Used 2023 Toyota Prius Prime

This is the Prius Prime, not the Prius. There’s a difference, but it isn’t obvious. We all know and possibly love the usual Prius as the archetypal hybrid car. The Prime is a more recent development and it’s a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or PHEV.

It has a bigger battery than the regular Prius, one that can be recharged by plugging into an exterior source — as opposed to receiving energy only from the engine and from brake regeneration, like the regular Prius. This means it can travel for a useful distance on electric power alone. In the new Prius Prime’s case, that’s about 44 miles.

Think about how far most of us drive on a typical day (around 35 miles, according to the United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration) and there’s a good chance a Prius Prime owner could go to and from work (or college, or wherever), recharge the battery each night, and never use a drop of gasoline until a longer trip beckons.

The similarly new-for-2023 Toyota Prius hybrid is reviewed separately.

Performance hasn’t been much of a Prius Prime attribute up until now. Not that this all-new version has suddenly become a sports car, but at least it has a meaningful amount of muscle: 220 horsepower (the new regular Prius has 194).

Being able to sprint from standstill to 60 mph in six seconds translates to responsiveness in real-world driving. And we’ve found that it’s similarly lively using just the electric motor. So if drivers wanted to stay in EV mode as much as possible, the Prius Prime can still deliver an enjoyable experience.

A button on the center console enables EV mode or an automatic mode that brings the combustion engine in or out as needed. It’s all quite simple.

There’s comfort and composure in equal measure, and we like how the car feels nicely poised. We’d be happy to run commutes and longer trips alike in the new Prius Prime. We’d prefer a more confident initial bite on the brake pedal, though.

The cabin is mostly quiet, with just some tire noise coming up when driving over rough surfaces. That’s to be expected, since these are special tires with a low rolling resistance that helps contribute to overall fuel economy.

When checking the rearview mirror, the slope of the back window results in a small aperture, so outward vision isn’t great. The top XSE Premium trim offers the option of a digital rearview mirror for a much clearer and wider view behind. It’s a shame it’s not available with lower trims, but at least blind-spot monitoring is standard.

Proactive Driving Assist is a new standard feature. When cornering, it detects any vehicles, cyclists or pedestrians that might be up ahead, then activates minor steering and throttle adjustments to optimize safety.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and comparing the current collection of hybrid cars, including this new Toyota Prius Prime.

Remember how Prius cars always had a driver information display above the center console and not in front of the driver? The new Prius Prime (along with its regular hybrid counterpart) has a digital instrument cluster right where it needs to be. And instead of being right behind the steering wheel, it’s just above — vital information can be viewed without taking your eyes too far from the road.

Elsewhere, there are clean lines and pleasing shapes. The whole thing looks and feels a cut above typical Toyotas. The infotainment touchscreen is a generous size, while the aerodynamic exterior results in low levels of wind noise in the cabin. The only real downside is what we feel is a too-hard, under-padded center armrest.

Rear passenger space in the 2023 Prius Prime remains the same as the regular Prius — a bit tight for average-sized adults, but not unbearable. The larger battery means a slightly smaller cargo area. Even so, the hatchback style is useful for accommodating larger items.

Well, this is unexpected. Even acknowledging that everyone’s tastes are different, Prius cars aren’t usually renowned for their good looks. Previous Primes took that, um, individuality in their own quirky direction.

With this new generation, the Prius makes an entirely different statement. It’s really sleek, and seems as if it should hover just above the ground and hum quietly — as opposed to making any kind of typical engine noise. We think a lot of people will like it.

Visual differences between the Prime plug-in hybrid and the regular Prius are much subtler this time around. That’s fine by us. Compared with the previous generation, the body is lower by a couple of inches, an inch wider and an inch longer.

Electric-only range
The outgoing Prius Prime was capable of 25 miles. This new model can manage 44 miles, making the Prius Prime a gentle introduction to owning an electric vehicle without giving up gasoline completely.

Infotainment systems
Upgraded tech throughout the 2023 Prius Prime lineup brings wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto as standard, six USB-C ports, and larger touchscreens than before, plus the availability of voice control, wireless charging, and over-the-air updates.

Traffic Jam Assist
A new feature for a Toyota, this is available with a Drive Connect trial or subscription. At speeds up to 25 mph, the system can operate the throttle, brakes and steering — as long as the driver is still concentrating on the road ahead.

Digital Key
By recognizing an authorized smartphone, the 2023 Prius Prime allows access as well as functions like remote locking/unlocking. This is optional in the XSE, standard in the XSE Premium.

Advanced Park
Only available as an option in the top XSE Premium trim, this is a hands-free parking function that works for both parallel and perpendicular spaces.

Solar glass roof
Solar panels in the roof help charge the battery when the 2023 Prius Prime is parked, or add extra power to run things like climate control while on the move. This is another option for the XSE Premium model.

The new Prius Prime plug-in hybrid develops 220 horsepower and has a maximum electric-only range of 44 miles. This is a big improvement over the outgoing model’s 121 horsepower and 25 miles.

For comparison, the regular Prius is rated at 57 mpg in the city and 56 mpg on the highway. But it cannot run for any appreciable distance or speed on battery power alone.

A 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine replaces a 1.8-liter unit, and Toyota has upgraded the lithium-ion battery. Front-wheel drive is the sole setup.

Charging the battery on a 240-volt supply takes four hours. Plan on 11 hours using a 120-volt socket.

2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine/electric motor
220 total horsepower
EPA city/highway fuel economy (is gas/electric hybrid operation): 53/51 mpg (SE), 50/47 (XSE, XSE Premium)
EPA combined fuel economy (in electric operation): 127 MPGe (SE), 114 MPGe (XSE, XSE Premium)
EPA-estimated electric-only range: 44 miles (SE), 39 miles (XSE, XSE Premium)

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Toyota has a new-car warranty of three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles. This is all typical among mainstream automakers. The warranty for hybrid-related components is eight years or 100,000 miles. And the hybrid battery is covered for 10 years or 150,000 miles. Two years or 25,000 miles of free maintenance is also included.