2017 Toyota Prius Prime: Right Direction, New Course

2017 Toyota Prius Prime. Courtesy of Toyota

The new Prius Prime comes in three trims: Plus, Premium, and Advanced. 

The plug-in version of the fourth-generation Prius is positioned to replace the Prius Plug-In with more capacity and performance on the electric side of the hybrid system.

It’s not just the additional technology that makes Prius the best, but incredible fuel efficiency and interior roominess.

Prius Prime is powered by an aluminum 1.8 L Atkinson-cycle DOHC 4-cylinder engine with VVT-i, paired with two electric motors to deliver a total of 121 hp and 105 lb-ft of torque through a planetary-gear CVT.

The dual motor-generator drive system is ministered by an 8.8 kWh lithium-ion battery (weighing 265 lbs) that takes about 5.5 hours to fully charge on standard 120 volt outlets, or 2-hours 10 minutes on 240 volt sources.

The Prius Prime gets about 124 MPGe (“e” for “equivalent”) when operating in full-electric mode, and 55/53 mpg city/highway when running as a hybrid, with an estimated driving range of 640 miles. Fuel capacity is 11.3 gallons. In EV mode it has an EPA-estimated drive range of up to 25 miles when fully charged, and has a top speed of 84 mph.

For acceleration, it goes 0-60 mph in roughly 11 seconds. Now that isn’t particularly quick, yet the Prius never feels underpowered.

It's not just the additional technology that makes Prius the best.