2023 Toyota Prius Prime
MSRP Range: $32,350 - $39,170 Price range reflects Base MSRP for various trim levels, not including options or fees.
2023 Toyota Prius Prime





+41
Great
8.1
out of 10
edmunds TESTED
The Prius Prime is sleek and stylish, but even more exciting are its substantial all-electric range, high fuel economy and pleasing driving characteristics. Charge it frequently and the Prime can really help save on gas. But the latest Prius does suffer from lackluster space for rear passengers and cargo.
Pricing
Changing year or type will take you to a new page
Total MSRPThis price includes a $1,095 destination fee charged by the manufacturer. | $33,445 |
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Edmunds suggests you pay | $33,382 |
What Should I Pay
2023 Toyota Prius Prime Review


byJared Gall
Correspondent
Jared Gall started his career in the auto industry in 2001 with an internship at Car and Driver. He has written and edited many thousands of car reviews, technological deep-dives, industry analyses, and personality profiles. He is a correspondent at Edmunds and still has the 1969 Chevrolet C20 he dragged out of his parents' barn and drove until Car and Driver started giving him cars to evaluate.
, rating written byBrian Wong
Senior Reviews Editor
Brian Wong has worked in the automotive industry since 2010, writing over 1,000 car-related articles and testing and reviewing hundreds of vehicles over the course of career. Brian is a senior reviews editor at Edmunds and has also contributed to Cars.com, Motor Authority and Green Car Reports. Brian has also been featured on MotorWeek as an expert for several car comparisons. He loves convertibles (the smaller the better) and hates paying for parking, so Los Angeles is both the right and wrong city for him.
Pros
- Shows that a fuel-efficient can also be attractive
- Powerful enough to keep up with traffic while retaining outstanding fuel economy
- Can go more than 40 miles on all-electric power
- Intuitive-to-use infotainment system
Cons
- Sleek shape cuts into space for people and cargo
- Gauge cluster blocked by the steering wheel and hard to see
- Noisy when the gas engine kicks on
What's new
- Redesigned with sleek new styling
- New stiffer structure for improved ride and handling
- More power and range from the plug-in powertrain
- 2023 model kicks off the fifth generation of the Toyota Prius
Overview
The Toyota Prius is fully redesigned for 2023, including the Prime plug-in hybrid version. A new, more powerful gas engine headlines powertrain improvements that nearly double the power of the outgoing car. The impact on fuel efficiency is minimal, but the improvement to drivability is tremendous.
Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below
Toyota Prius Prime PHEV Insights
Trim:
Prius Prime SE
All Electric Range
45 miles
EPA Estimated Electric Range
The Prius Prime will automatically switch to gas when the electric battery is low.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.
Round-tripOne-way
Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Ashburn, Virginia. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.
Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors | Leaflet
from Charging at Home
4 hours
Total Charging Time (240V outlet)
Hybrid Parts Warranty
8 yrs or 100,000 milesHybrid batteries are federally mandated to carry at least 8 years or 100,000 miles of warranty coverage from the manufacturer. Batteries that lose capacity more rapidly than expected should be eligible for replacement under warranty. Coverage of additional hybrid components beyond the battery itself will vary by automaker.
EV Tax Credits & Rebates
$125
Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.
- Restrictions: Dominion Energy offers EV owners a rebate of up to $125 towards the cost of a Level 2 charging station.
To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or charging station must meet the following requirements:
- Receive electricity from Dominion Energy.
- Have an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle.
- Networked/Smart charging capabilities to program the station to off-peak periods and respond to managed charging events
- You also earn a $40 e-gift card on the anniversary of your enrollment every year you remain enrolled.
Additional Information:
Cost to Drive
$57/mo
Prius Prime
vs
$170/mo
Car Avg.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
The 2023 Prime shares the basic Prius' gas engine, but it increases electric-motor output and battery capacity to enable an EV mode that will keep the engine off — even with the accelerator floored — until the battery is fully depleted. Quickness is not the Prius' mission, but the more potent output means it no longer strains to safely merge on the highway or keep up with traffic. This latest Prius is also more enjoyable to drive thanks to improved handling that doesn't sacrifice ride quality and comfort.
Altogether, the 2023 Prius Prime looks and feels a lot more like a gas-powered car than its predecessor and retains the fuel economy that has long made it a standout among the growing class of hybrid cars. For a thorough analysis of the Prime, read our test team's Expert Rating below.
Edmunds Expert Rating
great
8.1/10
Edmunds Rating
Our VerdictThe Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.
The Prius Prime is sleek and stylish, but even more exciting are its substantial all-electric range, high fuel economy and pleasing driving characteristics. Charge it frequently and the Prime can really help save on gas. But the latest Prius does suffer from lackluster space for rear passengers and cargo.
Rated for you by America's best test team.
Performance
8.5/10
How does the Prius Prime drive? The Prius Prime at times feels more like an EV than a traditional hybrid, especially during city driving where that instant torque makes the car feel responsive and agile. It's also capable of getting on the highway without the gas engine. While in EV mode, you can floor the accelerator and the gas engine won't turn on.
