Compliance Car Or a Decent Plug-in You Should Consider?

[@glipzcom]

I bought this car in Febuary after considering all the Hybrids or full EV's. I was really waiting for the Bolt, and thought I was going to run out and buy it the moment it came out. But then I remembered we like to go on road trips. I live in the bay area and our daily round trip commute is 84 miles. All electric is great for commute only lives, but you need a second car if you want to also do other things that are pushing that range, or you have to have lots of time. The volt was a really close contender, but it actually gets worse MPG once you use up the electric. Also, if you commute in traffic, the Adaptive Cruise Control is like pure magic, its not Tesla AP, but it provides a lot of the relief. The Chevys don't have that. Then when you factor in all the incentives, the base model Prime is cheaper than all the competition. Yeah its not exciting, and its not pushing the envelope of new tech, but that means its also likely to be a long lasting reliable Toyota, which is nice until we live in a world where all cars are Primarily electric.

[@farmedb314]

Glen McKnight did you computer the total mpg for the Volt and Prius when driving 84 miles?

[@glipzcom]

Yep! I used this tool that UC Davis made called EV Explorer its really handy. gis.its.ucdavis.edu/evexplorer/

[@yks4363]

Glen McKnight Hi～Glen. How much did you paid for your pruisprime base after all incentives？

[@tsubadaikhan6332]

7 Years later I'm looking at this vehicle. Was it an good purchase? Now that the new models are prettier, these seem to be really good value where I am.

[@mr88cet]

Excellent review. Thanks, Nikki! Speaking as a Gen-2 Prius owner who is also in line for a Prius Prime, and a Tesla Model 3, I think it's very important to understand something: Long-time, continuous EV operation is not a high priority for the entire Prius line. The highest priority is **to maximize overall vehicle efficiency**. Most importantly (although not "only" by any means), increasing efficiency by **increasing the threshold of power demand before the gasoline engine kicks in**. Gasoline engines under low-power-demand operation are very inefficient, so the Prius operates on electric under low-power-demand conditions. Power = force * speed ("force" meaning acceleration force). The goal of the Prius' improvements over time has been to successively increase the threshold of speed and of acceleration before the gasoline engine cuts in. That way the engine is only operating under high-power-demand circumstances, where it is the most efficient. The original Prius Plug-In had utterly worthless EV-only range, but that's because long EV-operation range was never a goal. The goal again, was to use the charged power to further delay the kick-in of the gasoline engine to ever higher speeds and accelerations, thereby increasing the overall vehicle efficiency. The Prius Prime is a very large step forward in that direction, since it can go all the way up to 25 miles distance and 84MPH speed, and considerable torque, before the engine kicks in, but still the goal is to improve overall vehicle efficiency. If they gave it a bigger battery, then, when the battery runs out, the engine will need to drag around a huge amount of weight, which is inefficient, and it wouldn't be able to achieve 54MPG in hybrid operation.

[@fritodog16]

I love my Prime, I owned an SUV prior so the change from gas guzzler to this was amazing. I commute to and from work on one charge and still have the ICE when I go on road trips. It's also fun to drive and very stylish. I miss the 5th seat, but realistically I hardly ever have a need for it. The trunk space is small, but I fold down the back seats and have room for groceries and other stuff. I would recommend the Prime.

[@softride12]

We bought a Prius Prime advanced 9 weeks ago. With state and Federal incentives totaling $6,000 it cost $27,000. We just bought our first tank of gas at 1,600 miles. My wife has a 12 mile round trip commute to work and a free charging station in her workplace parking garage. We are looking forward to the 50-60 mpg on our first trip to the beach, which is 120 miles each way. The best of both worlds. A friend has a first generation Volt that cost $40,000 ($32,500 after incentives ) that gets 35mpg when running on gas. The Prius Prime is a strong alternative to the Volt, especially after price and reliability are factored in.

[@tsubadaikhan6332]

7 Years later I'm looking at this vehicle. Was it an good purchase? Now that the new models are prettier, these seem to be really good value where I am.

[@edjones3439]

Just a heads up. I brought my Prius Prime in February of 2017. At first I was getting 23 to 25 miles. Not I get anywhere between 33 and 35 miles on EV mode. My commute to work is only 14 miles. So I can travel from my house to work and back only using 28 miles of EV plus and minus a couple of miles if I use the AC or heat. Charging my car at work will be even better. I haven't put gas into my car since May30. It is now October 14th and I'm still on a half a tank of gas and I haven't filled it in up since Memorial Day when I went on a trip. Now when winter comes it will probably be different mileage because of the use of the heat. The heat created in the Prime is provided by a heat pump which draws on the traction battery. So if I don't charge at work I won't get the great EV mileage that I'm getting right now. All in all I would get a an electric car if I didn't travel long distance from time to time. This is the best car for me.

