Using the Prius Plug-in PRIMARILY as a hybrid, is it possible/mostly practical?

The only things you really lose over a standard Gen 3 are the spare wheel, and the ability to engage EV mode unless the traction battery has been charged from plugging in or substantial regen (standard Gen 3 will allow EV mode for short distance/low speed under certain conditions). Fuel consumption should be similar.

 

There are other factors cited by prospective buyers which you haven't mentioned, mostly around your likely usage.
If you intend driving significant distances regularly, then the 11-12 miles EV range a PiP has makes a fairly insignificant difference, whereas all local driving can be nearly all EV mode.
I had a C for 4 years before my 2013 PiP, the PiP has much stronger highway performance, is more economical because the bigger motor doesn't work as hard, and is more comfortable, including much better seats. Gen4's are rated as better handling than PiP/Gen3 but I wouldn't hold out for that unless you intend a lot of long-distance driving.
I would pick a PiP/Gen3 ahead of a Gen4 for usable boot space and a flat floor, I could easily sleep in my PiP.
PiP and Prime, and higher spec Gen4's (fairly sure) have li-ion batteries, whereas Gen2,3,C have NiMH. Having said that, Toyota's battery management is very conservative, with very long battery life in each case.
For hybrid use for the foreseeable, I would skip Gen2 for age, C for size, Gen4 for higher price/higher mileage, and get the best Gen3 or PiP based on low mileage/condition, PiP if you have a choice on that basis.
Happy hunting!

 

When I first got my 2012 plugin I always used up my EV miles first for about 12 miles. Then as the EV maximum milage dropped (now about 7) and I found out a replacement battery costs $10,000, I realized that my heavy use in EV mode was going to cost me way more in the end than the gas I was saving.
Now I use EV only if I know I can get there and back within 7 miles. If I know that the ICE will kick in on my trip eventually, I start out in ICE mode to save the battery usage.
Yes, I most always get 50+ mpg in ICE mode. My opinion is that the easiest use of the battery is to never charge it at all and it should last a very long time before it needs replacement. But I do love making my short trips on battery like to the nearest grocery store because I know that very short trips are the most polluting and hardest on the ICE system.

 

A lowish mileage* 3rd gen hybrid would be my preference. You get the (aforementioned) temp. spare tire, a voluminous storage tray under the hatch floor, and: if the hybrid battery ever fails, it will be one heck of a lot cheaper to replace.

* Say 100K miles or less. Even with low miles, do be prepared: Exhaust Gas Recirc Circuit and Intake Manifold will need cleaning. Both those items are not mentioned by Toyota in the maintenance schedule, but they need doing. Transaxle fluid drain and fill, and brake fluid replacement also are worthwhile. Lots of info here on all these items.

 

you should get a charger (evse) with the car, and make sure you get two working key fobs, with mechanical keys

 

If I remember right Toyota did quite a lot of advertising trying to promote and explain that the Plug in Prius could be plugged in, but also used as a regular hybrid.

 

Yes. Fuelly is a good place to see this.

 

And don't forget "nice to have's" like heated seats, a head-up display (HUD), and active/radar cruise control, all possible depending on trim level. I wouldn't be without the last two, don't need the heated seats..

 

I have all of these in my 2013 PiP, plus leather, heated steering wheel and body kit, but mine is JDM in origin. Perhaps not in your market..

 

My UK spec according to the brochure is cloth and "leather" though it's obviously synthetic leather. The Irish brochure just vaguely says "black fabric" for the same seats, though something allegedly claiming to be leather was an option (but no PIP at all in Ireland!).

Surprised about no HUD on NA spec, it's one of the best features of these cars IMO. I've got heated seats but not wheel, the steering wheel does seem like real leather though.