But we did find that the Prius Prime is noticeably quicker with both the engine and electric motor working in conjunction. At the Edmunds test track, our test vehicle sprinted from 0 to 60 mph time in a quick 6.9 seconds. A regular Prius is slower at 7.7 seconds to 60 mph. Structural updates and new suspension components in several areas have also improved the Prius Prime composure on the road. The steering is numb, but it feels precise with sharp turn-in and tracks straight on the highway with no effort.
But we did find that the Prius Prime is noticeably quicker with both the engine and electric motor working in conjunction. At the Edmunds test track, our test vehicle sprinted from 0 to 60 mph time in a quick 6.9 seconds. A regular Prius is slower at 7.7 seconds to 60 mph. Structural updates and new suspension components in several areas have also improved the Prius Prime composure on the road. The steering is numb, but it feels precise with sharp turn-in and tracks straight on the highway with no effort.
Comfort
7.5/10
How comfortable is the Prius Prime? The Prius Prime's front seats offer enough support to be comfortable for longer stints. The rear seats are also comfortable. We like how the car rides smoothly over bumps and broken pavement. However, excessive tire, wind and engine noise under acceleration holds the Prius Prime back from being a fully relaxing car to drive. There's only a single climate zone, and the latest Prius Prime has lost some of its finer climate controls that previous models had, such as the ability to shut off the fans to all seats but the driver to enhance efficiency.
Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below
Compare dealer price quotes
2023 Toyota Prius Prime pricing
in Ashburn, VAEdmunds suggests you pay
Interior
7.0/10
How’s the interior? A conventional dashboard layout and well-placed controls make the Prius Prime's interior functional and easy to interact with. Less appealing is the digital instrument cluster. It displays too much information and looks cluttered as a result. Its placement and shape are also awkward. Most of our drivers found that when they adjusted the seat and steering wheel to their desired position, the top of the steering wheel partially blocked their view of the display.
The Prius Prime's latest design has also cut down on backseat room and visibility compared to older models. You have to duck down quite a bit to get into the back. Once you do get inside, headroom is in short supply for anyone more than 6 feet tall. Rear visibility is poor because of the small angled rear window and thick rear roof pillars.
The Prius Prime's latest design has also cut down on backseat room and visibility compared to older models. You have to duck down quite a bit to get into the back. Once you do get inside, headroom is in short supply for anyone more than 6 feet tall. Rear visibility is poor because of the small angled rear window and thick rear roof pillars.
Technology
8.5/10
How’s the tech? Our Prius Prime XSE test vehicle had the upsized 12.3-inch center touchscreen. We like the clean interface, responsiveness and Google-powered navigation of Toyota's latest multimedia system. Wireless connectivity for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay comes standard, along with a wireless charging pad on higher trims. But be careful: It's not cooled, so after about an hour in there your phone will come out feeling toasty. If you prefer to charge more conventionally, there are multiple USB-C ports spread throughout the cabin.
The lane keeping assistance system keeps the hybrid centered in its lane effectively, and acceleration and braking are smooth when using adaptive cruise control. Another feature, Proactive Driving Assist, provides subtle hints to the driver in everyday situations. If traffic slows ahead of you, the Prius will start to brake very subtly as you lift off the gas as a hint to start slowing down. It also flashes an LED strip on the dash if traffic in front of you pulls away. It would be easy for a system like this to be annoying enough to shut it off, but it never came across as overbearing during our testing.
But the new Traffic Jam Assist system is the opposite. It works at speeds of 25 mph and under and allows for hands-free driving while the adaptive cruise is engaged. Part of the system is an infrared camera that reads the driver's face to make sure the driver is paying attention. But the camera is always watching even if Traffic Jam Assist isn't on, and it's way too sensitive. The instrument cluster gets filled with warnings constantly if you look away for only a second (to adjust the climate controls, for example). And if you drive with a hand on top of the wheel the car will tell you to "Sit up" since it can't see your face.
The lane keeping assistance system keeps the hybrid centered in its lane effectively, and acceleration and braking are smooth when using adaptive cruise control. Another feature, Proactive Driving Assist, provides subtle hints to the driver in everyday situations. If traffic slows ahead of you, the Prius will start to brake very subtly as you lift off the gas as a hint to start slowing down. It also flashes an LED strip on the dash if traffic in front of you pulls away. It would be easy for a system like this to be annoying enough to shut it off, but it never came across as overbearing during our testing.
But the new Traffic Jam Assist system is the opposite. It works at speeds of 25 mph and under and allows for hands-free driving while the adaptive cruise is engaged. Part of the system is an infrared camera that reads the driver's face to make sure the driver is paying attention. But the camera is always watching even if Traffic Jam Assist isn't on, and it's way too sensitive. The instrument cluster gets filled with warnings constantly if you look away for only a second (to adjust the climate controls, for example). And if you drive with a hand on top of the wheel the car will tell you to "Sit up" since it can't see your face.
Storage
8.0/10
How’s the storage? Open up the Prius Prime's hatchback and you'll have 20.3 cubic feet of cargo space available behind the rear seats, matching the regular Prius. This is more cargo space than you'll get from a similarly sized sedan's trunk, but it's less than previous Prius models offered. It's now shallower and skinnier than before, and we couldn't fit a set of golf clubs lengthwise across the back of the vehicle. The raised cargo floor might suggest some sort of underfloor storage, but there's none to be found.