[@margaretlang1813]

I believe temperature is the reason for the difference. Look at your dash when you first start the car after a full charge. In the winter in Maine, it will say that I have maybe 28.3 miles for the electric charge. This spring as the temperature warms up it has said 33.3 miles. Now we have a week of 40-50 degrees it is around 31. or 32. My Prius Prime Advanced is housed in an unheated garage. I got my car on 6/30/2017. Today I noticed my miles per gallon of gasoline is exactly 100.00. over a year's time. I'll take that any day!

[@michaelkestrel8363]

The strategy of in the rear deck placment of the battery is cost and ease of replacment. The prime is brilliant. By the way i am getting a solid 28 miles on a charge. By the way, the prius prime has a longer range than the Tesla. Their strategy is clear.

[@geraldwillis7473]

I leased the BMW I3 for two years. It performed very well with a reliable 80+ miles on the battery. I still needed another car as backup. I plan to make my next car the Prime when I have to retire my 2001 Mercedes. 25 miles of range is more than adequate for my daily driving.

[@Frank71]

Gerald willis If ur BMW I3 is 2014 or newer, you can retrofit the bigger 2017/2018 battery in place of your old one. It also can be hacked to get the full 2.9 gal gas tank and various other Europe only features.

[@bwilson4web]

The Prius Prime has a one-way clutch on the engine flywheel that allows both MG1 and MG2 to EV power the car. The earlier Plug-in-Prius only used MG2 which was an under powered EV. Also, we get TSS-P standard on the Prius Prime with dynamic cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane keep assist. In contrast, these are extra costs options on the Volt and Hyundai cars and require an expensive trim upgrade. The Bolt does not have the GM equivalent to TSS-P.

[@ronw5005]

Just bought one; the mid-level Premium. Own a BMW i3 as well, have had it for two years and love it. Why didn't we buy or lease a Chevy Bolt instead? Out here in the western US/Canada, a 600 mile range road car is ideal. Do we drive 600 miles nonstop? No. That said, it allows us to go where we want and have plenty of range to refuel at every other stop for food. Charging a Bolt from near empty isn't a speedy affair and doesn't cover our typical daily trip mileage. Looked at the Volt as the best alternative but preferred the Toyota overall. The Prius Prime runs on electric only, 5 days a week, yet isn't limiting our route selections on long trips. Sure there's ways the car could be better, but I'm also very appreciative of what the Prius Prime has achieved.

[@davidtooker5179]

I truly did consider the Prius Prime, while waiting for my Tesla 3, but then I retired and no longer had a daily commute, so the 25 mile range became irrelevant. With the way things are progressing (i.e. on time) with Tesla Model 3, I shouldn't have to wait more than a 6-10 months more. Like you said in the video, Toyota could have done so much more with this vehicle. Their reluctance to embrace EV is puzzling, especially since they have already made a decent EV in the RAV4. Why they didn't put that car into full production is, again, puzzling. Someone at Toyota must have an obsession with fuel cells. Perhaps their best option, in my opinion, would be a 100 mile EV with a supplemental fuel cell range extender.

[@davidellis4031]

Completely agree with you - this car would have been brilliant if it had come out around the time of the first Volt. But now it's too little too late. My guess is that the very conservative nature of Japanese business has resulted in a few things: 1. They don't want to give up on the idea of fuel cells that they have invested so much in. 2. They feel that the Prius has to remain a hybrid. 3. They don't want to lose their dealers the income of oil changes etc. - not exactly forward thinking. The irony here is that I have a Toyota Yaris hybrid, and while I love it, the short bursts of pure electric drive that I get at slow speeds has made me realise that there is no point in ever buying a car with an engine again. And that rules out every Toyota currently made...

[@Leo1239150]

David Ellis well I'd say that a (plug in) hybrid with an electric range sufficient for daily commute would still be worth buying.

[@conceptual0theorist]

Some one in oil likely paid them off to slow ev adoption

[@davidtooker5179]

I have also learned the RAV4 EV used a nickel metal hydride battery pack , and Chevron bought up the patents to eliminate the competition.

[@BugMagnet]

David, your idea of a fuel cell range extended car is pretty good. Especially if you consider that a car which goes off a drive battery for the first ten minutes could indeed use a solid oxide fuel cell which has less wear and just a tenth of the cost of the high dynamic platinum fuel cells used in hydrogen only vehicles.

[@CandycaneBeyond]

I have owned this for two years now and the gas mileage is amazing. Anyone would be a fool not to at least test drive this car

[@eamonstack4139]

Very informative video and excellent analysis. What a pity Toyota have not gone 100% EV! Nissan Leaf 2018, Renault Zoe 2017, Chevy Bolt and Tesla M3 will put them to shame.

[@kayeriley275]

Eamon Stack as a Leaf owner and Zoe which is about to be changed for a 40kWh version I would mainly agree with you. However I do believe that Toyota will sell tens of thousands of the Prius Prime and will be giving the rest of the market a run for their money.

[@MrDingaling007]

Eamon Stack until EVs have 640 miles of range. this Prius prime is pretty good all rounder.

