The Toyota Prius was one of the earliest and most impactful hybrids, bringing the technology to a new generation of environmentally conscious car buyers. It has evolved over the years, though its styling and overall presence haven’t been the most attractive to many. That changed in 2023 with the introduction of a new generation, bringing the Prius into the modern age with a striking look and surprisingly engaging performance. The Prius Prime is the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version.
2024 Toyota Prius Prime Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2024 Toyota Prius Prime
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2024 Toyota Prius Prime
Toyota completely overhauled the Prius Prime for 2023, so it's not surprising that they've left it alone heading into 2024. The car retains its eye-catching look, and the Prime’s plug-in hybrid powertrain brings quicker acceleration and a more exciting driving experience than the standard hybrid models.
Design
The Prius has always kind of looked like a spaceship, but the most recent redesign gave it friendlier proportions and a more normal look. That said, the car still appears futuristic, and its sharp front-end styling brings slim headlights with striking C-shaped LED daytime running lights. It retains its fastback shape from previous years, but the lines are smoother and less angular than before. Higher trims add chrome-look accents and larger wheels.
Powertrain
"Prime" in Toyota’s world means "plug-in hybrid." The Prius Prime derives its motivation from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor making a combined 220 horsepower, 150 of which comes from the gas engine. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) sends power to the front wheels, and the electric drive system offers up to 44 miles of all-electric range. It’s worth noting that highway driving zaps that range much faster than slow-speed, in-town runs and can push that range estimate down to as little as 35 miles in some cases.
Interior
The redesigned Prius’s interior is every bit as stylish and attractive as its bodywork. Toyota updated the car’s steering wheel with a beefier unit similar to the one used in the all-electric bZ4X, and the weird center gauge cluster is gone, in favor of a digital display mounted high on the dash. The shifter also moved from the center stack to the center console, and the car offers ample space for four passengers, though five can ride in reasonable comfort.
Technology
The base SE trim gets an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the XSE and XSE Premium step up to a larger 12.3-inch display and an eight-speaker JBL stereo. All variants get SiriusXM radio and a trial of Toyota Connected Services.
Safety
Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 comes standard on the 2024 Prius Prime, bringing forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. Lane-change assist, front cross-traffic alert, a safe exit assist system, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert are also standard.
Pricing and Release Date
As of this writing, the base Prius Prime SE starts at $34,070. Moving up to the XSE pushes the price to $37,320, and the top XSE Premium costs $40,765.