Up front, the Prius Prime has a skinny-but-deep center console bin and a helpful rubberized space under the dash to store small items. The available wireless charging pad is conveniently located next to the gear shifter. The cupholders are a touch larger than usual and will fit most water bottles.
Up front, the Prius Prime has a skinny-but-deep center console bin and a helpful rubberized space under the dash to store small items. The available wireless charging pad is conveniently located next to the gear shifter. The cupholders are a touch larger than usual and will fit most water bottles.
Fuel Economy
9.5/10
How’s the fuel economy? The Prius Prime boasts an EPA-estimated 44 miles of range for the SE and 39 miles for XSE models. This is excellent for a plug-in hybrid. On Edmunds' standardized test route, however, the Prius Prime had trouble hitting those targets. Our XSE test vehicle only covered 33.7 miles before the battery ran out of power and the gas engine started up. Still, the Prius Prime is a very efficient vehicle overall. On our route, our XSE test car got an observed 50.9 mpg.
Toyota estimates that it takes about four hours to charge the Prius Prime's 13.6-kWh battery pack on a 240-volt charger.
Toyota estimates that it takes about four hours to charge the Prius Prime's 13.6-kWh battery pack on a 240-volt charger.
Value
9.0/10
Is the Prius Prime a good value? Toyota offers a three-year/36,000-mile standard warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. But on hybrids like the Prius Prime, the electrical components are covered for eight years/100,000 miles and the battery is covered up to 10 years/150,000 miles. Toyota also provides two years of free maintenance, something not often found outside the luxury sphere.
The price tag on the Prius has grown, but in the Prime that increase is at least offset by its enhanced EV abilities. Adding range means using even less gas and, in turn, those savings can add up more quickly. The Prius' interior quality has taken a step forward on this latest model, but there are still some obvious hard plastic panels. The doors feel a bit flimsy and make a tinny sound when you close them.
The price tag on the Prius has grown, but in the Prime that increase is at least offset by its enhanced EV abilities. Adding range means using even less gas and, in turn, those savings can add up more quickly. The Prius' interior quality has taken a step forward on this latest model, but there are still some obvious hard plastic panels. The doors feel a bit flimsy and make a tinny sound when you close them.
Wildcard
8.5/10
The Prius' dramatic makeover pulled it from the ranks of "ugliest car" lists to something sleek and cohesive, and the Prime builds on that with its expanded electric range and performance abilities. Rather than a glorified hybrid, it offers something akin to an EV experience and when the battery drains you still get over 50 mpg combined. The Prime has extra appeal over the standard Prius thanks to its efficiency, fun and enhanced value.
Which Prius Prime does Edmunds recommend?
Our pick would be the midlevel XSE. A modern hybrid doesn't feel sufficiently high-tech without the keyless entry that the XSE includes, and it nets buyers synthetic leather upholstery and heated front seats, as well as the ability to pick and choose from many of the XSE Premium's desirable features without having to pay for the whole kaboodle.
Toyota Prius Prime models
The 2023 Toyota Prius Prime is available in three trim levels: SE, XSE and XSE Premium. All are powered by the same 220-horsepower hybrid system. All-wheel drive is available on the non-plug-in Prius, but all Primes are front-wheel-drive only.
SE
The base model Prius Prime includes these standard features:
- 17-inch alloy wheels with covers
- LED headlights
- Rain-sensing windshield wipers
- Height-adjustable front seats
- Heated steering wheel
- Automatic climate control
- Keyless entry (driver's door only) and keyless start
- 8-inch touchscreen
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration (both with wireless connectivity)
- Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
- Six-speaker audio system
Every Prius Prime also comes with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0. It includes:
- Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time)
- Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the Toyota and the car in front)
- Lane keeping assistance (steers the Prius back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
- Front cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is about to cross your path and cause a collision)
XSE
The midlevel XSE adds the following to the SE equipment:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Keyless entry (for both front doors and the rear hatch) and keyless start
- Synthetic leather upholstery
- Power-adjustable driver's seat
- Heated front seats
- Wireless smartphone charging pad
Notable options and packages on the XSE include:
- Fixed glass roof
- 12.3-inch touchscreen
- Toyota's Digital Key system (allows the driver to use smartphone as a key)
XSE Premium
The range-topping XSE Premium adds:
- Fixed glass roof
- Power hatch
- 12.3-inch touchscreen
- Ventilated front seats
- Driver's seat memory settings
- Eight-speaker JBL audio system
- Toyota's Digital Key system
Notable options and packages on the XSE Premium include:
- Solar panel on roof
- Heated rear seats
- Digital rearview mirror (allows you to see out the back even with a fully loaded cargo area)
The Advanced Technology package is only offered on the XSE Premium and adds:
- Automatic parallel and perpendicular parking
- 360-degree parking camera (gives you a top-down view of the Prius Prime and its surroundings for tight parking situations)

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Toyota Prius Prime Reviews
Owner Reviews
5(75%)
4(25%)
3(0%)
2(0%)
1(0%)
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Sweet car!