[@HJC1950]

I could not get by with an EV vehicle - distances are too great for me. But my Prius Prime works out fine - EV for around town and errands and 25+ miles of EV range, but unlimited range with the HV mode.

[@GustavoM90]

CD i would agree with u but only four seats and its a big car with little cargo capacity...i will admit though that for the price its pretty tempting

[@HJC1950]

Toyota is smarter than that. Pure EV cars have such limited appeal. I bought a Prius Prime and love it. My running average mpg over more than 5K miles is more than 84 mpg. An electric-only car would simply not work for me and for most people. That range limit is a deal-breaker for the vast majority of people.

[@moors49]

Clear, concise and informative review. Nice job.

[@HikeTheBlues]

"Prii" - Didn't know I could love this show any more, and then you used the correct plural for Prius.

[@carpenterfamily6198]

It seems the Hyundai IonIQ isn't a Prius killer after all . . . . . Toyota is the Prius Killer.

[@johndonaldson5126]

I thought long and hard about the Prius Prime. The price is right, even before considering the tax credit. I would certainly like to drive an EV, our current 2015 Prius gives me just a taste of EV. But there are some reasons I decided against it. 1) To me its more about saving money on gas than any environmental concern. But when I ran the figures charging the battery would cost just about the same as using gas. 2) Dropping from 5 seats to 4 might work 98% of the time, but what about that 2%? 3) Not having a spare tire is a huge killer for me. This alone is enough to decide against a Prims. I agree with you that Toyota should have designed the battery under the car. 4) I hate the white accents of the new Prius models. 5) I've never liked the center gauges. They bother me every time I drive the car. 6) I don't like the direction Toyota is taking the Prius. Lower, more laid back driver seating is contrary to the direction I'd like to go. I'm keeping an eye on the new Kia Niro. That could be a Prius replacement.

[@luckybadgerapples]

Thanks for the review. I have a 2008 Toyota Prius with about 165,000 miles - with no major maintenance issues and almost all original parts since I drove it directly off the lot. I'm considering the 2017 or 2018 Prius Prime. I would prefer a Tesla Model 3 for a pure EV platform, but it's a bit outside my price range. I didn't know about the 4 vs. 5 seat issue, and as someone with kids, that can make a big difference in the decision making process. I also thought your comment about Toyota "holding back" is a completely valid comment. Why is it we waited until 2015 and later to have more EV and hybrid options on the market, when GM and Toyota already had EVs working in the late 1990s and into the early 2000s. Of course the big global car makers have had EV technology for a long time now, and without guaranteed profit on each car, they won't build them. One exception that comes to mind is the Nissan Leaf. I'm sure they are others. Enter Tesla and some other EV startups, and it appears that starting in 2020 we'll see a fairly big shift in what kind of cars are going to dominate the European, Asian, and American highways.

[@2LegHumanist]

I'd recommend this car to anyone who can't wait for the model 3 and lives within 10 miles of their office and has no choice but to drive to work. When running in all electric mode it is a more efficient vehicle than any all electric car because the small battery means there is a less weight to carry and it has really good drag coefficient.

[@garyclarke411]

Hey Nicki, your vids are getting better and better, very professional looking now, and love the humor you add. Love watching them, all of them!

[@cnguyen32]

I wonder if you can convert the rear 2-person seats to a 3 person bench from a regular prius. 4 person limit is quite a drag for a nice car.

[@jacksonbangs6603]

Hello Nikki, are you planning on attending the Drive Electric Week event in Portland Oregon. be realy cool to meet you and learn more about your Bolt EV. Great videos!

[@gwarlow]

Another great video. Hybrids are dead to me now. EV or bust! Thanks for all of the great info Nikki.

[@davetravels9273]

I was going to comment on how much better the Volt is, but I checked the price and it is about $7500 more and if you want the safety tech on the Prime, you have to buy the top-of-the-line Volt for $40,000! Yes the Volt is better, but I'm not sure it is that much better. I'm not sure you will ever earn the price difference back over a Prime.

[@Frank71]

Dave Travels You can get a new Volt LS bearly under 30,000. If you shop and haggle with dealer......

[@Somun-a]

I think a review for 2017 Volt is in order. 53 mile range is pretty good and it is also very nippy. Prospective buyers of the Prime should definitely check Volt out.

[@AutoStartTest]

The prius prime name is just in USA, in Europe and UK the name of the car is Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid. Name is not just a one different, interior prius prime in UK and Europe is the same like standard prius Hybrid. Personally I like more interior from Prime but... BTW nice review, please have look at my review of Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid.

[@fleetingdays]

Very informative video! Thank you for taking the time to share this information with us!

[@nerdinium]

Around 6:15 in the video you said there was an electrically heated front windscreen. I've looked through all the toyota literature and haven't seen any mention of this. Also there is a thread on priuschat.com about this very video that says you are mistaken. Is this an error? I'm considering purchasing one of these. Thank you for your response.

