2024 Toyota Prius Prime – pressroom.toyota.com | Shop 2024 Toyota Prius on Carsforsale.com
One year after the start of the fifth generation, the 2024 Toyota Prius arrives with no major changes. This is just fine as the latest Prius is a relative show-stopper compared to every other generation going back more than 20 years.
Slinky new sheet metal, more power, and stellar fuel economy are just a few highlights of the 2024 Prius, a car that makes it easy to understand why EVs are struggling to sell, while hybrid sales soar. In plug-in hybrid (PHEV) form, or Prime in Toyota-speak, the Prius manages a usable 44-mile all-electric range as we’ll discuss below.
Fuel economy up to 57 MPG
Costs less than $30,000
AWD availability
The glass roof is fixed in place
Doesn’t have Toyota’s latest driver aids
Cabin style leans into the bland zone
One compact car to rule them all
For 2024, the Toyota Prius is powered by a 2.0L inline-4 gas engine that pairs with a battery-powered electric motor to produce 194 hp and 139 lb-ft of torque. A CVT routes power to the front wheels, though AWD can be added for $1,400.
This output represents a relatively huge gain of 73 hp over the previous Prius, which we compare to the 5th-gen model here. And yet, the new model manages to achieve 57 MPG combined in base FWD trim and hit 60 mph in 7.2 seconds according to Toyota. Fuel efficiency is reduced for both the standard and Prime variants when 19-inch wheels are fitted.
The 2024 Prius Prime PHEV starts with the same gas engine but ups the battery pack and electric motor output to hit 220 hp. Only offered with FWD, the Prime can also be plugged in to enjoy 44 miles of driving range using the battery alone. Fuel efficiency is still impressive at 52 MPG combined or 127 MPGe.
If it’s fuel economy AND cabin space you’re after, check out Toyota’s RAV4 hybrid, one of our favorite family fuel efficiency champs. With the Prius, the interior can handle 5 adults but is comfortable with 4. There are 35 inches of legroom for back seat passengers and the rear bench split folds in a 60/40 configuration to allow for longer item storage.
Thanks to its fast-hatchback shape, the cargo bay is respectably sized at 20 cubic feet, which is bigger than the typical compact sedan trunk. Style-wise, the 2024 Prius may feel like a sea of black, so aim for gray upholstery to break it up or the sporty red vibes found in Prime models.
Single-zone automatic climate is standard across the Prius lineup and base models feature cloth upholstery. SofTex is offered on higher-level trims though you won’t find leather on any models. Heat for the steering wheel and front seats are included from XLE grade up with seat ventilation and heated rear seats offered further up the trim tree.
Every 2024 Prius comes with a Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is managed via an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen on base models or a 12.3-inch unit on Limited and XSE Premium models. Other upgrades include an 8-speaker JBL audio system, a surround-view monitor, and a digital rearview mirror.
Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, the automaker’s bundle of advanced driver-aids, brings forward collision mitigation, a lane-keeping system, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Proactive Driving Assist to every 2024 Prius. It helps the car earn a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS (for 2023 models) but does not include some of the more recent features like Lane Change Assist.
Entry-level LEs come with 17-inch alloy wheels, full exterior LED lighting, passive entry, and heated side mirrors. Inside you’ll find black or gray cloth upholstery, a 7-inch digital gauge cluster, 6 USB ports, and a 6-speaker stereo. Trial subscriptions to Toyota’s Service, Safety, Remote, and Wi-Fi Connect systems are also included.
XLE models add 19-inch wheels, rain-sensing wipers, heated front seats trimmed in leatherette, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a wireless phone charging pad. Front and rear parking sensors are also included, while a $2,010 optional package offers a fixed glass roof, digital key capability, and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen.
SE models kick off the Prime PHEV lineup with similar content to LE trim that is upgraded with features like a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel and red cabin accents for a sporty look.
The top-spec standard 2024 Prius is loaded with a glass roof, a power-operated liftgate, a trial subscription to Drive Connect, and climatized front seats with memory settings for the driver. These models also come with a JBL audio system, an upsized touchscreen, and an optional Premium package that includes a digital rearview mirror, a self-parking system, surround-view monitor, and heated rear seats.
Prime XSE grade largely follows the standard XLE model for content with the addition of the PHEV powertrain and red cabin accents. Like the XLE, these variants have the Illumination Notification dash-mounted lightbar that pulses red when the preceding vehicle has started moving.
Like the Limited model, this loaded Prime model has all the fanciest features offered by the 2024 Prius plus the plug-in powertrain. Self-parking and a camera-based rearview mirror are available and this is the only Prius with access to the solar charging roof option, a $610 system that can charge the vehicle battery while parked.
For those with a short commute or who do a fair amount of local driving, the Prime XSE is worth the cost simply for the 44-mile electric driving range. However, the standard XLE is another excellent option thanks to standard features like heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.
The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid offers a compelling counterpoint with lower pricing and similar fuel efficiency versus the Prius but with a 10-year powertrain warranty and 3 years of complimentary service. Toyota’s basic warranty runs for 3 years or 36,000 miles, the powertrain is covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles, and there are 2 years of complimentary service.
2024 Toyota Prius – toyota.com | Shop 2024 Toyota Prius on Carsforsale.com
On the whole, the 2024 Toyota Prius looks like a home run. It offers fuel efficiency approaching 60 mpg, which is incredible, styling that’ll turn heads, and costs far less than the current $48,000 average new car price. The negatives are few and closer to niggles, like a panoramic roof that doesn’t open and a few missing driver aids. Factor in the Prime variant with its usable 44-mile battery-powered driving range and the fifth-gen Prius is poised to dominate the reinvigorated hybrid car segment.
Both use a hybrid powertrain, but the Prime can be plugged in if you want to drive purely on electricity for up to 44 miles.
The 2024 Prius starts at $28,745 for a base LE model and runs up to $40,465 for a Prime XSE Premium model.
According to Toyota, the Prius battery pack lasts for between 8 and 10 years or 100,000 to 150,000 miles. Fortunately, the hybrid battery on new models is under warranty for 10 years or 150,000 miles.