5 out of 5 starsBob, 09/06/2023
2023 Toyota Prius Prime XSE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT)
This car is so smooth and responsive. When fully charged it runs around 40 miles on pure electric, then seamlessly switches to hybrid mode. I've only put a little over 400 miles on it, but only had to run in hybrid mode once, when I took a trip of about 90 miles. I figure I burned about a quart of gas on that trip. I charge it at night when the electric rate is cheap - $.10 a kWh. … So I'm making a small contribution to saving the environment, and driving a smooth, thrifty, responsive car. What's not to like?
Fun and Enjoyable Drive - Premium Quality
5 out of 5 starsRichard C., 07/25/2023
2023 Toyota Prius Prime XSE Premium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT)
Let me preface this, I am a 6'3" man, and my wife is a 5'4" woman. We both drive this vehicle and live in an apartment with a garage with a standard 110v Outlet. We just took ownership of our vehicle, prior we had a 2017 Prius Prime, and this car is exceptionally better and worth the upgrade.
We chose the 2023 Prius Prime XSE Premium with the Sunroof, Advanced Technology Package, and … the all-weather mats. I will list out some really cool pros and features, then dive into an overall experience and cons.
Pros:
Vehicle is stable, fast, and a smooth drive. In all EV mode, it's no different than the 2017-2022 models, a bit slow, but still quick from 0-35. It's quiet and quite enjoyable, the JBL sound system is great too. Beyond this, the car itself when in Sport + EV Auto is insanely fast for a Prius, I can outplace the entry level Model 3 Tesla and merging onto the interstate with no long ramps (Thanks Seattle) is a breeze. Next, parking assist is flawless nearly, parallel parking, front parking, back parking, it's all super easy with the 360 birds eye view and digital rear camera. Trunk space is plentiful, a bit more than the 2017-2022 Prime Models, but the real benefit is the foam compartment underneath. We found this to be a great storage space for extra clothes, cleaning supplies, children's supplies, picnic gear and other odds and ends (think vacuum, trash bag, etc). Charging is fairly quick, and can easy go from 0-44 overnight with about 12kWh used, a bit less efficient than the older models, but that 40 miles of electric range is sweet. Heated seats and ventilated seats make this a super comfortable ride, and remote start makes sure the car is warm and defrosted or cool and sweet for summer or winter in Seattle.
One other fun note, we are a mix iPhone/Android family, I use the Google Pixel 7 Pro and my wife is on the iPhone SE 3rd Gen. The Android Auto is fantastic, maps and music are great and the screen is quite responsive. When I am driving, it auto selects my Pixel as the default device, but, when my wife drives (normally alone) it will auto select her iPhone. Apple car play is nice and wife thinks it's great. I will say, the Technology is next level, driving assist is great for Seattle Traffic and blind spot monitors are spot on.
Cons:
The instrument cluster is a bit weird, no matter what steering wheel position to have as a big guy, it's just odd. Wife struggles seeing through the wheel as well, although, not as much considering she sits a bit higher in the chair and is able to lower the steering wheel. This isn't so much a problem as it is weird when making turns and not being able to see your dash. Beyond this, back seats are only for people only 5'8", any taller and it's quite uncomfortable, good news is, we only have kids in the back seats.
The only other issue I have with the car is the price, we paid huge premiums, but still feel it was worth it, sold our old car for 3/4 of the purchase price of this vehicle so we have a small loan, but still, if you are looking for a budget, the better option is the standard LE Prime or the standard LE Prius.
Verdict (Personal Opinion):
This is the best Toyota vehicle we have ever owned, it's a great long-term family car as when the kids grow up, they will have all the comfort of the back seats with heated options, USB-C Chargers for Tablets/Phones. This build quality is stable, it handles extremely well, and overall feel like a luxury vehicle without the luxury cost. Personally I would be willing to pay almost $60,000 for this car as it drives and feels more like a BMW 330e or i4 M50 Sedan than a Prius Sedan.
5 stars for the car, -1 for outside issues
4 out of 5 starsRosci, 09/19/2023
2023 Toyota Prius Prime SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT)
The car itself is fantastic: resonsive all-electric mode with enough range to handle 90% of my driving, and great range on gas for longer trips.
However, there are production issues. The supply is far greater than the supply, so getting one is a challenge, and then there's the several thousands in dealer markup or overpriced options added on. You only get one key fob, due to the … chip shortage, with the second fob to be given eventually.
My partucular car came with "System failure, see dealer" displayed on the dash. I figured I'd have the warranty repair done at a closer dealer (I had to buy from a far-away dealer due to the supply shortage), and got 3 days to drive it around first.
It has been at the dealer for 42 days and counting, awaiting arrival of an electronics component. Supposedly will be fixed in 1-3 weeks more.
With the thou$and$ in dealer markup on the Prius and the $7k government incentive to buy a Tesla, There's a huge cost advantage for Tesla. We have a Tesla. The drivetrain and power are impressive, but I don't like the rest of the car at all, and recharging on trips is a prohibitive pain. I want my Prius Prime back.
