2013 Prius Hybrid Plug-in Problem
We have a 2013 Prius Hybrid Plug-in which we bought recently. When we first got it, the charge lasted 13 miles. It has been going down steadily until now it is at 11 miles. Any explanation?
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2013 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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As the debate continues over which platform will rule the future roadways—hybrid or EV—Toyota has decided to split the difference and keep everyone happy. The Prius Plug-in offers everything you could want from an electric vehicle, with none of the worry of being stranded without an outlet.
For the Prius Plug-in, the nickel-metal-hydride battery is dumped in favor of a 4.4kWh lithium-ion setup that allows all-electric operation for up to 15 miles at speeds as high as 62 mph. While that might not seem like much of a change, keep in mind that the average trip for a U.S. driver comes in at less than 6 miles. That means 2 all-electric trips per day without a recharge. When it comes time to plug in your Plug-in, 3 hours is all it’ll take to top off from your wall outlet, while the 240-volt home-charging station Toyota provides does the job in just half that time.
You get everything a normal Prius offers—a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a 60kWh electric motor, 0.25 drag coefficient, 15-inch alloys and LED lights—plus some Plug-in extras like chrome accents on the door handles, grille, liftgate and charge-port door. But none of that glosses over the normal Prius complaints of shoddy interior materials and an awkward—if spacious—seating arrangement. This is even harder to choke down here, as you’ll be hit with an additional price premium for plug-in convenience, exacerbated by the larger lithium-ion battery pack taking up an extra inch of space and adding even more weight—over 100 pounds.
Perhaps the increased fuel efficiency can justify that, and truly if your daily travels are anything like the average, you could never visit a gas station again. Still, it’s hard to justify cash savings at the pump when you’re hit so hard up front. To sweeten the deal, the Prius Plug-in also comes with a tilt and telescoping steering wheel with audio, climate and even Bluetooth controls, navigation with backup, automatic climate control, CD/MP3 player with USB and available adaptive cruise control. The cruise control will help you save even more fuel on the highway, but again you’ll have to pay up front for the privilege.
Estimates for real-world mileage creep as high as 80 mpg around town, when fully utilizing the electric mode, but expect little better than the regular Prius if you’re often venturing on the freeway or taking longer trips. That’s not a horrible penalty, considering the Prius’ already impressive figures, but be aware that this is not your all-conditions answer.
No, this is more of a targeted approach to your vehicular needs. That’s how cars used to be built, with a specific purpose in mind: no fuel-efficient trucks or 4-seat sports cars. The Prius Plug-in is a vehicle made for a very specific customer—the one who regularly takes trips under 10 miles. Lucky for us, that’s nearly everyone.
Published May 31, 2022 by Michael Perkins
User reviews for 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid
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by Mike R
Aug 24, 2013
its certainly not a performance car, but it can be fun to drive... or at least
saying that you're not using gas is fun! It's also fun to fill your car with $25
and it actually be full from empty and be able to go well over 500 miles!
The technology is fantastic, the Entune system has continued to impress
me with its many features and ease of use.Aug 24, 2013
What users have asked
I have found the car I really want. But its in hawaii.
I've found the car I really want. But it's in Hawaii. Is there any type of service that checks the car out there?
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2013 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid Pricing
Original MSRP
$32,000 to $39,525Price range
$10,571 to $11,092Average price on CG
$10,804YoY price change
$10,844 to $10,804Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Driver knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Auxiliary audio input: iPod/iPhone integration · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 6
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 10.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 10.2 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center with cupholders
Convenience Features
Assist handle: front · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: rear · Multi-function remote: trunk release · Power outlet(s): 12V · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: air conditioning · Storage: front seatback · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 6
Engine
EV battery capacity: 4.5 kWh · Electric Charge Cord: 120 volt · Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium ion · Electric Motor HP: 80 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 60 · Electric Motor Torque: 153 · Electric motor charger connector: SAE J1772 · Electric motor charging time: 1.5 hours · Electric motor miles per charge: 11 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP: 98 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP@RPM: 5200 · Hybrid Gas Engine Torque: 105 · Hybrid gas Engine Torque@RPM: 4000
Exterior Features
Door handle color: chrome · Front bumper color: chrome accents · Grille color: chrome · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate · Window trim: black
Headrests
Adjustable rear headrests: foldable · Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment screen size: 6.1 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: MPG
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: Halogen · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front and rear · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Upholstery: cloth
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Navigation system: with voice recognition · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Wheels
Wheel spokes: 10
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Power windows: with safety reverse · Rear wiper: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Driver knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Auxiliary audio input: iPod/iPhone integration · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: JBL · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 8
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 10.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 10.2 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center with cupholders
Convenience Features
Assist handle: front · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: trunk release · Power outlet(s): 12V · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: voice recognition controls · Storage: door pockets · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 8
Engine
EV battery capacity: 4.5 kWh · Electric Charge Cord: 120 volt · Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium ion · Electric Motor HP: 80 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 60 · Electric Motor Torque: 153 · Electric motor charger connector: SAE J1772 · Electric motor charging time: 1.5 hours · Electric motor miles per charge: 11 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP: 98 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP@RPM: 5200 · Hybrid Gas Engine Torque: 105 · Hybrid gas Engine Torque@RPM: 4000
Exterior Features
Door handle color: chrome · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate · Window trim: black
Headrests
Adjustable rear headrests: foldable · Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment screen size: 7 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: MPG
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: LED · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: manual folding
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: rear · Pre-Collision Warning System: audible warning · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Upholstery: leatherette
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Navigation system: touch screen display · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Wheels
Wheel spokes: 10
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Power windows: with safety reverse · Rear wiper: intermittent