[@JimBradburyII]

I had one of the first Plug-In Prius. I kept charging and recharging until I gave up and got a Leaf. I really like the looks of the new Prius Prime and would buy one in a heartbeat if they had an EV version of it. Instead I will wait for the new Leaf and either buy it or a Chevy Bolt.

[@cpufreak101]

Jim Bradbury in my auto tech class we have a 1st gen Prius, but the batteries are gone on it, I'm not even sure if the thing still runs, all I know is most of the class wants it gone so they can keep a '91 Cherokee they got running (and straight piped, gutted cat as well, so it's a true straight pipe)

[@NoInterleaving]

Your voice is so beautiful, great video. Thank you very much for your effort. Great car.

[@scottchevalley2067]

I think it's a compliance vehicle. I was at a Toyota dealership in Fredericksburg Virginia to get my old Scion TC inspected (I'm holding out for a Model 3) and asked a sales person about the Prius Prime. He said that the GM was driving it so it wasn't available to look at. He also said that he thinks electric cars are "not a thing" and they will never have enough range. I pointed out, like others have in the comments here, that 200-250 miles is over 3 hours at 70Mph and you'll need to stop anyway so why not charge too? He said nope, he would never do that. Stopping for gas is okay, but stopping to charge is not. Based on his attitude and that they have only one car on the lot and it's being used by management as a free ride, I'm pretty sure that at least that dealership isn't going to be pushing that car to anyone very aggressively.

[@linmal2242]

I like your Vibram Five Fingers! I have a pair too! Great review, i think it makes sense for the old car makers to make 5-10 plug-in hybrid cars rather than 1-2 all electric ones as they can spread there limited number of batteries to a larger number of vehicles. This would accelerate electric driving and reduce the need for oil use. Quick charging would make them much better!

[@danwat1234]

Transport Evolved, I had no idea you were around Portland, Oregon! I live in Vancouver Wa and am interested in working for your company. Car enthusiast especially EVs. Associates of Electronics, recent work experience. I could be a fact checker at first.

[@toptobottom247]

While we're on the subject. It's not smart to buy a hybrid vehicle that doesn't have the ability to drive in electric at the owners request and the engine dis-engage and acts as a battery generator. This is a very useful function and a more efficient way of driving a hybrid. The 2nd way is Normal hybrid setting letting the electric motor handle all start and stop as well as speeds below 70-60mph. Any other way is a waste at the owner's expense. I could be wrong but you learn something every day and I'm still learning.

[@Hebdomad7]

I am Toyota's target audience. The young "tech enthusiast"... But I'm not interested in any car that has an internal combustion engine.

[@MiguelRPD]

Phillip Tunstall what car do you drive?

[@adrianotero7963]

Then why are you here? Get an EV.....

[@mortimersnead5821]

Decades of car ownership have convinced me that Honda, Subaru and Toyota make the best petrol cars (especially Toyota). It's such a shame that they're all sitting out the Revolution.

[@dansanger5340]

PHEVs have their place for a couple more years, but 25 miles EV range is almost an insult. I consider the Volt's 53 miles to be barely adequate. The Prius' legendary reliability is a definite selling point, but with adequate EV range maybe only 10% of the miles will be on the gas engine anyway, which is where reliability is the biggest concern.

[@leeindianer529]

Just watched your review, I just got the 2023 Prius Prime se, wish you could review and analyse it, and compare it as well with the 2017? Your reviews, and analysis are very very well done .

[@tjs114]

While I like the aesthetics of the Prius Prime better than the regular Prius, I agree that mechanically, the Prime is not what it could have been. Toyota has always seemed to be their own worst enemy when it comes to implementation.

[@Zorzi98]

I think hybrid cars still make sense for a lot of people (just had a look on the Prius sales figures in the US, more than 100K vehicles in 2016). You cannot make long trips without long charging hours stops with any EV car. With a hybrid plug in, you can go virtually anywhere you have a gas station, which means almost anywhere in the world, really. But I really hope we will have an extensive network of fast chargers anywhere in the near future, and the ICO vehicles will be history.

[@kcburney]

Zorzi Thank you for making this point. For apartment dwellers in the U.S., charging stations are still hard to find to nearly non-existent. Hopefully the increase is demand for EV will encourage apartment complexes to provide stations.

[@calmandrelax94]

great video! really enjoyed all the info and details

[@Slim055]

Toyota needs to stop dragging it's feet and market a completely electric and modern Prius, with traditional interior room and seating for ride-sharing, taxi or delivery work. Tesla and Bolt show how well this could be done.

[@courtneyvegan9448]

it has a major flaw. as a member of Zipcar,I have driven the new Prius. when I tried to use the sun visor to block out the sun on the side,holy shit. what was Toyota thinking. I don't know if the prime has a extension,but it needs one​. having the sun blasting on one side off your face is not good.

[@bepowerful2160]

It does not have extension.....same visor they've been using since the beginning.