Too little, too late
5 out of 5 starsMart, 05/28/2023
2023 Toyota Prius Prime XSE Premium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT)
Firstly, there are hardly any Prius or Prius Primes at dealerships in the LA area. Those few that are available are being offered at obscene premiums. Currently, with available rebates, I can buy a Tesla for less than a Prius Prime. Even when Prius delivery problems are solved, updated Model 3 and Y’s will be far more inviting to me to buy. The updates for the Model 3 will be arriving in … the third quarter. The Model Y is already basically updated. The Model 3 Long Range gets an EPA range of 330 miles. The super charging network in CA. Is outstanding.
I comparison, the Prime gets an electric increase of about 39 miles for the XSE. It doesn’t have the updated software or infotainment system that the Tesla have now or will shortly have. It also charges slowly. So, why should I buy a Prius?
Helpful shopping links
2023 Toyota Prius Prime video
BRIAN WONG: I'm Brian Wong, with Edmunds, and welcome to U Drags. [MUSIC PLAYING] Actually, you caught me. This isn't U Drags. This is about the furthest thing that you can get from U Drags. Instead of a half mile of fury, where we send fast cars on an empty airstrip, we've got a very practical head-to-head battle for you. With me our two cars that have been completely redesigned for 2023, the Kia Niro PHEV and the Toyota Prius Prime. We're here to see which of these plug-in hybrids is more worthy of your dollars. And to do that, we're going to put them through a series of tests at the Edmunds test track and in the real world. Now, on paper, the Prius Prime has a huge advantage. It has more power. It has a larger battery. And it has more electric range allegedly. But how do these two cars shake out when we got our hands on them? Let's find out. For more information on either of these vehicles, head over to edmunds.com, and we've got you covered. And if you're interested in adding a PHEV to your fleet at home, we'll help you your current set of wheels at edmunds.com/sellmycar, where you'll get an instant cash offer. The Prius Prime's redesigned interior identically matches what you're getting in the regular 2023 Prius. So the old Prius Prime, you actually lost one of the rear seats. You can only seat four passengers. But now, thankfully, you can fit five people. And it even has the same amount of cargo room because of better packaging for that battery. We're in an XSE model right now. Toyota doesn't actually offer a limited model, which is the top trim on the Prius. In the Prime, you're only going to be able to get SE, XSE, or what they're calling XSE Premium. But even though they have different names, you don't actually lose out on any features. Anyways, we're here in an XSE. It's been upgraded a little bit with the larger 12.3-inch touch screen. And we like it here, just like we did in the Prius. Toyota's infotainment used to be garbage, but they've really improved it lately. The native maps application is actually powered by Google, so you get more updates for locations, and things like that. And it's well placed. I can easily reach the screen. One problem, though, that we also had with the regular Prius, the volume knob is on the wrong side. They say we can use this little button here on the steering wheel to change it up. But it's also weird when you've been reaching for the volume knob on this side your whole life, and all of a sudden, it's way over here. Otherwise, we like that they've gone with physical controls for the climate-- very easy to use, very easy to reach. I mean, you don't have to look down for too long when you're driving to change the temperature, to turn on the seat heaters, or the seat ventilation, things like that. The wireless charging pad right here-- vertically oriented, easy to drop in your phone, though you do have to jiggle it sometimes to get it to hook up and actually start charging. And it's nice to have this because the system also comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, something that the Kia lacks. So even though the Prius Prime back seat fits five people again, it's not ideal back here for a couple of reasons. As you can see, when I got in, I had to duck down kind of low. And that's because the shape of this vehicle compromises the way that the back end is packaged. Here in the back seat, legroom is actually pretty good, but headroom, as you can see, compromised. So my head is right now about half an inch from the headliner, which means that if I'm sitting in the back, and the driver goes over a bump of any kind, straight into the ceiling with the top of my head. Also, no real visible air vents back here; so we have USB ports, which is nice for charging. But some air would be nice to help keep things fresh for the backseat passengers, [MUSIC PLAYING] The Niro PHEV has redesigned interior, also brand new to this vehicle, but will be very familiar to anyone who's been in IKEA for the last couple of years. So you have matching side-by-side 10.3 inch screens up here, one for the instrument cluster and one for the touch screen. Down here, you have this new control scheme that Kia has gone for it. And this is something that we have some disagreement even on our staff about. I personally like it because it's a very efficient use of space. But some people would rather have physical controls here. So if you're going to get one of these, make sure that you climb in and try it out for yourself. One thing that the Kia Niro PHEV doesn't have-- wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. So you're going to need to bring a cable, and it's going to need to be a USB A. Weirdly, the USB-C port appears for charging only. So if you want your phone to actually talk to the vehicle, make sure you've got a USB-A. But who carries those around anymore? Down the center console here, a nice storage bin-- so a really cool solution here, these buttons open up cup holders. But when you don't need cup holders, you can just tuck them back in, and you have a nicely-sized, small storage bin. One thing I don't like about the front of this interior, though, is this big, glossy, black panel. This is my PSA to automakers everywhere. The glossy stuff doesn't look as nice as you think, and it also is blinding us. In contrast to the Prius's back seat, when I hop in the Niro, I don't actually have to bend down at all. I just slide right in. This back seat is where we see the shape of the Niro really paid dividends. Instead of arcing down the way that the Prius does, it looks flat, like a regular hatchback or even something