2021 Toyota Prius Prime
| MSRP | $29,753 |
|---|---|
| Edmunds suggests you pay | $30,117 |
2021 Toyota Prius Prime Review
- Outstanding fuel economy, with 25 miles of electric-only range
- Comfortable front seats
- Priced lower than most other plug-ins
- Slow acceleration and noisy engine
- Smaller cargo area compared to the regular Prius
- Ride can get unsettled on bumpy roads
- Enhanced capability of some advanced driver aids
- Base LE model now includes Android Auto connectivity
- Part of the fourth Prius generation introduced for 2016
Caution is a prudent approach to life, and sometimes it is better to dip your toes into the pool rather than to dive right in. If you've been thinking of giving an electric vehicle a try, a plug-in hybrid is a good way to find out if EV ownership could work for you. And the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime is one way to sample EV living without committing to it completely — or spending a bunch of money.
Distanced from the more popular Prius hybrid, the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid wears unique styling details but uses the same five-door hatchback body style that's characterized Toyota's fuel-sipper for nearly 20 years. The two cars share interiors and equipment, though only the standard Prius offers an electronic all-wheel-drive system as an upgrade from front-wheel drive.
The primary difference between a Prius and a Prius Prime is the powertrain. With the Prime, you get an estimated 25 miles of electric driving range at speeds up to 84 mph. This is good for shorter commutes and running errands near home, and, according to Toyota, you can easily recharge the battery in 5.5 hours using a standard household outlet. If you're out driving and the Prime uses all of its electric range, it automatically switches to gas-electric hybrid operation just like a standard Prius.
If you're wondering if you can live with an electric car, a Prius Prime is a good way to find out. But it's not the only affordable plug-in hybrid, and you might find some of the alternatives more appealing. Check out our Expert Rating below to get our in-depth take on the 2021 Prius Prime.
Our verdict | |
The Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid is comfortable and easy to drive, just like the regular Prius. And if you can regularly recharge the battery, it's easy to take advantage of the car's 25 miles of all-electric range. The Prime's larger battery reduces cargo capacity somewhat, and "fun!" is not an adjective in the car's vocabulary, but otherwise it's good where it matters. | |
How does the Prius Prime drive? | |
You're not buying a Prius Prime for its performance. In Edmunds' testing, our Prius Prime Limited test car accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 10.8 seconds, which is slow no matter how you look at it. Merging onto the highway or passing at higher speeds takes quite a bit of time, throttle and determination. We also tested its emergency braking performance. It stopped from 60 mph in 128 feet, which is slightly below average for a vehicle of this type. The Prime is also pretty tepid when it comes to agility and handling precision. On the upside, the Prime has an easy-driving nature and smoothly transitions from EV mode to hybrid gasoline-engine power. And should you do most of your driving in EV mode, you'll find there's adequate acceleration for city traffic. | |
How comfortable is the Prius Prime? | |
The front seats are softly padded and should be comfortable for the long haul. Taller drivers, or those with long legs, might find the seat bottoms to be a few inches too short. The cabin is generally quiet unless you floor the gas pedal, at which point the underpowered engine gets rather raucous. Another downside is the Prius' ride quality over broken pavement and concrete expansion joints. The impacts from these types of bumps can make the car feel jittery. Since the car is so quiet, this road noise is more noticeable than it would otherwise be in a non-hybrid. The climate control works well and has clever touches such as the ability to isolate the system in favor of the driver to aid in fuel efficiency. | |
How’s the interior? | |
The Prius is a fundamentally easy car to get into and drive. Aside from the puzzling shifter design, all other controls are immediately familiar. The driver's seat has a wide range of adjustability, but taller drivers will likely want a bit more range of adjustment from the steering wheel. Space up front is expansive. Tall rear passengers will feel a little more cramped because of the Prius' sloping roofline. Visibility is a mixed bag. Forward visibility is excellent, but the view over your shoulder is hampered by the thick roof pillars. Some drivers might also not like the view out back because of the split rear window design. The instrument cluster is also quirky because it's mounted in the center of the dash rather than being right in front of you. | |
How’s the tech? | |
Our test Prius Prime had the upgraded 11.6-inch touchscreen display, which is a lot of screen real estate for a car in this price range. Unfortunately, it suffers from cluttered virtual buttons, unsophisticated graphics and clumsy menus — you'll be fine sticking with the base 7-inch screen. The native voice control system is unintuitive to use too. On the upside, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration is standard, and sound quality from the upgraded JBL audio system is better than average. The Prime comes standard with a full suite of advanced driving aids too. Most of them work well, but the adaptive cruise control is very conservative. It's both slow to accelerate and quick to brake for other vehicles. | |
How’s the storage? | |
The Prius Prime's cargo area is compromised due to the larger battery pack, which raises the floor and makes its 19.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats merely adequate. You can always fold the rear seats down if you need more cargo area; just be aware that the load floor isn't flat like it is in a standard Prius. Inside, there's enough in-cabin storage for the daily odds and ends. If you tend to fill your cupholders with personal items, you'll appreciate the large door pockets, which can double as water bottle holders. Child safety seats are fairly easy to load in and out of the Prius Prime. LATCH points are easy to find, but the low rear roofline means you might have to stoop quite a bit to get seats and infants in and out. | |
