The Toyota Prius is an icon, even if it gets plenty of criticism from the enthusiast community. The car nearly single-handedly kickstarted the hybrid vehicle market in the United States, and it remains a popular option today. The 2022 Prius Prime builds on that formula with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, great tech, and solid safety equipment.

Toyota offers the 2022 Prius Prime in three trims: LE, XLE, and Limited. All trims come with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor that combine to produce 121 horsepower. This powertrain is paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. Toyota kept the options simple for the Prius in 2022 by only offering a few options that include upgraded wheels and interior protection floor mats.

Unlike its hybrid counterpart, the Prius Prime is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and can deliver up to 25 miles of electric-only range. Plug-in hybrids work differently than traditional hybrids do, and they offer a short electric-only driving range. When the battery is depleted to a certain level, the car switches to standard hybrid operation and functions as any other hybrid car would. Plug-in hybrids require charging to provide range, so buyers should expect to plug their Prius Primes in overnight to replenish battery power.

The Prius Prime LE gets a decent list of standard features that includes 15-inch wheels, LED headlights, a 7.0-inch touchscreen, heated front seats, and more. Toyota is generous with equipment for the other two trims as well, as the XLE gets synthetic leather upholstery, navigation, wireless phone charging, and a larger 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The top Limited trim adds a heated steering wheel, a JBL sound system with ten speakers, a head-up display, parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring.

Neither major safety ratings organization has scored the 2022 Prius Prime, but the similar 2021 model performed admirably. It earned “Good” scores in most crash test categories except for small overlap front passenger side, where it picked up an “Acceptable” score. Every 2022 Prius Prime gets Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which brings adaptive cruise control, forward-collision mitigation, lane-departure mitigation, and lane-keep assist. The top Limited trim adds blind-spot monitoring, rear automatic braking, front/rear parking sensors, and a head-up display.

The Toyota Prius was an early player in the hybrid space, offering incredible fuel economy in a friendly-yet-funky package, and the Prius Prime continues that tradition. It’s expected to return 54 mpg combined city/highway and delivers up to 25 miles of all-electric range, meaning some people may be able to drive for extended periods of time without stopping for fuel at all, assuming they are able to regularly charge.

The 2022 Toyota Prius Prime starts at $29,245 after a $1,025 destination charge. The XLE trim starts at $31,025, and the top Limited trim starts at $35,025.