Toyota Prius Prime evaluate: Placing and environment friendly

Let’s face it: Early incarnations of the Toyota Prius have been uninteresting to have a look at, even when they have been progressive and economical. Nonetheless, the newest model is a brilliant modern sedan that appears superior. I feel Toyota has realized it is perhaps on to a great factor as a result of the corporate plans to promote the automobile within the UK, so it isn’t simply everybody on the other side of the pond who will get to benefit from the 2025 Prius’ scrumptious styling traces.

There are a few choices to select from, too — with front- and all-wheel drive variants accessible, each of that are powered by a 2-liter gas-powered lump. Higher nonetheless, the Prius Prime comes as a plug-in hybrid, so for anybody with access to home or workplace charging, Toyota’s newest may very well be much more economical to run than earlier Prius fashions. Subsequently, the brand new automobile shouldn’t be solely nice to have a look at however very sensible too.

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2025 Toyota Prius Prime

The 2025 Toyota Prius shines because of its rakish profile. That is backed up by wonderful gasoline financial system, and with the hybrid mannequin, there’s the good thing about plug-in charging, too. Nonetheless, there are some compromises, primarily as a result of smaller cabin space that is a results of the brand new design. Furthermore, the brand new Prius is a low-ish automobile, so it’s not prone to be as interesting to Uber drivers as older fashions. General, although, it’s an ideal automobile.
 

Engine

2-liter gasoline hybrid

Drive Format

Entrance or four-wheel drive

Horsepower

164 kW / 194 hp

0-60mph

6.8 seconds

High Velocity

109 mph

Transsmission

Computerized

Vary

44 miles on battery

Professionals

• Nice design
• Drives nicely and affords wonderful gasoline financial system
• Ideally suited to of us with dwelling or work charging

Cons

• Some compromises on inside house because of physique form
• Decrease to the bottom than earlier variations
• Inside is sensible moderately than premium

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Value, specs, and availability

Within the UK, the Toyota Prius plug-in Excel mannequin I drove prices £39,996. That will get you the 2-liter, front-wheel drive automobile seen on this evaluate. Over within the US, customers can go for the LE version, ranging from simply over $29,000, which options 17-inch wheels. They’ll additionally splurge for the XLE, which is simply over $32,000. It options bigger 19-inch alloys. Toyota can be providing a restricted version mannequin that prices only a bit over $36,000.

Design and Construct

Have a look at these styling traces

I feel Toyota’s design workforce has completed an unimaginable job with the brand new Prius. Actually, the automobile’s seems are what I like most about it. Completed within the metallic Mustard Yellow you see pictured all through, the Prius seems distinctive. Though it is basically a moderately smart sedan, the general stance of the 2025 Prius is lengthy and really low-slung. Actually, it not solely seems low to the bottom, but it surely feels that manner once you drive it.

Issues get off to an ideal begin with the outside, down on the entrance, with that pointy, edgy snout, slimline headlights and a few neat contrasting consumption areas beneath the license plate. It is onerous to overlook the windshield’s radical line too, which dramatically impacts the general look of the automobile. The physique is clean down the perimeters, with panels designed for optimum aerodynamics.

Shifting to the again, Toyota has furnished the rear finish with spectacular ranges of consideration as nicely. The taillights, badging, and the liftback itself have all been created with care. I particularly preferred the best way the black areas contrasted with the intense yellow of my take a look at automobile. Add all of it collectively, and the brand new Prius seems manner higher than the numerous older fashions out on roads the world over. A slight draw back to the thrilling styling is a few compromise on inside house, however for me, that is undoubtedly a value price paying.

An all-new inside

Sensible moderately than premium

Whereas the outside of the 2025 Prius seems very high-end, the inside is barely much less spectacular. I prefer it, however there’s sufficient standard-grade plastic used contained in the cockpit to remind you that it is a Toyota, moderately than a Lexus. That is to not promote the brand new Prius brief. It affords a brilliant snug cabin to take a seat in as nicely, both within the entrance or the again, even when the artificial leather-based seat materials feels extra sensible than premium. The entrance sprint is fascinating, too, with most of it dominated by a landscape-oriented touchscreen.

The driving force place jogged my memory a little bit of being behind the wheel of the Toyota BZ4X, with the sprint lower out and pointing to an instrument panel that comprises all of the important journey information. Sweeping throughout the sprint below the touchscreen are buttons to deal with on a regular basis duties, together with switching the heated seats on and off. I used to be additionally keen on the stubby little auto field gear selector on the middle console, which falls properly handy as you are choosing your manner by the site visitors.

The expertise breakdown

Slender choices, however every thing works

The brand new Prius is not precisely bristling with expertise, but it surely had every thing I wanted for the sort of driving I love to do, together with a good ‘Hey Toyota’ voice management system. I began my take a look at drive by pairing my iPhone with the Apple CarPlay system provided up by the 12.3-inch infotainment system. That each one labored seamlessly, and the route steering was advantageous too.

There is a digital rear-view mirror, smart-entry and push-button begin. Plus, these comfortable seats profit from eight-way energy adjustment. One other neat and pretty delicate contact is the blue ambient lighting contained in the cabin. Moreover, in-car charging is plentiful, with a pair of USB ports within the rear for good measure. The 2025 Prius additionally options Toyota’s Security Sense 3, which meant that that I had a raft of driver aids at my disposal.

Battery, vary, and efficiency

As economical as anticipated

The Prius has all the time been a cheap automobile, and that is true of the 2025 mannequin as nicely. Admittedly, the automobile is not precisely scintillating on the efficiency entrance, but it surely’s not that sort of machine. I discovered it enjoyable to drive on nation roads, with the low-slung physique design and taught chassis offering loads of grip, even after I floored the throttle once in a while.

A minor subject is the e-CVT gearbox, which might really feel imprecise. As soon as I put it into drive, although, the automobile subsequently did most, if not all, of the considering for me. You may manually put it into EV mode for brief stints, and Toyota suggests that is good for as much as 44 miles if absolutely charged. Usually although, the Prius hybrid set-up switched dynamically because the circumstances and my driving model demanded. It is a tried and examined format from Toyota and works higher than ever on this mannequin, with gasoline financial system from all 2025 fashions reaching simply into the mid-50mpg bracket if pushed rigorously.

Do you have to purchase the Toyota Prius?

You may steadily see earlier variations of the Toyota Prius on the street as minicabs and ride-hailing automobiles, however the brand new model is one thing that many individuals will need to personal. The automobile seems nice, however the slight downside to the superb styling is that there’s a diploma of compromise in inside house. That is fairly a low automobile too, which makes it much less of a sensible possibility for Uber and Lyft drivers. Nonetheless, the 2025 Prius has a cushty inside and options all of the on a regular basis stuff that the majority of us want.

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2025 Toyota Prius Prime

Engine

2-liter gasoline hybrid

Drive Format

Entrance or four-wheel drive

Horsepower

164 kW / 194 hp

0-60mph

6.8 seconds

High Velocity

109 mph

Transsmission

Computerized

Vary

44 miles on battery

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