The 2022 Toyota Prius Prime is a more efficient variant of the well-known Prius hybrid. The “Prime” designation in Toyota’s universe denotes a plug-in hybrid system rather than the standard configuration. The company also produces the RAV4 Prime, a tiny crossover with a plug-in hybrid engine.
What is the difference between a plug-in hybrid and a standard hybrid? A plug-in hybrid has a bigger battery, so it can go a long way on electricity alone. It’s 25 miles in the case of the Prius Prime. Still, unlike the regular Prius, whose battery can be charged by things like the car’s brakes, Prime’s battery can also be charged by something outside the vehicle. It is the plug-in portion. But if the battery’s energy is gone, Prime continues to operate as a traditional hybrid.
The Prius Prime takes the Prius’ 5-door small hatchback style, changes the styling, and increases the total achievable travel on a full tank and a full battery to an astonishing 640 miles. This vehicle is often called a PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle).
If the federal tax credit for the 2022 Prius Prime continues at $4,502, this plug-in hybrid might be less expensive to purchase than the standard Prius hybrid. It will also be less costly to operate. Depending on local restrictions, the Prius Prime may drive alone in carpool lanes.
The Prius Prime may be used mainly as an electric vehicle with nightly battery top-ups for someone whose automotive needs are primarily for short excursions. The engine is constantly there, removing any concerns about range.
The normal Toyota Prius price range for 2022 is assessed individually.
Toyota Prius Prime Price in 2022
The least expensive 2022 Prius Prime is $28,200, including a destination fee. It is for the LE trim level. The XLE begins at $30K, while the top Limited model starts at $34,000. An 8-year, 100,000-mile guarantee covers the hybrid-related components.
Customers looking for a plug-in hybrid hatchback might also consider the Hyundai Ioniq PHEV (from $27K) or the Kia Niro PHEV (closer to $30K, but also with a crossover flair). Even though it is officially called a PHEV, the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid is a true crossover with all-wheel drive. It costs roughly $36,000. The Honda Clarity PHEV is a midsize vehicle that costs about $35,000.
All of these rates are before any federal or state incentives. Fair Purchase Price to discover how much other people in your region spent for their new Prius Prime before you purchase. Like every other Toyota, the Prius Prime has above-average resale values.
Driving the Toyota Prius Prime 2022
Let’s skip over the acceleration timings and go to the charging times. A complete recharge takes roughly 5.5 hours on household 120-volt power. Using a 240-volt plug decreases the duration to around two hours and ten minutes.
Like other hybrids, the Prius Prime can replenish its battery via braking energy regeneration. When going downhill, putting the gearbox in B increases the braking energy stored in the storm and helps control the speed.
Even in a little hatchback, 121 horsepower isn’t much power. The electric motor, on the other hand, produces some respectable low-end thrust. Yet if a Prius Prime owner has a pair of driving shoes, it’s more likely for fashion and comfort than to maximize canyon-road thrills.
The Prius Prime is a calm car, thanks to its comfortable suspension and well-cushioned front seats. This makes it an excellent choice for driving long distances. The Prius Prime only has front-wheel drive; the non-plug-in Prius has an all-wheel purpose with the addition of a second electric motor.
A vehicle proximity notification system warns pedestrians of the car’s presence at lower speeds and during practically quiet operation. Just one annoyance: shifting into reverse causes a beeping sound inside the cabin. If some drivers need an auditory notice that they are driving backwards, they should not be going.
Pros
- Good fuel efficiency
- High-quality standard equipment
- Tax credits make it more inexpensive than a standard Prius.
- Possible access to carpool lanes
Cons
- A driving experience that was less than exciting
- Android Auto is only available in the lowest trim
inner comfort
Not displaying driver information directly in front of the driver is a Prius feature. Instead, the digital screen is at the top of the dashboard’s centre. It’s not practically perfect, but enough people have bought several Prius models without complaint over the years, so it can’t be that bad.
The front cabin is spacious and comfortable, with room for three people in the back. Two, plus a disgruntled person in the small middle position. Since it’s a small convertible hatchback, the rear headroom and legroom are on the short side.
The Prius Prime’s larger battery reduces luggage space compared to the standard Prius. The luggage compartment behind the rear seats (which split and fold in a 60/40 layout, providing some flexibility for cargo and people) is 19.8 cubic feet, or 7.6 feet less than its standard stablemate. This isn’t likely a deal breaker for anyone considering a new Prius Prime, which will no doubt favour fuel efficiency overhauling.
The XLE’s 11.6-inch touchscreen and limited bezels are the only flaws in the Prius Prime’s cabin. It looks excellent, is vertically arranged, and contains essential information. But when the sun is in the right (or wrong) position, there is so much reflected light streaming off the screen that it becomes impossible to see.
However, we still prefer the XLE to the LE. It offers more equipment at a price difference of less than $2,000,
Exterior design
While the wedge-shaped base of the 2022 Prius Prime and upright Prius are identical, the Prime features several aesthetic differences at the front and tail. However, the two-piece rear window on both cars obstructed the rearview.
The Prime has quad LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, and a unique type of LED taillight. Each trim level is equipped with 15-inch alloy wheels. Even the different designs from the selection menu have the same size.
