2020 Toyota Prius Prime Review

　　

2020 Toyota Prius Prime Review

byCalvin KimVehicle Test Engineer

　　Calvin Kim is an automotive journalist at zzdcar.

　　The Prius needs no introduction. Its claim to fame is its amazing gas mileage, efficiency-first styling and space-age interior. And while the interior and styling have changed over the years, the Prius' retains its fuel-sipping tendencies, which are even better in the Prius Prime.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Toyota Prius Prime LE 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded and $0.17 per kWh for electricity in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$60/mo  for Prius Prime LE

　　Prius Prime LE

　　LE 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT) - $27,600 MSRPXLE 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT) (Most Popular) - $29,500 MSRPLimited 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT) - $33,500 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　With the regular Prius, you can only fill up its gas tank. But what if you could separately recharge its battery pack for even better efficiency? The Prius Prime answers that question. It has a bigger battery and can drive in full all-electric mode for 25 miles or so. For many people, that's more than enough for around-town driving. Once the battery is depleted, the Prius' hybrid powertrain takes over and delivers excellent fuel efficiency.

　　We also like that Toyota has addressed a couple of issues on the 2020 Prius Prime. It now has a rear bench seat with a fifth seat and comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa. The latter is an appealing substitute to Toyota's native Entune infotainment system.

　　There are still a couple of downsides, including tepid acceleration and a small cargo area. But on the whole, the Prius Prime is worth checking out if you're shopping for an affordable and efficient plug-in hybrid.

　　Notably, we picked the 2020 Toyota Prius Primeas one of zzdcar' Cheapest Electric Cars and Cheapest Electric Cars for 2020.

　　

Which Prius Prime does zzdcar recommend?

All Prius Prime models feature the same powertrain and basic layout, so opt for the XLE trim. It gives you a decent set of extra features while keeping the price reasonable. Its notable add-ons compared to the base LE are its standard navigation system, larger touchscreen, simulated leather upholstery and a wireless smartphone charger.

　　

2020 Toyota Prius Prime models

The 2020 Toyota Prius Prime is available in three trim levels: LE, XLE and Limited. All share the same hybrid powertrain with EV mode and perform identically, so the differences among them boil down to features. The LE is obviously the value play of the range, but it has a decent list of standard equipment. The XLE, meanwhile, brings a few key comfort-oriented items. The Limited level adds a lot of features that will surely appeal to tech-savvy buyers, though they come at a big increase in price.

　　All Prius Primes have a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine paired to a plug-in hybrid system. Total system output is 121 horsepower, delivered to the front wheels through a specialized continuously variable automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard. All-wheel drive (Toyota's AWD-e system) is only available on the regular Prius.

　　The EPA estimates the Prime can drive up to 25 miles using pure electric power. Fully charging the battery takes 5.5 hours using a 120-volt power source or a little more than two hours with 240 volts (Level 2 charger).

　　The LE starts you out with features such as LED headlights, automatic climate control, keyless access (driver's door only) and start, heated front seats, a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, a USB port, and a six-speaker sound system. A suite of advanced driver safety aids, called Toyota Safety Sense P, is also standard.

　　Stepping up one rung to the XLE trim level puts you into the Prius Prime's sweet spot. It includes a power driver's seat, an 11.6-inch central touchscreen and upgraded infotainment system, simulated leather (SofTex) upholstery, keyless entry on the other three doors, and wireless smartphone charging.

　　The Limited trim level adds a premium audio system, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a heated steering wheel, an auto-dimming mirror, a head-up display, a smartphone app with a charge management system and remote-control climate operation, automatic wipers, and a semi-automated parking function.

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2020 Prius Prime Highlights

Trim: LEXLELimitedLE

　　

Base MSRP	$27,600
EV Tax Credits & Rebates	$4,400
Engine Type	Plug-in hybrid
EPA Electric Range	25 miles
Combined MPGe (Electric + Gas)	133 MPGeMPGe is the official metric that the EPA uses to measure the efficiency of alternative-fuel (including electric) vehicles. Just like regular MPG shows how far a car will travel on one gallon of gas, MPGe shows how far a vehicle will drive on 33.7kWh of electricity - the energy equivalent of one gallon of gasoline. Combined MPGe is the combined total of 45% city MPGe + 55% highway MPGe.
Cost to Drive	$60/month
Total Charging Time (240V)	2.0 hours
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	19.8 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles