2023 Toyota Prius Prime Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The newly redesigned, third-generation Toyota Prius Prime showcases dramatic new styling and 50% more all-electric driving range.

A new, redesigned Prius Prime ensures that Toyota’s commitment to long-range, fuel-efficient motoring will continue long past the 2023 model year.

Unveiled at the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show, the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime showcases dramatic new sheet metal. With a swept-back design that terminates abruptly in a high, squared-off tail. The new car is based on Toyota’s TNGA-C platform and sits two inches lower while stretching one inch wider and one inch longer than the outgoing model.

The first Prius plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), then called the Prius Plug-in, debuted at the 2009 LA Auto Show. For the 2017 model year, the second generation debuted with the new Prius Prime name. Now, the 2023 model year plays host to the fifth-generation Prius and the third generation of the Prius PHEV.

PHEV technology allows consumers to reap the benefits of an electric vehicle in short-run driving while delivering hybrid efficiency over longer travel. Thanks to a larger lithium-ion battery, the latest Prius Prime increases EV driving range by 50%, from 25 miles to more than 40.

It’s also the fastest Prius on sale. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine pairs with an electric motor to produce 220 horsepower, sent to the front wheels and capable of launching the Prius Prime from zero to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds.

Toyota sells the 2023 Prius Prime in three trim levels. The base SE trim offers 17-inch wheels, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, six USB-C ports, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and traffic-jam assist are also standard safety equipment.

The mid-grade XSE trim boosts the wheels to 19 inches and adds an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, plus two extra cupholders for backseat passengers. Shoppers also enjoy SofTex upholstery, a smart key, a wireless charger, and the company’s parking assist technology. Optional add-ons include a switch from the 8-inch touchscreen to a 12.3-inch unit, a glass roof, and a digital key.

At the top of the range is the Toyota Prius Prime XSE Premium. This trim level makes the 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system standard, and it adds an eight-speaker JBL premium audio system. The XSE Premium also comes with ventilated and heated front seats with memory settings. Optional extras include a digital rear-view mirror, heated rear seats, and a solar glass roof.

The solar roof option uses roof-mounted solar panels to provide onboard charging for accessory electrical draws such as the car’s air-conditioning system, lessening the load on the car’s primary battery.

The Toyota Prius Prime incorporates an intelligent assistant with the “Hey Toyota” wake word. This tech can be used to handle voice commands for navigation, audio adjustments, and temperature changes. The infotainment system also supports dual-device Bluetooth pairing, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a one-month trial subscription to a 4G Wi-Fi Hotspot.

Finally, Toyota includes Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS) on all 2023 Prius Prime models. This suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) can now be optioned with Proactive Driving Assist, which uses a camera and radar when conditions are met to help brake and steer the Prius Prime.

At the Prius Prime’s debut, Toyota had yet to release pricing for the car.