It can be hard to remember, but Toyota Prius used to be cool. Not a great supercar, but the kind of great visual build with the environment that makes it a favorite among celebrities.
That’s because it’s something of a forerunner. Hybrid cars are everywhere now, especially within the Toyota range, but when it debuted in the early 2000s, the technology was still nascent.
Even the fourth-generation Prius being tested here is a pioneer device, debuting the TNGA architecture that now underpins Toyota’s more exciting, new range of vehicles. The name Prius actually means “to go ahead” and at one point, it wasn’t just marketing.
In 2022? It’s hard to know where the Prius fits in.
Tesla, Porsche, BMW, even Kia and Hyundai, offer desirable (and exciting) electric cars for experienced early adopters who want to make their eco-mark, and Toyota sells hybrid versions. of its popular cars for those who value efficiency but don’t want to scream about it.
Are we missing something, or is it the old news of the 2022 Prius?
How much does Toyota Prius i-Tech cost?
The two-tier Prius range starts at $37,890 before on-road costs, but the i-Tech testing here costs from $45,350 before hitting the road.
That makes the Prius more expensive than the top in the range Corolla ZR Hybrid ($34,695) and align it with RAV4 Cruiser AWD Hybrid within the Toyota range.
It is also the opponent of Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid ($41,390), although the Hyundai is slightly smaller.
Seven colors are offered in the Prius range, with all but white costing $500.
You get what?
Highlights of Prius i-Tech:
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- LED headlights, tail lights
- Fog lights
- Proximity key and push-button start
- Leather chair
- 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- AM / FM / DAB + digital radio
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Satellite positioning
- Adaptive cruise control
- Automatic wipers
- Front heated seats
- Wireless phone charger
- Privacy Glass
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
Is Toyota Prius i-Tech safe?
Toyota Prius has a Five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing done in 2016. It earned a total score of 36.22 out of 37 points.
You’ll find a full set of front, side and head airbags, along with a driver’s knee airbag.
Standard active safety equipment includes:
- Automatic emergency brake
- Lane keeping assist
- Blind spot monitor
- Rear cross-traffic alert
How is the Toyota Prius i-Tech on the inside?
Despite being identified as a Toyota, the Prius has a slightly odd interior design. It feels old behind the wheel, even by Toyota standards.
The foot-operated parking brake, 7.0-inch infotainment screen and center-mounted dash computer all have the same age as the Prius along with the Corolla Hybrid, not to mention current technology leaders like Tesla Model 3. There are also hundreds of gloss black trim pieces that we absolutely hate, even on the steering wheel.
The fundamentals are good. The seats are relatively flat, but there’s enough support for long strides behind the wheel and enough adjustment in the power-assisted driver’s seat to keep tall drivers comfortable.
It’s a bit odd to look at the bare dashboard from the driver’s seat, since the devices are mounted in the center of the vehicle, but with the large font and streamlined design, they don’t require much off-road time. It’s been part of the Prius formula since day one, as is the stout gear lever that sits proud of the floating dashboard.
There’s also a simple head-up display with information about your speed and road signs.
The infotainment system in the Prius wasn’t a highlight at launch and won’t stand out in 2022 either. It has an exhaustive feature list, but the 7.0-inch display looks small compared to what’s available today. to be expected in even low-end cars, and its graphics and response are average.
In a car that aims to showcase Toyota at its highest technology, it instead highlights one of the brand’s weak points. At least there’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, although there are wired varieties.
Storage is good around the cabin, with two cup holders, a door bin with space for bottles and deep space below the hinged side center armrest. Below the panel there is also a wireless phone charger.
The second row offers decent accommodation for adults with knee and headroom to match, but legroom is quite generous. You’re likely already in the back seat of a Prius if you need to take a taxi or Uber home from the pub, so the second row shouldn’t be too much of a surprise.
There is only one map pocket behind the passenger seat. Between the two rear seats is a fold-down armrest, but you don’t get air vents there – something the Camry Hybrid has for the same price as the Prius.
