2017 Toyota Prius Prime: Price + Content + Efficiency = WOW!!!

Hi Wick1ert:

The Advanced trim includes Pre-conditioning via the app (Remote Climate) or setup through the display.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

I was just sent an update as the EPA has fully certified the Prius Prime's EPA city/highway/combined results as listed at 55/53/54 mpg. What is new is the combined MPGe figure is now 133 vs 124 as listed previously!

Wayne

 

There's a test drive video saying 15s 0-60 in EV mode. Disappointed that it's as bad as the Energy twins, which are hundreds of pounds heavier. I wouldn't care, but it's not going to have the pep that drivers would get from other plug-ins.

Disappointed that RCTA is an upsell in the Advanced since that's something that'll help reduce that many stupid collisions that happen when people are backing out.

But, the base value is something special, with crash protection and ACC and I think that a lot of typical Prius shoppers will be interested. More savvy shoppers will know that in California in particular the Volt has some sizable discounts that combine with the extra $3k Fed credit to bring the prices closer, and more generally, the Volt's greater range and zip will have broader appeal. But this aggressive pricing might be more of a defense against the upcoming Ioniq PHEV.

One thing we won't know until it gets some winter drives, is just how effective and efficient that heat pump will be. If it's good, then it could be a good sign that heat pumps will become both better and more common in PEVs.

 

Hi All:

There is currently approximately $700 discount off MSRP being offered from the California area dealerships and $1,000 rebate from Toyota currently. For California consumers, this brings a Prius Prime Plus to just over $20k +TTL. I think there may more $s on the hood by late summer given both the Ioniq and Niro PHEVs are scheduled to arrive this fall.

$27,965 to start including the $865 D&H charge
$4,500 Fed Tax Credit
$1,500 Calif. State tax rebate
$700 off retail
$1,000 Toyota Rebate
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$20,265

2017 Toyota Prius Family


Toyota Prius Prime Plus up front as seen at the #MKEAutoShow last week.


Toyota Prius Prime 19.8 cu.ft. of cargo volume.​

Recently, the Automotive Science Group (ASG) awarded the 2017 Prius Prime as the vehicle that achieves the lowest carbon footprint of any model year 2017 car available in the North American market, knocking off the Nissan Leaf that held that distinction for three consecutive years.

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ASG’s assessment found increased environmental impacts associated with production, manufacturing and assembly for the advanced lithium-ion battery electric technology, however these increased impacts were more than offset within the first 6.5 years of vehicle operation, or 87,594 vehicle miles traveled. ASG also reveals that advanced powertrains are largely responsible for leading significant fuel economy gains in 2017. ASG found the Prius Prime producing 29% less GHG emissions than the #20 car on the Index, over the first 6.5 years of operations.

Wayne

 

Ha! Look at the little Mirage in that list.

 

Just saw this story pop up on my phones news feed.

http://www.hybridcars.com/toyota-prius-prime-becoming-hot-commodity-on-dealer-lots/

 

Hi All:

This week I am in the mid-trim 2017 Toyota Prius Prime Premium ($28,800 + $865 D&H) with the upgraded Hypersonic red color ($395). Just like the first drive(s), the Prius Prime is proving to be one hell of an efficient runner.

2017 Toyota Prius Prime PHEV-25

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The first drive around LA on late Tuesday afternoon was to consume all of its pack with an initial 24.6 mi of EV range indicated. It was afternoon rush, it was the infamous 405, and it was uglier than I had experienced in months. From Toyota's former NA HQ, I drove north on the 405 up to the 700' elev. on the Sepulveda Pass, I looped back, drove south past LAX by about 5-miles, looped back on the 405 again heading north and pulled off at the first exit where 0.0 miles of EV range would occur about a mile from LAX on Century Blvd. After shooting all of these pics at a stop light, I would top off the Prius Prime with gasoline for its calibration drive about three miles later to make sure it had no residual in the pack in Charge Sustaining (Hybrid) mode. Unlike the Volt where the pack goes to 0.0 miles and you can travel about another 2 miles before Charge Sustaining mode actually begins, when the Prius Prime reaches 00.0 or --.- miles, the ICE fires up and there is no residual to play with.

2017 Toyota Prius Prime Premium PHEV-25 - Charge Depletion Mode

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I wish it had a full charge when I left Toyota's former NA HQ and I have no idea where the 5.4 mi/kWh and final 5.7 mi/kWh result in Drive Monitor Two comes from? It had to be a cumulative result over x amount of miles but I am not sure how many? The Drive Monitor2 cumulative result would have climbed a lot further over 5.7 mi/kWh from 5.4 mi/kWh if it was only measuring the next 43.4 miles traveled? In any case, the daily climbed to 7.5 mi/kWh with the first .4 miles or whatever being displayed with A/C use. Not mine but whoever moved it from the Charging Station to the Press Vehicle parking lot. The 6 kWh pack with about 5.9 kWh left when I left to travel 43.4 miles comes in at approximately 7.36 mi/kWh. Not bad given the wicked bad traffic.

2017 Toyota Prius Prime PHEV-25


Toyota equipped its PHEV and H2 Press Fleet with HOV Lane Access Stickers. ​

The top off to top off calibration drive comes next and it was a humdinger!

Wayne

 

Hi All:

With the charge consumed, it was time to top off and run a charge sustaining (Hybrid mode) drive to calibrate the aFCD.

2017 Toyota Prius Prime PHEV-25


A top off at LAX Shell on Century and Aviation Blvd.


Topped off, Trip A. aFCD, and Garmin reset, 0.5 miles of EV before first ICE-On event, 405 traffic at 06:15 pm is still ridiculous!


102.4 mpg over 102.5 miles indicated – 104.1 miles actual on 0.994 gal = 104.7 mpg actual.


Many locales in Calif. are still over $3.00 per gallon incl. this Shell in Del Mar at $3.399 per.​

The 2017 Toyota Prius Prime is the first vehicle we have driven to > 100 mpg w/out use of a plug (including its discharged pack as it was drained when we launched) or H2 on my standard and measured I-405/I-5, 104 mile drive route. The only other vehicle that beat this result was a non-published drive in a prototype that I am still under NDA to reveal. To put it lightly, the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime places every other OEM on notice that it is a killer of the fuel station visit whether you are plugging in daily or just driving it as a standard everyday hybrid and never plugging it in. If you check the original post (OP), the pricing is a killer too!

More details tomorrow…

Wayne