close to an SUV. This is basically SUV levels of passenger room. And it also makes the cargo area bit more vertical, and we're going to see how it matches up to the Prius next. Now, I can tell you that the Niro PHEV has 39.5 inches of rear headroom, three extra inches of rear headroom, compared to the Prius. So that's why, when I sit here, I have to look up to see the ceiling. And there's also this handy cutout here. It just helps the entire cabin of the Niro to feel a lot more spacious and open, while the Prius actually feels quite confining. One other thing we like about this back seat-- rear air vents, which, if you are a car-sick person like me, makes a difference between life and throwing up out the window. And the placement of these USB charging ports is excellent-- easy to see, easy to access. This is just a back seat that is good for even adult-sized passengers. And I could sit back here for a long trip and be perfectly comfortable. Believe it or not the, Prius Prime actually has a larger cargo area. According to the spec sheet, it's got 20.3 cubic feet, to the Niro's 19.4. But the Niro has a much larger cargo opening. And I actually think that you can fit more stuff in the Niro if you try. So let's find out. So time for a hypothetical road trip, me and three of my imaginary friends. So oh, that actually fits in there pretty good. Get rid of this. Who needs that? Hold on. Better than I thought. Let's see how the Niro does. There. So both of them fit roughly the same amount of stuff. But you're going to work a lot harder fitting into the Prius than in the Niro. However, with the seats folded down, it's not really much of a contest at all. The Niro PHEV offers 54.6 cubic feet of cargo room, while in the Prius Prime, you're only getting 26.7 cubic feet. And that's less than half of what you'll get in the Kia. Now on paper, this Prius Prime has a big advantage over the Niro when it comes to electric range. This is rated at an estimated 39 miles, while the Niro that we have is only rated at 31 miles. But when we put them on our Edmunds testing loop, we found that the Niro actually slightly outperformed its estimate, going 31.8 miles, while the Prius Prime was underwhelming at only 33.7 miles, which means that the gap between the two is actually not that big. Now, both of these vehicles do offer different region settings for getting energy back into the battery. But an advantage that the Prius Prime has is that it's the only one of the two with a charge setting. So you can actually drive the car with the intention of charging the battery. And this works quite well for scenarios when you're on the highway. Or if you're coasting on a downhill, it'll actually pull a little bit of energy off of that gas engine and use it to refill the battery. PHEVs are notably more efficient in the city than on the highway. So you can actually use this to build up battery while you're at highway speeds. And then once you get into the city, you have more range to use at that lower speed, where you get the most out of the battery. Like we said before, Prius Prime is just a lot more pleasant to drive in its electric vehicle mode than the Niro is. Now, you do run out of breath a little bit around 45 miles an hour. That first burst of speed comes quickly, but then it does taper off. However, you can still get on the highway. You can still pass people. And that makes the Prius Prime a little bit distinct as a PHEV, in that it functionally feels like an EV. The Prius Prime does debut a new safety feature, that you don't find on the regular Prius. This is actually the first Toyota product to get this, and it's called Traffic Jam Assist. It functions like some other systems that we've seen from automakers like BMW, where if you're in a traffic jam, the adaptive cruise control is on. When you're at speeds of under 25 miles an hour, you can do hands-free driving. And this system is facilitated by the addition of this camera that watches your eyes. And it's an infrared camera, so it also works at night. And this is something that you don't find in a normal Prius. The problem with this system, though, is that it's extremely sensitive. So if you look away for more than a split second, a pop-up appears on the instrument panel, and it might even beep at you to tell you to face a screen. The other annoying thing is that this cluster is very poorly placed, just like we noticed in the normal Prius. So the only way to really see it is to drop the steering wheel down a little bit while you're driving. And since it's not real comfortable to drive with your hands in your lap, my natural tendency is then to put a hand on top. But when I do this, a warning shows up on the screen, and it says, sit up. The problem with safety features like this, that are overbearing, is that users end up turning them off. We spoke to Toyota to get some clarity on how these safety systems interact. And they confirmed our observation, that you can shut off the driver attention warnings without losing access to Traffic Jam Assist or any of the other safety features. With those warnings off, now if you're looking away from the road, the system shuts off Traffic Jam Assist on its own and prompts you to take the wheel as it kicks back over to regular adaptive cruise control. [MUSIC PLAYING] Back in the Niro, it's a lot simpler, this driving experience. And I do mean that in a good way. There's only two drive modes, Sport and Eco. And there's also a way to force the vehicle to go into EV mode or into hybrid mode, if you want to. But there's no charge mode, like you get the Prius. So really the only way to add a lot of juice back into this battery is to plug it in. I mean, if you want to hold the charge, you can put it in hybrid mode. And it does a pretty good job of that. But you do end up losing a little bit of battery along the way. The Niro PHEV doesn't offer the same sort of EV driving experience that you get in the Prius Prime. Now, that's because the electric motor is a lot less powerful. But I think that the best way to drive the Niro PHEV is to not think about that at all, just to get in and drive it. And if the gas engine needs to kick on to give you enough acceleration, it kicks on. And then once you start coasting again, it's shuts off rather quickly. I would say that on the street, the overall kind of fun you can have behind the wheel in the Prius Prime is still rather evident. But the Niro PHEV is perfectly fine for anything you want to do day to day. The other thing I like about the Niro PHEV is that philosophy of simplicity also extends to the driver aids. So it doesn't really