[@flyshacker]

The most undiscussed features of the Prius Prime are the "EV Auto" mode and "charging mode", which intrigue me. The "EV Auto" mode seems intended not for better economy but for power. My understanding is that it uses the extended battery power (beyond hybrid capacity) in combination with the ICE to deliver more power to the wheels when needed. The "charging mode", which is available by holding in the EV/HV button for a few seconds, uses the ICE to recharge the extended battery, whether stationary or driving. Presumably, the recharging mode is to provide "ET Auto" mode with the extended battery power it needs without having to stop at a recharging station. It's all very interesting, but no reviewers focus on these features! Why?

[@johngifford7725]

Drove the 2016 Prius. Loved everything but the exterior appearance and the price tag. Bought a 2014 Prius that day. Love the car. Coming off of a 2013 Leaf. Loved that car too, don't miss the range issue, now both cars are out of town cars. Why does the be Prius have to be so ugly?

[@warmandscratchy]

You've mentioned the Chevy Volt twice in two separate videos but I can't find a review for it in your videos!

[@ellenkennedy3472]

Thanks for another great video! I loved the Bolt and Volt but found the seats unbearable. I would LOVE to wait for the new Leaf, EV Ioniq, or Tesla, but they are all taking too long to be released or make it to the US East Coast - as I suspect the tax credit will be taken away by 2018 and we can't buy these cars now. So frustrating! So this is my way of capturing the tax credit while I can. It's also a super comfortable car.

[@cookieboy09]

Hey Nicki, are you planning on reviewing the Mitsubishi Suv when it comes out? I have been looking at it for a little while now and would love your thoughts on it. Thx

[@HJC1950]

Puzzled by the comment about having to use brake pedal often on downgrades. My Prius Prime has the "jake brake," the "B" brake mode available on the selector switch. In "B" mode, I don't have to use the brake much at all on downgrades.

[@Jackiewicz64]

Yeah, she was way off on that comment. I don't think she did her research on that function.

[@RossYoungblood]

Love the Germantown Road footage! :)

[@mr88cet]

By the way, you mentioned the shifter's B position as nominally intended to produce engine braking in hybrid mode. That is true. However, owners have told me (I'm still waiting for my P.Prime to come in, so I can't yet independently confirm this) that in EV mode, the B position does kick in more regenerative braking. Not as much as a Tesla, unfortunately, but a bit more. So, no, it certainly won't do one-pedal driving, but I gather that the B position in EV mode is at least a step in that direction.

[@CandycaneBeyond]

Did you know the Prime 2017 + can have a tow package applied to bumper. It can pull up to 2000lbs (200 tongue weight)

[@goons123flofy]

I trust Toyota reliability over Chevy. (And I own a camaro)

[@alexgemmell7629]

O.K. so it takes three hours to carge at a charging station. How long to charge off its on-board engine? While driving at highway speeds?

[@voodoobean1973]

The lack of fast charging for uk & USA is very disappointing. Like you say it's late to the party but then it was delayed because of the ev range that toyota struggled with. You have the Kia plug in that can do 38 miles before the hybrid side kicks in. Now if this had a 60 mile to 90 mile range before the hybrid side kicks in then these plug in hybrids would be the best of both worlds with out compromising range or having range anxiety

[@jur4x]

Well, 600 miles with 2 really long stops (I guess you don't get those 200 miles out of 30 minute rapid-charge to 80%?) for recharging in Bolt EV vs 600 miles with 2-3 5 minute stops for toilet and driver swap in Prius. There are people who would prefer Prius :) Also, I've read the other day that new Prius has full-size spare wheel under the flor in the boot. A good space for toroedal LPG-tank - few extra miles on cheaper fuel :)

[@johncampbell4214]

I'm on my third prius and have nothing but good to say about them. My 2016 prius V does not get the mpg that I was getting from the 2007 and 2012 but it is a lot bigger in weight and room. I sold the older prius models to two of my children because they got great mpg and absolutely NO maintenance costs what so ever. I want to go EV next but the cost is just too much so far. maybe I'll get lucky and find a used EV!!

[@goons123flofy]

Nothing wrong with using the brake pedal, as it is regen braking anyways.

[@Jackiewicz64]

She was wrong in her review of that. The "B" mode does exactly what she said the car does not do. I live in AZ and we use it all the time coming down the mountains. It saves the brakes, and recharges the car at the same time.

[@speedster1984]

Does anyone else think that Prius models have looked worse with every redesign since the very first one? (possible exception Prius C. that one isn't bad.) This latest generation is just comically ugly.

[@cpufreak101]

speedster1984 I can agree, the 1st gen was probably the better looking model of the prius

[@paulwilson3249]

A suggestion: compare with the Hyundai Ioniq PHEV You mentioned the Bolt as an all electric EV but why not also mention the Ioniq all electric-- was it only because of range? Ioniq EV seems less expensive than Bolt and Prius. I'm all for choice and diversity in approaches so I am curious of your views comparing cars to each other. If not in a single car review, perhaps in additional shows that focus on perspectives and preferences you wish to highlight.

