Featured Car and Driver tests all three Prius Prime trims

Seems like toyota is taking baby steps in the right direction. This is a much better car than the prius phv.

Perhaps with the new camry hybrid, gen V will become a real dedicated phev. I don't see how toyota will get much better mpg with the prius than the camry, without a plug. They can probably keep the same suspension set-up, but perhaps do a 2L version of that camry engine. It would probably crank out 140 hp, providing enough oomph to stay at lower rpm and provide the power more efficiently. By then 10 kwh should fit better as battery tech is getting smaller, and provide with more power, perhaps 8.5 sec, 0-60 in bev mode, with a more powerful mg2. They need to either use someone else to provide head unit, or catch up to how others are doing it.

Still if you want a prius today, and many still do, the prime plus and prime premium seem like a better value than the non-phev. The advanced doesn't seem to make much sense. With the average new vehicle selling for $33K today in the USA, the prime seems like a relative bargain.

 

Loved it!

My favorite is the last paragraph:

• $40,000 - $27,985 = $12,015

To get the equivalent of TSS-P, the Chevy dealer indicated I would have to special order the top trim level. So I left this in the Car and Driver article comments:

Prius Prime Plus, "$27,985", and Volt with equivalent safety and auto-cruise, "$40,000" which gives a $12,015 Prius Prime Plus advantage. Even factor in the Federal Tax Credit, the Prime, $4,500, vs Volt, $7,500, the Prime Plus remains the best value.

Curious, the article includes the Prime "54 mpg" but did not include the Volt "42 mpg". When I drove my Prius Prime Plus following high-balling trucks with dynamic cruise control ($40k in a Volt,) we got 55.7 MPG over 1,200 miles.

My first tank was 600 miles and the second tank 699 miles without using the plug. The third tank bought in January is down to the last 1/4 with over 1,200 miles and still climbing. The plug charges the car and about half from 'free' chargers at shopping centers.

For those offended by the sight of our Prime, just close your eyes and the problem goes away. I have no sympathy for 'delicate' car viewers who are so sensitive to sheet-metal art (do you read Esquire too?) Get a clue, we're talking about transportation, getting from point A to B as cheaply as possible.​

Bob Wilson