Favourite Properties
Alexa compatibility and smartphone integration
It’s hard to do without a smartphone after plugging it into an in-car infotainment system and using apps like Waze for navigation and traffic. Alexa, Amazon’s digital assistant, can play music, read audiobooks, tell you the weather, and do many other useful things. Android Auto and Prius Prime’s larger touchscreen are not compatible for some reason.
Ownership costs
The Toyota Prius Prime keeps ownership costs as low as its emissions, thanks to a federal tax credit, state and municipal incentives, fuel efficiency for a maximum range of 640 miles, and reasonable resale prices.
Standard Features
The LE, XLE, and Limited trim levels for the 2022 Prius Prime are available. The LE variant has 15-inch alloy wheels, heated side mirrors, a digital driver information display, a simulated leather steering wheel, cloth upholstery, heated front seats, and a 120-volt charging cord.
Safety devices are abundant. In addition to a system that allows the brakes to override the throttle if both pedals are accidentally touched simultaneously, the 2022 Prius Prime has a suite of support functions known as Toyota Safety Sense 2.0. (See the Safety Technology section below.)
A 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, Amazon Alexa compatibility, three USB ports, satellite radio, a CD player, Bluetooth phone and audio, and a 6-speaker sound system round out the infotainment system.
Options the Manufacturer
Apart from premium paint options and a Wi-Fi subscription, the only way to get a more well-equipped new Prius Prime is to go up the trim level ladder. The XLE adds an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, simulated leather seating surfaces, wireless charging, an improved infotainment system with sophisticated speech recognition, HD Radio predictive traffic, and an 11.6-inch touchscreen with a split-screen display to the base model. This configuration is incompatible with Android Auto.
The Limited grade adds a 10-speaker JBL sound system to the in-car entertainment system. LED fog lights, rain-sensing wipers, a heated steering wheel, a self-dimming rearview mirror with garage door opener, front- and rear parking sensors, parking assistance, blind-spot monitoring with the rear cross-traffic warning,
Transmission and engine
How fuel-efficient is the Toyota Prius Prime 2022? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made a way to figure out how many MPGe electric and plug-in hybrid cars get. The Prius Prime is estimated to attain 133 MPGe in combined driving (a mix of city and highway use). This is after accounting for the 25 miles of electric-only range. It gets 54 mpg when driven as a conventional hybrid.
A 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder gasoline engine (regular gas is refined) and a permanent magnet AC synchronous electric motor powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery make this all feasible. The total system power is 121 horsepower. Toyota does not provide overall torque data for its hybrid vehicles.
The energy is only sent to the front wheels using an automatic gearbox (of the continuously variable sort). Active grille shutters are a standard for maximum aerodynamic and thermal efficiency.
1.8-litre inline-4 engine with a permanent magnet 121 horsepower total system output from an AC synchronous electric motor
EPA estimated combined fuel economy: 133 MPGe (electric)
EPA combined fuel economy: 54 miles per gallon (gasoline & electric)
LE benefits include
Prius Prime LE features include:
- Wheel caps for 15-inch alloy wheels
- Headlights with LEDs
- Heated exterior mirrors
- Head-up display (shows essential information in your field of vision on the windshield)
- Climate control is automatic
- Cloth-heated front seats
- Hands-free access to the driver’s door
- A 7.0-inch touchscreen for infotainment
- Smartphones compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Six-speaker audio system
- 120-volt outlet charging cord
Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 is included in every Prius Prime. This advanced driving assistance package includes the following:
- Adaptive Cruise Control (Maintains driver-selected distance between Prius Prime and the vehicle ahead)
- Forward Collision Mitigation (warns you of an imminent collision and applies the brakes in specific scenarios)
- Lane Departure Prevention (warns you about lane departure when your turn signal is not in use and can steer automatically to maintain lane position)
- Lane-keeping method (makes subtle steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centred in its lane)
XLE
The Prius Prime XLE trim level has many improvements, including:
- Faux leather upholstery
- Hands-free access to other doors
- The 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system and navigation system with the infotainment screen
- Speech recognition software
- Wireless chargers for smartphones
- Cable charging lock
Limited
Select the Prius Prime Limited to get all the good stuff, like:
- LED fog lights
- Rain sensitive wipers
- The steering wheel is heated, and a JBL sound system has ten speakers.
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert with Blind Spot Monitor (warns you if the vehicle is in your blind spot while changing lanes or while reversing)
- Parking sensors front and rear (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front or behind the vehicle when parking)
- Automatic Rear Braking (automatically applies the brakes to avoid imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)
- Parking automation system (directs to a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)
- Head-up display (shows important information in your field of vision on the windshield)
Is the 2022 Toyota Prius Prime a Good Buy? Which Prius Prime is the least expensive?
The Prius Prime is straightforward in its focus on fuel economy and never over-promises in terms of luxury, technology, or performance. It’s a relative bargain among plug-in hybrids, with a starting price of $29,865 (including destination) that undercuts the Subaru Crosstrek and Kia Niro by several thousand dollars. Prius Prime undoubtedly achieves its goal of economic efficiency when combined with electric vehicle range and fuel economy.
The transition to higher designs is also not very expensive. The mid-level XLE costs just $31,645, and the top-of-the-line Limited costs just $35,645. For these reasons, we recommend at least the XLE spec, which includes a faux leather interior and a larger infotainment screen. Safety-conscious buyers will likely want to upgrade to the higher end for the extra features.
