The Toyota Prius has long been synonymous with fuel efficiency, and as a car expert, I’ve always appreciated its advancements over the generations. While I may have a reputation to uphold, I can admit my respect for the standard Toyota Prius, a vehicle that consistently pushes the boundaries of hybrid technology. It stands as one of the most fuel-efficient cars available without needing to plug in, rivaled only by the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid. However, the introduction of plug-in hybrid technology to the Prius lineup, culminating in the 2017 Prius Prime, promised to elevate its desirability by offering even greater efficiency and flexibility.
Image showing the front three quarter view of a blue 2017 Toyota Prius Prime parked on a paved area, highlighting its sleek headlights and unique grille design.
The 2017 Toyota Prius Prime isn’t just a standard Prius with a plug. Toyota implemented significant changes spanning cabin technology, visual aesthetics, and feature sets. While these updates aim to improve upon the already impressive Prius formula, they introduce a complex dynamic, making the Prius Prime a somewhat paradoxical vehicle. It excels as a Prius, pushing the boundaries of hybrid efficiency, yet in certain aspects, it takes a step back in essential car functionalities compared to its non-plug-in sibling. Let’s delve into the specifics to clarify this intriguing proposition.
Unpacking the Prius Prime Plug-In Hybrid System
At the heart of the 2017 Prius Prime lies a familiar yet enhanced version of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) powertrain. This system combines a 1.8-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine with a 53 kW electric motor. The gasoline engine delivers 95 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque, while the electric motor contributes 71 horsepower and 120 pound-feet of torque. The combined peak system power is rated at 121 horsepower, a testament to the intricacies of hybrid power calculations. Torque figures for the combined system are not officially stated.
The defining feature of the Prime is its plug-in capability, necessitating a larger battery to maximize electric driving range and efficiency. Toyota equipped this model with an 8.8 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack, a substantial increase compared to the standard Prius’s 0.75 kWh battery. This larger battery, while crucial for its plug-in functionality, does impact cargo space. The 2017 Toyota Prius Prime offers 19.8 cubic feet of trunk space behind the second-row seats, a reduction from the standard Prius’s 24.8 cubic feet. This compromise is further emphasized when considering the use of the privacy cover, reducing usable space even more.
2017 Toyota Prius Prime: Style and Electric Miles
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Despite the cargo space reduction, the larger battery provides a significant benefit: an EPA-estimated 25 miles of all-electric driving range on a full charge. Charging the battery from empty to full takes approximately 2 hours using a Level 2 charger.
For fuel economy, the EPA rates the 2017 Prius Prime at 133 MPGe for the initial electric miles and 54 MPG for gasoline-powered miles thereafter. During a week of testing, with daily charging and approximately 50 miles of driving per day, real-world fuel economy averaged between 80-90 MPGe. Optimizing charging habits and driving patterns, particularly reducing highway miles, could potentially yield even better results.
The Electric Driving Experience
The 2017 Prius Prime delivers a noticeably different driving experience in electric mode compared to the standard hybrid operation. It feels as though the system is more generous with its electric power when a sufficient charge is available. In EV mode, the Prius Prime exhibits confident acceleration, benefiting from the instant torque characteristic of electric motors, making throttle response feel remarkably quick.
Antuan Goodwin/RoadshowInterior view of the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime dashboard, focusing on the large vertical touchscreen display, steering wheel, and digital instrument cluster, showcasing the car’s tech-forward cabin.
The flexibility offered by the plug-in hybrid system is a key advantage. Drivers can manually toggle between hybrid, electric, and automatic drive modes. This allows for strategic conservation of electric range, for instance, reserving it for city driving at the end of a highway commute to maximize overall efficiency. Alternatively, drivers can rely on the vehicle’s computer to manage mode selection automatically.
However, in standard gasoline-electric hybrid mode, the added weight of the battery pack becomes apparent. Despite the increased use of lightweight composite materials in its construction, the extra batteries add around 300 pounds to the 2017 Prius Prime. This additional weight is noticeable during uphill driving, highway passing maneuvers, and cornering, where the electric torque feels less pronounced compared to EV mode.
Dashboard Technology: Form Over Function?
Beyond the powertrain enhancements, the most significant change in the 2017 Prius Prime is its dashboard, which features a large, vertically oriented 11-inch color touchscreen display. While visually striking and likely to impress passengers, the interface design has notable drawbacks.
The screen suffers from glare and wash-out in direct sunlight, hindering visibility despite its size. At night, even at its dimmest setting, the screen can be excessively bright and distracting.
Antuan Goodwin/RoadshowClose-up view of the 11-inch vertical touchscreen in the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime, highlighting the map interface with widgets on the side and bottom, demonstrating the complex and potentially cluttered display.
The user interface is complex and somewhat disorganized. The map dominates the display, serving as both a home screen and background for widgets that slide in from the bottom and sides to access functions like audio, climate control, and navigation input. In urban environments, the detailed street map can become visually overwhelming, ironically making it harder to pinpoint your location on the display, especially as the map shifts based on active widgets.
Many of the criticisms leveled at Toyota’s Entune system apply to this larger screen as well, including a menu structure that complicates simple tasks like changing radio stations. While the learning curve is manageable, the system lacks the intuitive ease of use found in competing systems. The smaller screen in the standard Prius might actually be preferable for its less distracting and more straightforward interface. Comparing it to systems like Volvo’s Sensus, which utilizes a similarly sized vertical display more effectively through superior design, highlights the shortcomings of the Prius Prime’s system.
Driver Assistance and Electronic Aids
The 2017 Prius Prime includes a suite of driver assistance features. While blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane departure warning are welcome and functional, the constant beeping when reversing is excessive and, unlike other alerts, cannot be disabled, making parking maneuvers unnecessarily irritating.
On the positive side, the adaptive cruise control system operates effectively in stop-and-go traffic, and the lane departure prevention with steering assist is helpful. Parallel parking assist is also available; however, in one test, it resulted in curbing the wheel, which is unusual and raised concerns about its reliability during testing.
Conclusion: A Better Prius, Not Necessarily a Better Car Overall
From a mechanical standpoint, the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime lives up to expectations. The enhanced fuel economy and all-electric range are significant improvements, and the electric mode driving dynamics are enjoyable. Toyota successfully built upon the strengths of the Prius platform to create a compelling plug-in hybrid vehicle.
Antuan Goodwin/RoadshowSide profile of the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime in motion on a highway, emphasizing its aerodynamic silhouette and fuel-efficient design.
However, the compromises introduced, particularly the frustrating dashboard technology and reduced cargo space, detract from the overall daily usability of the 2017 Prius Prime. These factors, combined with the added weight, make it a vehicle that demands certain trade-offs compared to the standard Prius.
The 2017 Toyota Prius Prime starts at $27,100 for the base Plus trim, escalating to $33,100 for the top-tier Advanced model, with an additional $885 destination charge, bringing the as-tested price to $33,985 before incentives. Crucially, potential tax credits and incentives up to $4,500 could make the Prius Prime financially appealing, potentially even less expensive than the standard Prius. For instance, the base Prime Plus can be significantly less expensive than the entry-level standard Prius. For eco-conscious buyers on a budget willing to overlook the tech interface issues, the base plug-in model is a compelling option.
However, for those seeking a plug-in hybrid with a more extended electric range and a more user-friendly technology interface, the 2017 Chevrolet Volt, offering over 50 miles of EV range and a superior MyLink infotainment system, remains a strong competitor worth considering. Ultimately, the 2017 Prius Prime is a step forward in hybrid technology for Toyota, but potential buyers should carefully weigh its strengths in fuel efficiency against its compromises in usability and technology.
