The 2024 Toyota Prius Prime Engine Garners Wards Auto's Top 10 Spot for 2023

The Toyota Prius Prime has long been a pioneer in the plug-in hybrid vehicle category. The redesigned 2024 model recently received high praise from Wards Auto, being named one of their Top 10 engines for 2023.

The New Engine in the Redesigned Prius Prime

Toyota has reimagined the Prius Prime with an emphasis on greater efficiency and power. The new engine is a larger 150-hp 2.0L motor paired with a 161-hp electric motor generator. The combined 220-system-net-horsepower is nearly 100-hp more than its predecessor. The model's new 13.6 kWh lithium-ion battery offers an 80 percent increase in all-electric range, jumping from 40 km to a manufacturer-estimated 72 km in the SE grade. Fuel consumption is estimated at 4.5 L/100 km in hybrid mode, making it highly efficient.

What is the Wards 10 Best List?

Wards Auto is an automotive industry publication that has been evaluating and ranking the best propulsion systems for the last 29 years. The scoring system takes into account horsepower, torque, noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) management, observed efficiency, and the incorporation of new technology. The Wards team assessed 32 different powertrains this year, encompassing 13 internal combustion engines (ICEs), 10 battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and nine hybrids.

Since 2021, the price cap that had been in place since 1995 was removed, although value remains an important part of the scoring. For a powertrain to be eligible, it must be either all-new or significantly improved from previous versions. Wards editors test the engines in everyday driving situations, making the list highly practical for consumers.

The History of the Wards List

Over nearly three decades, the Wards 10 Best list has served as a benchmark in the automotive industry for engine and propulsion system excellence. Wards has evaluated a wide array of technologies, from traditional ICEs to more modern BEVs and hybrids. This year, the number of hybrids, including plug-ins, being tested has increased to nine, reflecting the growing interest and investment in these technologies.

In conclusion, the inclusion of the 2024 Toyota Prius Prime’s new engine in the Wards Auto 10 Best list for 2023 serves as an acknowledgment of Toyota's commitment to improving fuel efficiency and performance. With its vastly enhanced all-electric range, horsepower, and fuel consumption rates, the Prius Prime sets a new standard for what a plug-in hybrid can be.