2022 Toyota Prius or 2022 Toyota Prius Prime : Which is right for you?

The Toyota Prius and Toyota Prius Prime are part of the same family, but they have some pretty significant differences. If you aren’t sure which model is right for you, we can help you out with this quick comparison.

For starters, the 2022 Toyota Prius is a hybrid vehicle while the 2022 Toyota Prius Prime is a plug-in hybrid vehicle.

Difference between a hybrid vehicle and plug-in hybrid vehicle

Both a hybrid vehicle and a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) will have a traditional gas combustion engine paired with an electric motor and a battery. The difference is that a plug-in hybrid vehicle has a larger battery which has enough power to function independently from the gas engine for a certain distance.

In simple terms, a PHEV vehicle can run on electric power alone long enough to get you from point A to point B while a hybrid vehicle can only use the electric motor exclusively in certain conditions like when starting the engine.

The 2022 Toyota Prius Prime can go 40 kilometres on electric power alone, which for most buyers could be enough to get them to work and back or to the store. That means that for most of your daily commute, you won’t be using any fuel. The Toyota Prius can’t do that. Of course, it remains exceptionally fuel-efficient with an average of just 4.4 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, but it can’t function on electric power alone without using fuel.

On the other hand, you never have to plug the Toyota Prius in to get the advantages of the battery. The Toyota Prius Prime does need to be plugged in in order to charge the battery and run on EV power alone. Charging requires 5.5 hours on a 120-volt outlet, and 2.5 jours on a Level 2 charger.

AWD available in the 2022 Toyota Prius

Another difference between the Prius and Prius Prime is the availability of all-wheel drive. The Prius Prime is front-wheel drive only while the Prius can get the Toyota AWD-e system for just $1,000 more than the base price ($30,150 for the AWD-e system).

Even without all-wheel drive the Prius and Prius Prime perform very well in winter thanks to the weight and placement of the batteries, but still. Nothing beats an all-wheel drive vehicle in winter.

Ultimately:

The Prius Prime can go 40 kilometres without using fuel. If your commute is less than that, the efficiency of the Prime can’t be beat.

If you want all-wheel drive, the Prius is the only option.

In terms of handling, comfort and driving pleasure, both cars are nearly identical. The Prime is a bit quicker.

In terms of pricing, the Prius and Prius Prime are quite similar given the rebates available on the Prime. That said, the latter will be slightly more expensive.

Give us a call today to learn more and test drive each model to find the perfect 2022 Toyota Prius for you!