have anything that's equivalent to Traffic Jam System, so it's definitely not as advanced as the Prius. But that being said, all of its safety systems don't really bother you. They stay out of the way until they're needed. And Highway Driver's Assist is still very good at following at a safe distance, slowing down and speeding up smoothly, and keeping the car in the lane. So all in all, I think I would rather take the Niro PHEV's more simplistic approach, that is out of the way, than the Prius's very much in-your-face, annoying, notification-laden approach. [MUSIC PLAYING] So here we are at the Edmunds test track, giving the Prius Prime a bit of a shakedown. And much like the regular Prius, which was redesigned for 2023, as well, drives much better than its predecessor. One of the things you immediately notice about the Prius Prime-- big upgrades under the hood. There is a 2-liter, 4-cylinder engine up front. And then you have an electric motor. Both of them power the front wheels, so you can only get this in front-wheel drive, unlike the Prius, which you can also get an all-wheel drive. But a big upgrade in power-- 220 horsepower total between the two of those. And that is a huge leap forward from the last Prius Prime. Looking at just the electric motor, the electric motor by itself makes 161 horsepower. And that's 40 horsepower more than the last Prius Prime made in total. This actually kind of feels just like an EV. 161 horsepower actually puts the Prius Prime within spitting distance of other vehicles. So for example, a Hyundai Ioniq 5, in its single-motor version with a standard battery, only makes about 10 more horsepower than the electric motor in this Prius Prime. Speaking of battery, the battery is also bigger, 13.6 kilowatt hours now. That's an improvement. But that bigger battery also gives the Prius Prime a big jump in electric-only range. So it's an EPA estimated 44 miles in the lowest trim level and then 39 miles in the XSE, like the one we're in now, or the XSE premium, because you have bigger wheels, and those are a bit less efficient. The transition between gas power and electric power is also handled very seamlessly here in the Prius Prime. So if I'm not in EV mode-- right now I'm in this Auto mode-- and I get on the gas, it hands off very cleanly between the two. There's not any shaking or jittering, and you don't really tell except for you can hear the engine kicking on. This steering wheel is perfectly sized. So last Prius had a big, ungainly wheel, but like Mazdas of old. Steering wheel on this is actually really nice, fits in the hand super great, and actually fits in with this Prius Prime's character quite well, which is more fun than you might think. The steering rack-- pretty sharp, but not a ton of feedback to the steering. But this is actually a pretty good handling vehicle. And I have the impression, that if you actually put a much grippier set of tires on here, you would lose a lot of efficiency, but it would actually make this a pretty fun vehicle to drive around. The new Prius Prime definitely feels faster than its predecessor, definitely quicker around our handling circuit. So similar to the Prius Prime, the Niro PHEV also got a power gain and an increase in battery size and range in its own redesign. So less powerful than the Prius, 180 total system horsepower. And about 80 of that horsepower comes from the electric motor. That's an improvement over the last Niro PHEV, has 60 horsepower. But it does mean that this electric motor is actually about half as powerful as the one in the Prius. So it does drive a little bit differently. You can't quite get the same level of push out of the electric motor. So we're going uphill here. The gas engine has already kicked on pretty much immediately, even though I'm an EV mode. But then as we come over the crest here, and we start to go down the hill, it shuts off, and we go gliding down in EV power. In that regard, the Prius Prime drives like an EV sometimes. And the Niro PHEV pretty much drives like a hybrid all the time. Any time you get really past half throttle, that gas engine loves to kick on. And that does give it a better feel around town. You have enough acceleration. But it does mean that you're not going to quite be able to drive it solely on the battery as easily as you will the Prius Prime. The battery pack has grown to up to 11.1 kilowatt hours. And that gives the Niro PHEV either 33 miles or 31 miles of electric range, depending on trim level. This is the SX Touring, basically the top of the line one. So you're only going to get 31 miles because it's got the bigger wheels, and it's just a little bit less efficient. The Niro isn't quite as fun to drive as a Prius. It doesn't feel nearly as agile on the front end. Acceleration isn't on the same level. But I would say one thing that's true of both of these cars is that they drive really better than they need to. Ride quality is quite good. And around here on our handling circuit, there's a little bit of body roll, but not too much. Just like the Prius Prime, the Niro PHEV does a really good job blending its physical brakes and the regenerative braking. And the transitions between electric power and hybrid power, we're using both the electric motor and the gas engine, also very seamless. So from driving these two vehicles out here on our test track, it really does feel like the Prius Prime is going to have a big advantage on the testing numbers. Let's see how those played out. [MUSIC PLAYING] As expected, the Prius Prime was considerably quicker than the Niro PHEV in our instrumented testing, throwing down a 6.9-second 0 to 60 mile an hour time and a 15.3 second quarter mile. That outpaces the Niro PHEV's 8 second, 0 to 60 mile an hour in 16.2 second quarter mile times by quite a bit. This has been a fairly comprehensive victory just by the numbers for the Prius and out here on our test track. [MUSIC PLAYING] The margin between these two vehicles is very, very thin. In fact, they have the exact same Edmunds rating of 8.1. What separates them is really how they go about their business. The Prius Prime is more forward thinking in its styling, in the way it drives, and in the way that it offers a near EV experience. While the Niro PHEV feels more like a hybrid, but it's also simpler and easier to live with day to day. Superior rear seat packaging, more usable cargo space, better ergonomics, and simpler safety features give the Kia an edge when it comes to practicality. So if you were to ask me which one I want to spend my money on, I'm a simple guy. So I've got to go with the Kia. [MUSIC PLAYING]
