PRIUS HITS PRIME TIME
The pump-passing Prius Prime plug-in is actually pleasing to drive
The undisputed leader in gasolineelectric vehicles has a surprise for people who would deride so-called “green” cars.
The all-new Toyota Prius Prime plugin does what it’s intended to do and does it in a way that actually makes it fun to drive.
For the uninitiated, plug-in hybrids are designed to operate for short distances on battery power alone. How short? The previous plug-in Prius was good for a maximum of 11 miles of electric-only operation, but would only make it that far with a very gentle application of the throttle.
Toyota swore up and down that the new Prius Prime could go the claimed electric distance while driving like a normal human being and — wonder of wonders — the company was right. In testing, it ran on electricity for the first 25 miles (its maximum electric-mode range). And we’re not talking flat freeway driving, but travel over mountainous, twisting back-roads near Santa Barbara, California.
Toyota says the electric system, which works with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine for a total system output of 121 horsepower, gives the Prime a range of about 640 miles.
Fuel economy is rated at 55 mpg in the city, 53 on the highway and 54 combined. When running on electric power, the rating is 133 mpg equivalency.
One reason for the Prime’s solid performance is a lithium-ion battery pack that has 12-times greater capacity than that of the standard Prius. In fact, on a full charge you can reach 84 mph on pure electric propulsion. The batteries do weigh more than those in the standard Prius, but greater use of lighter-weight materials (the lift-gate’s frame is made from carbon fiber, for example) means a net weight penalty of just 77 pounds.
Another reason is the Prime’s two electric motors. Although the secondary motor functions mostly as a generator to start the car and feed captured braking energy to the batteries, it can also assist the primary drive motor.
On the road, the Prime is notable for the way it drives more or less like a regular car.
The continuously variable transmission (CVT) is surprisingly smooth and there’s virtually no grabby feeling when pushing the brake pedal (common complaints about other hybrids).
You can leave the car in EV Auto mode for optimal (and seamless) gaselectric use, or select EV mode for strictly electric power. Push the HV button and the Prius Prime recharges the batteries while the gas engine is running.
External recharging through a 120-volt plug takes about 5.5 hours, which drops to two hours using a 240-volt source.
The Prius Prime’s styling certainly takes some getting used to. The front and rear shapes are quite startling at
first, especially the double-bubble rear glass that looks as if it was melted by the sun.
The dashboard of the test car was dominated by an optional iPad-like 11.6-inch info-/system touch-screen that controls numerous vehicle functions. It’s fairly easy to use, but the concern is that its size could contribute to driver distraction. The white plastic trim on the steering wheel and below the touchscreen is yet another form of distraction in an otherwise pleasing layout.
At $28,000 (including destination charges), the base Prius Prime Plus costs about $2,500 more than a standard Prius, but $6,000 less than a Chevrolet Volt (not counting applicable rebates). Included is climate control, navigation system, heated front seats and numerous active-safety systems designed to prevent collisions. Moving up to the Prime Premium and Advanced trim levels increases the content with up-level audio and communications systems plus the aforementioned 11.6-inch touch-screen.
With relatively low fuel prices, attracting Prime buyers could be tough. Still, the car’s many attributes could turn more buyers on to the joys of pinching pennies along with the gentle whirring from part-time electric propulsion.