[@bepowerful2160]

Test drove a prime last week. I thought it had a lot of road noise. I own a 2010 Prius 4 that gets 43mph and it sounded the same in that regard. I was pretty disappointed. The large tablet seems goofy and needless. Looking at Bolt and CMax Energi. However there is no way anyone 6 ft can sit in the back seat of the Bolt..

[@carpenterfamily6198]

Unrelated to this video - Increasingly I prefer EV only to a hybrid of any kind. Why? Because after 10 years the ICE part of the car will run like crap and cost of lot of money to service. I don't want that and that's why I want EV only.

[@jur4x]

Oh, don't worry. It's the common parts that are going to let you down the most :) Suspension, glass, optics, and all the mechanical parts that are unrelated to what engine you have :)

[@kens97sto171]

Carpenter Family That's utter nonsense. There are regular Prius out there as cabs.. with 300-500,000 miles on them. Not to mention all the Ford Crown Victoria cabs used forever. you do the maintenance and ICE engines are very reliable.. with regular inexpensive maintenance.

[@irvinemom12]

I have been driving an all-electric Kia Soul EV for the past two years, and it's just so great to no need any gas engine maintenance -- never an oil change or a detour to a gas station. In a family that already owns a gasoline car for longer trips, a full EV for the local driving is the way to go.

[@cpufreak101]

Carpenter Family I just have to pitch in and ask what was your service history? My car is 10 years old and nearly 150K miles, and the only things majorly wrong with it is the air bag has expired and the rear right door latch is acting up a bit. Mechanically it's fine

[@spazzman90]

I agree. Doesn't really make sense to maintain 2 separate drive trains.

[@HikeTheBlues]

How long is that battery gonna last if you're running a full cycle every day on it, since it only gets 25 miles? I feel like it wouldn't even make it 5 years before it had to be replaced.

[@RyanSargent]

I like the looks of the Prius over the ugly Murai (especially at the rear). But I agree, only 8.8 kW is such a cop out for a carmaker with literally decades of electric experience.

[@newscoulomb3705]

I'm still struggling to see what advantages (other than brand) the Prius Prime has over the Volt. A 20% improvement in gas mileage doesn't seem to me to compensate for all of the other disadvantages. Toyota should just stop flirting with EVs and actually commit to a 200+ mile EV. Also, was it you that mentioned not being able to actually fill the gas tank? How did that turn out?

[@MikeStoddart]

I think it looks better as a four seater; but I like 2+2s.

[@DarkstarDarth]

I'm still waiting for high speed electric trains to be built in the USA as in Japan and china.

[@cpufreak101]

DarkstarDarth probably not going to happen with our railroads that were built in the 1800's with little thought going to them for passenger use (to the exception of the Amtrak Acela)

[@dunhillsupramk3]

well Elon Musk did have plans to build the hyperloop... at this point the hyperloop is more hype and nothing more...

[@simon_ns]

Really a shame Toyota isnt interested in fully Electric cars. It's the most reliable car Brand in it's category I know.

[@simon_ns]

68 Kw means 91HP in EV mode. That's really good for a Toyota. The only downside would be the price because for just a little more you will be able to get the new Opel Ampera or the Chevy Bolt. But you have the reliability of Toyota...

[@Liefpj]

As if there is no regen breaking!?

[@wyrmhand]

I made an ruff estimate with data from www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004727.html (Motor Vehicle Fuel Consumption and Travel in the U.S., 1960-2006) that for every 20 electric cars on the road we don't need to pump up one barrel of oil/day. Globally there are more then 1milion electric cars on the roads that mean that we save more then 50000 barrels per day.

[@Trades46]

Toyota went in to the Prius Prime after seeing how much the Chevy Volt won accolades and evident by the loss of trunk space, battery placement & no 5th seat the car was developed in a hurry (similarly to the Ford Fusion Energi humorously enough). So as an EV it clearly isn't a good one. At least the price is attractive; with incentives it undercuts all EV & its primary competitor, the Chevy Volt. However when viewed solely as a PHEV, it is damn good; name me another PHEV that can get top class 133MPGe & at the same time achieve 53MPG on gas only, equal to that of its lighter no-plug Prius hybrid. The Volt gets more EV range but at 107MPGe it clearly doesn't match its efficiency. The Ioniq EV gets a staggering 136MPGe but it is electric only & the Ioniq hybrid gets 58MPG but lacks plug-in capability; I doubt the Ioniq PHEV can best the Prius Prime in either number. While the rest of the world seems drunk on EV range (looking at you Tesla & Chevrolet), efficiency is just as important and that's where the Prius Prime shines, even if the packaging does leave much to be desired.

[@farmedb314]

Trades46 Actually solar panels on my roof have gotten so cheap that I don't care about electric effeciency, just range.

