More on The All-new, 5th Gen 2023 Toyota Prius Prime

Hi All:

And a few highlights mentioned or not in the Std. 2023 Prius Preview and Review, how about the power Liftgate on the XSE Premium?

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The tray underneath the rear cargo floor with the Fix-A-Flat and 120V Charging Cord.

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And look at this. That is the smallest 12V I have ever seen in an automobile! It was moved to the rear from the front like the 2017 - 2022s.

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The following comes from the 2017 - 2022 4th gen Toyota Prius Prime. I never understood why the 4th Gen Prime comes with a jack when it is equipped with fix-a-flat and compressor, but I have used it on my now sold 2020. The 2023 Does not include it or the compartment underneath and to the side of the driver’s side rear seat.

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Wayne

 

Hi All:

And some more hero shots of the all-new Prime I snapped this morning... Which do you like best?

2023 Toyota Prius Prime





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Wayne

 

Hi All:

A lot of questions about cargo volume so let us consider the 2023 5th Gen Prius Prime cargo dimensions with seats up and seats down vs the 2022 4th Gen Prius Prime.

2023 Toyota Prius Prime


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Seats Up

36.5" Depth
36.5" Width
22" Center Height
21" Edge Height

Seats Down

62" Depth

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2017 - 2022 Toyota Prius Prime



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Seats Up

34" Depth
37" Width
20.5" Center Height
19.5" Edge Height

Seats Down

64" Depth

So side by side, the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime improves the real world cargo carrying ability with a larger opening and deeper with the rear seats up but slightly less width and less depth with the rear seats down.

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2023 Prius Prime vs 2022 Prius Prime

Seats Up

Depth - 36.5"/34"
Width - 36.5"/37"
Height (center) - 22"/20.5"
Height (edges) - 21"/19.5"

Seats Down

Depth - 62"/64"

Wayne

 

Hi All:

2023 Prius Prime Trim Pricing (MSRP) vs 2017 - 2022 Prius Prime

SE - $32,350, up $2,585 from the 22 LEs $29,765
XSE - $35,600, up $4,055 from the 22 XLEs $31,545
XSE Premium - $39,170, up $3,625 from the 22 Limited's $35,545

D&H: $1,095, up $100 over the 22's $995 D&H fee

The loss of the $4,502 Fed tax credit <-- Toyota’s Fed tax credit sunset began in Sept. of last year anyway, some states removing the PHEV rebates, dealers not providing any discounts, and the rather steep bump in the retail price is going to be a tough sell for some going forward. Remember the new 2021 Prius Prime purchase for $15,700 + TTL and Reg? Yeah, that is long gone.

2023 Toyota Prius Prime vs 2017 - 2022 Prius Prime

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Engine and Drivetrain

• 2.0L I4 vs 1.8L I4
• 220 net hp vs 121 net hp
• 0 to 60 mph - 6.6 sec vs 10.2 sec
• Compression Ratio is 14:1 vs 13:1
• 150 hp @ 6,000 rpm and 139 lb.-ft. torque vs 95 hp @ 5,200 rpm and 105 lb-ft of torque
• 53/51/52 (SE) and 50/47/48 (XSE, XSE Premium) vs 55/53/54 (mpgUS city/highway/combined)
• Driving Range (Gas/EV combined) - 600 miles (SE)/550 miles (XSE, XSE Premium) vs 640 miles
• EV Driving Range - 44-miles (SE)/39-miles (XSE & XSE Premium) vs 25-miles
• Onboard Charger - 3.5 kW vs 3.3 KW
• Charging Time - 4 hrs. (240V)/11 hrs. (120V) vs 2.2 hrs. (240V)/5.5 hours (120V)
• Max Voltage - DC650V vs DC600V
• MG2 Output - 161 HP vs 71 HP
• Li-Ion pack weight and capacity - 284 lbs and 13.6 kWh (11.5 kWh useable) vs 265 lbs and 8.8 kWh (6 kWh useable)

Where did all of that power increase come from? Like the 23 Prius, the Prius Prime's MGs include redesigned magnets, and the pole numbers were increased by 2. The stator windings were moved much closer to the rotor reducing magnetic field flux "leakage" and tighter wound windings reduced resistance losses. The MGs, inverter/transverter, and eCVT have been shrunk in size reducing both total mass and electrical losses across the system. With the larger capacity and more powerful Li-Ion pack, voltage was increased by 50V through the transverter to 650V. The more powerful Li-Ion and MG1 allowed Toyota to remove the 2017 – 2022 Prius Primes one way clutch that separated the Engine from MG1 at higher speeds.

