OVERVIEW
After an nearly three-month furlough from testing autos because of COVID-19, my response to driving a Toyota Prius Prime truly bordered on pleasure. An escape from abject boredom was my preliminary response. Upon additional reflection — soberly achieved whereas sitting on my entrance porch, watching the sundown, listening to (and really listening to) the birds chirp, revelling within the near-silence that’s the results of fewer automobiles on the roads and jets within the air — there was a sure symmetry to the state of affairs. The Prius Prime: a wierd but “mild” automotive for these unusual days.
Truly, make {that a} strange-trying automotive for these unusual days. In present guise, the Prime proudly embraces Prius’ longstanding individuality with a physique that was clearly conceived by somebody impressed by George Jetson’s mode of transportation. Oh, there’s technique to the mannequin’s options; Toyota doesn’t do something out of mere whimsy. The compact hybrid’s unmistakable silhouette is designed to cheat the wind with an ultra-low 0.24 coefficient of drag, with an computerized grille shutter that reduces aerodynamic drag by closing when airflow to the radiator is just not wanted.
However the Prius is greater than a automotive; it’s the usual bearer for hybrid expertise — essentially the most profitable commonplace bearer. Since 1997, when the jellybean-shaped sedan first debuted in Japan for home-market consumption, Toyota has bought greater than six million Prius fashions worldwide and a few 90,000 in Canada. Different automakers have latched on to the expertise with various levels of dedication and success, however none have come remotely near Toyota’s numbers.
Evaluate the Toyota Prius Prime in opposition to its key PHEV rivals proper right here
The first distinction between the common Prius and the Prius Prime is that the Prius is a traditional hybrid, whereas the extra technologically superior Prime — the second technology of which first noticed the sunshine of day in 2017 — is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), naturally that means it may be recharged and can run in both EV, EV Auto, or Hybrid modes. As such, it’s Toyota’s best hybrid but, the corporate extolling its mixed gas consumption equal of 1.Eight L/100 km.
As a lot as gas effectivity is emphatically the Prime’s raison d’être, the automotive, whereas lower than inspiring to drive, is far more than a four-wheel kitchen equipment. The twin-motor setup ensures enough urge for getting round city. There’s additionally sufficient juice to stand up to freeway pace with out turning into an excessive amount of of a cellular chicane for fast-moving site visitors — it takes about 11 seconds to get from relaxation to 100 km/h.
The first hybrid setup consists of a 95-horsepower, 1.8-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder and 71-horsepower permanent-magnet AC synchronous motor, which not solely helps drive the entrance wheels but in addition gives regeneration beneath braking. The online result’s a mixed 121 horsepower — nothing to problem Tesla homeowners on the Stoplight Grand Prix, however as I mentioned, sufficient to get out of its personal method. There’s even a Energy mode, although it looks like a contradiction of intent, and an Eco perform, which is form of redundant on a automotive already designed to be gas environment friendly. Nonetheless, Toyota is protecting the bases, so tailor the Prime’s efficiency as you see match.
Transferring the shifter into the B place will increase regenerative braking, inflicting the Prime to decelerate noticeably as quickly as one lifts off the accelerator. Within the default Regular mode, the regen is fairly gentle and use of the automotive’s four-wheel disc brakes is critical. On this regard, the Prius would profit from a “regen on demand” paddle, such because the one discovered on Chevy’s Bolt (and lately departed Volt). Within the Bolt, holding the paddle acts like reefing on the emergency brake deal with in an everyday automotive, requiring a lot much less use of the brakes.
Till the gasoline engine kicks in, the Prius Prime is as silent as a church mouse, gliding alongside like an eco-ninja and giving off all method of feel-good vibes. Mentioned kick-in is pretty unobtrusive, although there’s a noticeable discount in pedal response as soon as the lithium-ion battery pack is depleted. Fortunately, even when utilizing the home’s commonplace 120-volt service, recharge time is an appreciably quick 5.5 hours, or lower than 2.5 hours with a 240-volt charger. With a recharge each night time, I used a meager 8.16 litres of gasoline over 300 kilometres of hither and yon.
The deserves of Toyota’s hybrid expertise just about communicate for themselves, however Toyota Canada has sweetened the deal, lately saying it’ll lengthen its hybrid battery guarantee to 10 years from date of first use — or 240,000 kilometres, whichever comes first — up from eight years or 160,000 kilometeres. This extension is legitimate for the entire firm’s mannequin yr 2020 hybrid electrical autos, whereas all different hybrid elements will retain guarantee protection of eight years/160,000 kilometres.
Now, there are a few nitpicks with the Prime. First, the automotive’s journey can get a bit uneven on extra degraded surfaces, there not being an entire lot of give to Bridgestone’s Ecopia low-rolling-resistance tires. Extra subjective is the down-market and boring nature of the cabin, together with the sprint space however excepting 11.6-inch multimedia show that dominates the middle stack. There’s method an excessive amount of black plastic all through the inside — absolutely ecologically minded hipsters (and their mother and father) respect a contact of color as a lot as the subsequent particular person, particularly on a automotive beginning at simply lower than $35,000 earlier than any provincial rebates. The tester was additional outfitted with a $3,000 Expertise bundle that features a blind-spot monitor system with rear cross-traffic alert, plus a cargo space tonneau cowl.
As a household automobile, the Prime has been made extra helpful for the 2020 mannequin yr because of a brand new, obtainable third seat within the rear — although taller back-seat passengers will nonetheless discover legroom compromised if the entrance seats are again of their tracks. One other improve for 2020 is that Toyota lastly noticed match so as to add Apple CarPlay connectivity and SiriusXM sattelite radio to the automotive. Two further USB ports have additionally been added for the rear passengers.
Not fairly a complete luddite, I discovered the Prime very straightforward to reside with. Whereas an understanding of primary mechanics would give one a greater thought of tips on how to maximize its very environment friendly expertise, if you happen to can grasp plugging it in — which, if you happen to’ve ever plugged in a pc, a toaster, a lamp, ought to take you about 10 seconds to determine — you’ll be able to, do you have to select, deal with it like an everyday, non-hybrid automobile; simply get in and drive (after you unplug it). You may even discover the expertise unusually satisfying.
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