[@Trades46]

Not worth the effort, weight and money. Adding a solar roof would at best give another 2-3 miles on a hot sunny day where some of the energy can be used to ventilate the cabin so the electric air conditioner wouldn't work as hard & contribute to getting farther. However solar panels on a car's roof is not remotely large enough to contribute to charging the HV traction battery on any electric car.

[@adewouters]

Very subjective comment first: it is extremely uuuuuuuuuuugly !!! However the Mirai is worse (yes it's possible) :P OK, more objectivity now. I admire the efforts of Toyota to develop the hybrid system. But it seems it has never been thought from the white page as a plug-in hybrid, the battery and charge plug are something that have been added to a "normal" Prius, and as you noticed it could be much better. However I would always favor the serial hybrids over the parallel hybrids, which are way more complicated and thus expensive for no real added value.

[@gerrylangford6485]

Having test driven several hybrid and electric only cars, hybrids, I found were uninteresting drives and in all cases were disappointing, I just get the feeling manufacturers are just not trying. However electric only cars were all, without exception, interesting drives and in some cases exiting.

[@cpufreak101]

Rumplestilskin 1 I'm guessing the MK5 Supra, according to the "it's a hybrid" rumor, will please you then

[@cpufreak101]

One thing I'd like to see is you to drive an EV like you're Takumi Fujiwara lol

[@andrewhockings7639]

If they carry on like this Toyota and Honda are doomed. I just don't get it. What are they playing at. Sales of the 41kWh Zoe have gone through the roof. I think that tells us something we already knew but it seems, half the car industry doesn't. I liken this car to Toyota running around with their fingers in their ears going "la la la la la not listening!!!..." Total waste of time and money. I could be wrong but I have a feeling Toyota are going for the esteemed "Who can be the next Kodak" award!

[@carpenterfamily6198]

Wish they sold the 41kWh Zoe here in the US !

[@andrewhockings7639]

Carpenter Family Just like we wish we were getting the Bolt in the UK. Marvellous! : )

[@gwarlow]

Andrew Hockings Loved the "la la la la la, not listening" I laughed out loud. Thanks for that. I agree that Toyota is a no-brainer to be leading the EV revolution... Maybe they know something that I don't? Oh well.

[@jur4x]

Well, now that Opel (and Vauxhall) is owned by PSA, and it doesn't seem to effect Ampera E future, we have more chances of seeing that one. Or the next one after. Also, PSA said they are going to concentrate more effort on EV's and hybrids. What comes to EV's designed in US... Don't wan't to get political, but are you sure there will be new EV's by GM?

[@artkincell]

Me too! Nissan could even rebadge it as a Nissan to be a Leaf baby sister.

[@WaltersGuides]

Car looks ok, range is really low. pretty lame for toyota. I heard that toyota is tesla's partner at gigafactory, maybe they will be able to buy/use(?) tesla's 2170 cells... then I could see some improvement there, otherwise they sill be years behind, just like other companies.

[@cpufreak101]

Walter's Guides Toyota ended their partnership with Tesla a little while ago

[@instancenoodle8486]

I think said 600 miles range?

[@patmcdaniel7995]

Having owned other toyota's, I am done with that brand. Rust killed both in major ways.

[@toptobottom247]

Hell no. Collect all the Toyota Prius and crush them. This car is offensive to the eyes. I'd rather get a Volt. At least it looks good. Not weird.

[@cpufreak101]

Anti Petrolhead judging by your name you hate petrolheads, but as I am one, I can tell you we agree completely with your stance on the Prius.

[@toptobottom247]

Let me make myself clear. What's underneath the Prius is acceptable. I love tech and hybrids and pure EV. Hell...I still lose my breath at the thought of driving a Porsche 911 Targa 4S cross country just for fun. I have a thing for design, tech, and function. The Prius is just plain ugly. I've seen what Toyota can do and frankly I'm insulted they would give us this shit. I hate the looks of Nissan Leaf as well....but....all that is about to change. Thank you, Elon! EV doesn't have to look weird just because they are efficient and clean.

[@DogsBAwesome]

Apart for TV Clarkson (I doubt the real one can) nobody can drive that 600 miles without a break, 2 hours is my max

[@jur4x]

Every year I join my uncle and aunt to go and visit the rest of the family (including my parents). 2 drivers, swapping every 3-4 hours. Few 5-20 minute stops. And 30 hours and 1500 miles later we arrive at destination. I did try to make few calculations for EV. This journey is possible in something like 90 kwh Tesla in more or less reasonable time. We would only have to plan and combine all the toilet/coffee/food stops with Supercharger locations. But there are two problems - the last Supercharger on our route is 620 miles away from our destination (and with current approach to charging networks with all those memberships and cards it's unlikely to use anything else in the middle) and 90kwh Tesla is well over our budget.

[@cpufreak101]

brian whittle my stepfather managed to marathon it down to Florida to New York. 20 hours nearly non-stop, only had to stop 3 times each direction, but it took 5-10 min to fill the huge tank of the RV. After it was full though we were out on the road again.