How’s the fuel economy? | |
The Prius is known for its frugality, and the Prime adds the ability to travel an estimated 25 miles on electric power alone. After the battery runs out, you can expect to get 54 mpg in combined city/highway driving. We took our Prius Prime on our standardized evaluation route and traveled 27 miles on electric power and then averaged 63.3 mpg over the remaining miles on the gasoline engine. Both results indicate that the EPA estimates are easily attainable. | |
Is the Prius Prime a good value? | |
Our Limited trim test car stickered for around $35,000 and came with the larger touchscreen, a head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield), the upgraded audio system and a few additional driver aids. Overall, we think you get an appropriate number of features for your money. Even though the Prius' interior feels well built, some cabin materials are a little too plasticky for its price. We're not particularly fond of the shiny plastic trim either — it tends to collect dirt, scuffs and fingerprints. As for warranties, Toyota gives you its regular coverage, which includes eight years/100,000 miles for the hybrid components. You also get Toyota's two free years of scheduled maintenance, and as a Prime owner, you get roadside assistance for three years. | |
Wildcard | |
The Prius is not fun to drive, and it's doesn't feel particularly upscale. But it's easy to drive, practical, comfortable in the daily commute, and of course highly fuel-efficient. The Prius has become an icon representing an eco-conscious lifestyle and has defined what you should expect from a fuel-efficient car. Should you find fuel economy data entertaining and want to turn the Prius into a first-person driving game to see if you can beat your driving efficiency score, you're likely to find the Prius Prime endlessly entertaining. | |
Which Prius Prime does Edmunds recommend?
Toyota Prius Prime models
Toyota sells the Prius Prime in three trim levels: LE, XLE and Limited. Each version shares the same body style and powertrain, differing only in equipment. A 1.8-liter gasoline four-cylinder engine pairs with a plug-in hybrid system to make a total of 121 horsepower, but the electric drive motor supplies immediate torque to make the car feel lively as you accelerate from a stop.
2021 Toyota Prius Prime pricing
in Ashburn, VA
Features & Specs
- Base MSRP
- $28,200
- MPG & Fuel
- 55 City / 53 Hwy / 54 Combined
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 11.4 gal. capacity
- Seating
- 5 seats
- Drivetrain
- Type: front wheel drive
- Transmission: Continuously variable-speed automatic
- Engine
- Inline 4 cylinder
- Horsepower: 121 hp @ 5200 rpm
- Torque: N/A
- Basic Warranty
- 3 yr./ 36000 mi.
- Dimensions
- Length: 182.9 in. / Height: 57.9 in.
- Overall Width with Mirrors: N/A
- Overall Width without Mirrors: 69.3 in.
- Curb Weight: 3365 lbs.
- Cargo Capacity, All Seats In Place: 19.8 cu.ft.
Safety
Our experts’ favorite Prius Prime safety features:
- Toyota Safety Sense
- Bundles a variety of standard driver safety aids, including forward collision mitigation.
- Safety Connect
- This subscription-based emergency assistance telematics system includes a variety of services.
- Blind-Spot Monitor
- Alerts the driver if a car is in an adjacent lane when a turn signal is activated.
Toyota Prius Prime vs. the competition
2021 Toyota Prius Prime
2021 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid
Toyota Prius Prime vs. Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid
The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid has a lot going for it. It has more electric driving range and more cargo space, and it comes with complimentary scheduled maintenance and connected services plans for a full three years. Plus, it offers more generous warranty and roadside assistance plans, though Toyota does promise 150,000 miles of battery performance compared to Hyundai's 100,000-mile warranty.
Toyota Prius Prime vs. Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid
If you prefer more conventional styling, the Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid is a great alternative to the Toyota Prius Prime. Cargo space and electric driving range are comparable between the two, but the Prius Prime is more efficient when used as a hybrid. Kia offers a superior standard warranty, but it can't match the Toyota’s high-mileage battery warranty. Choosing between the two boils down to styling, comfort and equipment preferences.
Toyota Prius Prime vs. Subaru Crosstrek
Did you know Subaru offers a plug-in hybrid version of the popular Crosstrek? Many people don't. And here's another fun fact: It uses the Prius Prime's plug-in components. The marriage between a Subaru inline four-cylinder engine and Toyota electrification results in a paltry 17 miles of range, and when driven as a hybrid the Crosstrek delivers just 35 mpg. But with standard all-wheel drive, plenty of ground clearance and rugged SUV looks, the Crosstrek Hybrid might be worth its numerous trade-offs, including compromised cargo space.
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FAQ
Is the Toyota Prius Prime a good car?
What's new in the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime:
- Enhanced capability of some advanced driver aids
- Base LE model now includes Android Auto connectivity
- Part of the fourth Prius generation introduced for 2016
Is the Toyota Prius Prime reliable?
Is the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime a good car?
How much should I pay for a 2021 Toyota Prius Prime?
The least-expensive 2021 Toyota Prius Prime is the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime LE 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $28,200.
Other versions include:
- XLE 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) which starts at $30,000
- Limited 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) which starts at $34,000
- LE 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) which starts at $28,200