Cargo space enters at 457 liters with the second row in place and expands to 1558 liters when the second row is folded flat.
Beneath the cargo floor is a tire repair kit, unlike the space saver you get on the base Prius with its smaller wheels.
What’s under the bonnet?
Toyota Prius is powered by a variety of mating hybrid setup 1.8 liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder petrol engine manufacture 72kW power and 142Nm torque, combined with an electric motor and a 1.3kWh nickel-metal hydride batteries.
Internal combustion engines use the Atkinson cycle, which is a more efficient combustion process at the expense of torque. That torque hole at the low end of the rev range is filled in using an electric motor.
The combined peak power is 90kWand Toyota do not quote combined peak torque figures.
Claimed fuel economy is 3.4 liters per 100km, we found 4.4L/100km with a sharp inclination on highway driving. With hybrids like the Prius doing best at city speeds, that’s pretty impressive.
Regular 91 RON lead-free drinking cart, and has 43L gas tank. Unlike plug-in hybrids, the hybrid line in the Prius doesn’t offer meaningful electric-only range.
How does the Toyota Prius i-Tech drive?
With the parking brake off, the Prius doesn’t feel any different from the Corolla or Camry hybrid.
It starts with a shrill beep, and you usually move out on quiet, silent power. With the right foot light, you should be able to accelerate from zero to about 30km/h without the petrol engine running.
When the 1.8-liter engine kicks in, it’s relatively smooth and quiet. A screen in the center of the panel tells you where the power is coming from, which is useful if you’re the type of person who wants to know what’s going on under the skin.
It’s the improvement of the hybrid system, sometimes hard to tell.
Really put your feet down, though, and it’s easy to see where the power is coming from. The lean-burning Atkinson Cycle engine doesn’t like being pushed, and even with electric motor assist, it never delivers more than a light punch.
Of course, performance isn’t the point of a Prius, and the fact that the car doesn’t encourage you to go fast means you can focus on driving every last kilometer from a tank of gas.
Although it debuted the TNGA platform that has spread across the Toyota range, the Prius doesn’t have the confident, solid driving feel of the Corolla or the RAV4. It feels taller and leaner on the highway, and is susceptible to cross-winds.
It’s not a difficult car to drive but it does feel like it’s been removed from its platform friends, like it’s hindered by two flatbeds and thin eco-tyres. On the open road is also more noisy, adding wind whistle and tire roar.
Thankfully, the steering has the same light, fluid feel you get on a Corolla, and the ride is a luxury one. It has a lovely long ride feel on highway ledges, and potholes or expansion joints flow beneath its wheels in the city.
With excellent panoramic visibility and a light and easy ride, the Prius feels like home in the city. The hybrid system is smooth and quiet, and the brake pedal doesn’t have any hard steps between the regenerative system and the mechanical brake.
How much does Toyota Prius i-Tech cost to run?
Prius has the same five-year, unlimited km warranty like the wider Toyota range.
Unfortunately, maintenance is required every six months or 10,000 km – instead of the 12 month and 15,000 km intervals currently offered in the latest RAV4 Hybrid.
First six services per cost $205Up from $180, you’ll pay an average of each of the first five Corolla Hybrid services.
CarExpert’s Takes On Toyota Prius i-Tech
The rest of the motorcycling world has caught up with – or surpassed – the Toyota Prius.
Hybrids are big business for mainstream buyers, and electric vehicles now mean the Prius isn’t the eco-warrior it once was. It’s hard to see why you’d buy one in 2022, given the alternatives offered in the Toyota range.
However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a future for it. Reports abroad suggest that the next-generation Prius will be a hybrid pioneer, with the kind of technology and styling that will once again set it apart from the crowd.
Our fingers are crossed. It’s a joke and it’s not the tech leader it once was, but the Prius is still an important part of the automotive landscape.
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THAN: Everything Toyota Prius