[@thomasreedy4751]

"Unless you're a robot" ... lol as a child of truck drivers, I was taught to pee in a bottle at a young age.

[@transportevolved]

That only works for about half the population... I'm in the other half. ;)

[@thomasreedy4751]

Transport Evolved Haha ... I enjoy your videos.

[@b-bear4889]

you need an adapter, lol.

[@ethanc4603]

Have you tried a Ford C Max?

[@bepowerful2160]

I test drove c max energi today...surprised at interior quality....claims 20 mile all electric. Sync system much better than toyotas electronics. Elec lift back, dual climate control....I'll try the prime again but not impressed due to high road noise level.

[@johnpuccetti9383]

2017 Prius Prime is the car for any short trip commuter! Skip all the electronic crap.

[@VoodooGMusic]

wow, it doesn't look as terrible as the old Prius PHEV.

[@DennisMathias]

I just don't get these companies..like Toyota..who's trying to have their cake and eat it too. No it's not the model S and it's not the model 3. It's just awful and I feel sorry for them.

[@ReinhardSchuster]

The Price in Austria is higher i could even get an entry lvl Vw E Golf or a fully equipped Hyundai Ioniqe EV or a Nissan Leaf Tekna... Toyota has done everything wrong they cold in Gen 4! Just have a look at Hyudai. The Ioniqe is much better. An ICE for the stupid an Hyprid for range anxiety people an a EV for every one who can plan the Day an knows that der is Electricity everywhere. But the same thing with VW or other big Players in the Industrie they are blind and cant see what a success Tesla, Renault and Nissan have with there old EV Models. Like we can see the Renault Zoe got 41 kWh and it sells better than bevor, Nissan will hopefully bring a new Leaf very soon and Tesla does progress very fast. So Sad Toyota is still holding Saudi Arabias ....

[@linmal2242]

You could call it a Toyota Prius Sub-Prime

[@alikhoobiary6595]

Japan is the 2nd largest importer of fossil fuels. I don't get toyota. Or Honda. Hydrogen will still have to come from natural gas or it'll cost much more. If they wanted to change the game to their advantage using their economic prowess the answer is BEV. why? why?

[@matthewdietz9583]

Hyundai ioniq it's built from the ground up to store three different sizes battery's and it does a better job then the Prius Prime

[@ellenorbjornsdottir1166]

9:00 I started to cry

[@evingmadeez5008]

I have a friend who has the new Prius he gets 48mpg

[@4figgis957]

Lack of luggage space makes this a non starter for me.

[@aaronz9687]

Toyota thinks Americans are to stupid to figure out how how to plug in an EV. It wasn't until people modified the Prius to make it a plug in,that they then made plug in an option. This is an after thought. Toyota could make a full EV ,but they will not do it. They don't think we can let go of gasoline,nonsense I did it . I never had a hybrid. I went full EV. Nissan Leaf is the anti Prius. The Prius is about 15 years out of date in my opinion.

[@mikelewis6726]

there are many key differences in between a Toyota Prius on a Chevy bolt on Chevy Volt differences. I can guarantee you that Toyota is not going to take back their Electric cars and crush them. we will never forget the ev1 go back and watch who killed the electric cars

[@transportevolved]

Germaine Lewis Toyota crushed most of its Rav4EVs from that period. I happen to own one of the 350 or so which didn't get crushed

[@cpufreak101]

Transport Evolved can attest to that, when I looked into it, it was only at the very end when they offered them for sale, and the last few were mostly cobbled together with whatever parts they got off the production line (according to what I read) And as for the Bolt, no, they won't be crushing them. They're available for sale unlike the EV1 which was lease only, which also was the reason why they were able to take them back and crush them.

[@AllanSustainabilityFan]

Only 25 miles? Compliance car imho.

[@MichaelTramm]

"The name now.... Is the Toyota Prius Prime!", Sounds like Clarkson.

[@BugMagnet]

They were not stupid or negligient when they placed the battery where they did. You see, in vertical dynamics one can think of a car as three blobs of mass. One on the front axle, one on the rear axle and one in the centre of gravity. The smaller the middle one is, the better the vertical dynamics and thus ride comfort. A front mounted engine plus a centrally placed batterie would upset the weight distribution and make the rear bounce around when thr front axle is driving over an obstacle.

[@ellenorbjornsdottir1166]

it could be both

[@whatistruanymore7139]

Still don't see the point just go all electric Toyota your now behind the times in a very short time these will be obsolete Nissan leavein Toyota behind who would have guessed that a couple of years ago

[@kcburney]

Whatistru Anymore Hi, I would agree 100% if I weren't an apartment dweller with no access to charging at home or at the office. Until then I'm glad there is a hybrid option.

[@sallerc]

I wish you could present distance and volume in metric for your non-american viewers.

[@mrjaffar]

What are Toyota thinking? They appear to be losing the plot!