2023 Toyota Prius Prime vs. 2023 Kia Niro PHEV | Plug-in Hybrid Comparison | MPG, Interior & More!
2023 Toyota Prius Prime Features Specs
SE
Total MSRP | $33,445 |
---|---|
EV Tax Credits & Rebates | $250 |
Engine Type | Plug-in hybrid |
EPA Electric Range | 45 miles |
Combined MPGe (Electric + Gas) | 127 MPGeMPGe is the official metric that the EPA uses to measure the efficiency of alternative-fuel (including electric) vehicles. Just like regular MPG shows how far a car will travel on one gallon of gas, MPGe shows how far a vehicle will drive on 33.7kWh of electricity - the energy equivalent of one gallon of gasoline. Combined MPGe is the combined total of 45% city MPGe + 55% highway MPGe. |
Cost to Drive | $57/month |
Total Charging Time (240V) | 4.0 hours |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 20.3 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Compare the Toyota Prius Prime
Toyota Prius Prime vs. Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid
The Prius is one of few sedan/hatchback holdouts as the market moves en masse to crossovers and SUVs. Kia's upright Niro Plug-In Hybrid bests the Prius Prime in interior space, and those whose travel companions regularly include multiple adults over 6 feet tall will be much happier with the Niro. Cargo space, on the other hand, is a draw. As tends to be the case in car-versus-crossover showdowns, the lighter and more aerodynamic Prius Prime is far more efficient than the Niro PHEV.
Toyota Prius Prime vs. Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid
The current Tucson's chiseled, futuristic styling debuted for 2022. Inside it boasts an elegance that escapes the Toyota, as well as vastly more cargo and rear seat room. But the Hyundai is not available in all 50 states, and no matter where you drive it, its real-world fuel economy falls well short of the Prius Prime's.
Toyota Prius Prime vs. Toyota Prius
Buyers who regularly exceed the plug-in Prime's electric-only range might be better served by the regular Prius. The Prime is 200-300 pounds heavier than the equivalent Prius, which is likely to blame for the plug-in's lower (but still impressive) fuel economy: a high of 52 mpg combined versus a max 57 mpg combined. That and lower pricing are strong arguments in any class, but especially in this one. Of interest to northern-climate buyers, the regular Prius also offers all-wheel drive, which is not available on the Prime.

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Safety
Our experts’ favorite Prius Prime safety features:
- Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection
- Warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios.
- Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist
- Warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position.
- Safe Exit Assist
- Warns occupants of vehicles or bicycles approaching from the rear as they exit the Prius.
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test | Good |
---|---|
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test | Good |
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original | Good |
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated | Not Tested |
Side Impact Test – Original | Not Tested |
Side Impact Test – Updated | Good |
Roof Strength Test | Not Tested |
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint | Not Tested |
FAQ
Is the Toyota Prius Prime a good car?
The Edmunds experts tested the 2023 Prius Prime both on the road and at the track, giving it a 8.1 out of 10. Edmunds’ consumer reviews show that the 2023 Prius Prime gets an average rating of 5 stars out of 5 (based on 4 reviews) What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that the Prius Prime has 20.3 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Toyota Prius Prime. Learn more
What's new in the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime:
- Redesigned with sleek new styling
- New stiffer structure for improved ride and handling
- More power and range from the plug-in powertrain
- 2023 model kicks off the fifth generation of the Toyota Prius
Is the Toyota Prius Prime reliable?
To determine whether the Toyota Prius Prime is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the Prius Prime. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the Prius Prime's 5-star average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2023 Prius Prime and gave it a 8.1 out of 10. Our consumer reviews show that the 2023 Prius Prime gets an average rating of 5 stars out of 5 (based on 4 reviews). Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2023 Prius Prime is a good car for you. Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2023 Toyota Prius Prime?
The least-expensive 2023 Toyota Prius Prime is the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $32,350.
Other versions include:
- SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT) which starts at $32,350
- XSE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT) which starts at $35,600
- XSE Premium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT) which starts at $39,170
What are the different models of Toyota Prius Prime?
If you're interested in the Toyota Prius Prime, the next question is, which Prius Prime model is right for you? Prius Prime variants include SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT), XSE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT), and XSE Premium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT). For a full list of Prius Prime models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more
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