The Prius Prime is all new for 2023. (Fox News Digital)
The iconic model is now entering its 22nd year and fifth generation, but there’s never been one quite like it.
After two decades of prioritizing function over form, the latest Prius has been given a kind of sleek styling that has people literally stopping and pointing at it. In a good way.
I heard one child ask his father excitedly, "Is that a Prius!? Wow!" The youths are into it.
Toyota is teasing a performance version of the Prius. (Toyota)
The Prius is available as a standard hybrid or the plug-in Prius Prime that we tested. Prices for the Prius Prime range from $33,445 to $40,265, depending on the trim. Since it's made in Japan, it doesn't qualify for any federal electric vehicle purchase tax credits, but they can be incorporated into a lease.
Hybrid fuel economy ratings range from 52 mpg to 48 mpg, but the Prius Prime is also capable of all-electric driving over short distances, from 39 miles to 44 miles per charge. That’s enough to cover the daily mileage of many drivers and only requires a 13.6 kilowatt-hour battery, compared to the 71.4 kilowatt-hour pack in the bZ4X, which has a range of 252 miles.
The variance in fuel economy and range among the Prius Primes mostly comes down to the different tires used on each trim, which affect drag and rolling resistance.
The Prius Prime has a digital instrument cluster and touchscreen infotainment system. (Toyota)
The oddest thing about the interior is the digital instrument cluster, which is in a pod high on the dashboard. This makes it difficult not to block at least part of it with the steering wheel. The wheel feels like it's from a luxury car, however, and the interior is of good quality overall.
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The 20.3-cubic-foot cargo area is spacious but compromised in height by the sloping roof. The portable charging cable and a flat-fixing kit fits in a storage space under the floor.
The Prius Prime is available with a 185-watt solar roof. (Fox News Digital)
It only provides one or two kilowatts per sunny day, enough for about 3-6 miles of driving, but over the course of a few years it could pay for itself, as long as you remember to park it outside.
The compact four-door has room for four 6-foot passengers. (Toyota)
You’ll want as many miles worth of power as you can get because the Prius Prime is as smooth and sporty as it looks. The ride comfort and handling are excellent, and the hybrid power provides a good dose of fun. It’s also quiet and eats up the miles, especially with the standard Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 package’s lane-tracing adaptive cruise control engaged.
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The Prius lost its best-selling hybrid crown to the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid in 2019, and while the new one isn’t likely to reclaim it thanks to the market’s growing preference for SUVs, it is royally good.
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2023 Toyota Prius Prime
Base price: $33,445
As tested: $40,875
Type: 5-passenger, front-wheel-drive 4-door hatchback
Engine: 2.0-liter four-cylinder with hybrid assist and plug-in capability
Transmission: CVT automatic
Power: 220 horsepower
Transmission: CVT automatic
MPG: 48 combined
Range: 39 miles
Gary Gastelu is Fox News Digital's automotive editor.