On the mechanical side, along with adding a dual port fuel and direct injection system like the D4-S system used on all of Toyota’s 2.5L Hybrid drivetrains, the compression ratio was bumped up by 1 from 13 to 14:1. I am only touching the surface as there is a lot more detail missing here.

And a few on-the-road activities while at the 23 Prius Prime Short Lead.

The 2023 Prius Prime provides much more regen than the 2017 - 2022's. Not anywhere near one pedal driving but much closer to that then not. I was unable to adjust this higher level of regen out from the Mode Settings screens I was looking through. I am not a fan, but it appears the general public wants more and Toyota provided it.

I was unable to get an answer with regards to the Japan Spec “MySpace” solution where HVAC can be used indefinitely when plugged in. We will have to wait on this as well.

2023 Toyota Prius Prime First Drive Results


On gasoline hybrid engine: 60-mph NB and SB highway aFCDs – 56 mpg
City Drive Loop – 82.7 mpg


On EV drivetrain only: 20-mile city drive loop aFCD – 6.4 miles/kWh
20-mile, 60-mph highway drive loop aFCD – 4.6 miles/kWh​

All of the above are non-calibrated aFCD results. I was able to calibrate the Prime XSE's speedometer to actual. Dead on at 60 mph. 60 mph indicated is 60 mph from several GPS programs I use.

All in, that new and more powerful 2.0L and redesigned electronics from the larger and more powerful pack, more powerful MGs, and more compact but higher handling busses, provides the much higher performance with very little struggle like the 4th Gen Prius and Prius Prime. But just like the 23 Prius, those 19’s on the SE and SE Premium really took the efficiency to the woodshed. The first drive results are off by 10 to 20% from my own 2021 Prius Prime. I cannot wait to try out the SE's 17s for a more even comparison to my own.

On a similar note, the only place to pick up the P195/60R17 tires (SE) and P195/50R19 tires (XSE, XSE Premium) is your local Toyota dealership and they cost $242 and $246 respectively. The 15" P195/65R15 Dunlop Enasave 01 A/S' on the 2017 - 2022 Prius and Prius Prime are just $120 a piece by comparison. US Toyota dealerships are offering Buy 3, get the 4th for a $1 if you mount and balance your tires at their stores so that will help lower the total cost to replace by $240 +.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

A Toyota produced 2023 Toyota Prius Prime specs and walkaround vid.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

The 2023 Toyota Prius Prime overview.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

And finally, a few of my paraphrased notes from comments made by the Toyota PR, Comms, and Engineering teams at the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime short lead.

In terms of battery raw materials, Toyota can build 90 HEVs vs 7 PHEVs and just 1 BEV from the same materials. That statement was eye opening as it points to Toyota's direction despite which way the wind blows on any given day.

SE/XSE and XSE Premium - 44/39-miles EV and 52/48 mpg combined.

Gen 4 to Gen 5 - 600 to 650V with 150 HP I4 ICE, 161 HP motors, and 220 HP combined.

You will see this advert soon enough and it is pretty darn cool. Here are the tag lines to it.

Toyota expects to sell 10k Prius Primes in 2023 - starting in May, and 15k units in 2024.

2023 Toyota Prius Prime LED Headlamp detail

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2023 Toyota Prius Prime Q&A

• Why just a 3.5 KW onboard charger? Excuses.
• Solar Panel power? 185 W - could add upwards of 775 miles/year or ~ 2-miles per day.
• When will the Prime be available? May of this year.
• Is there a 1-pedal driving mode? Not entirely.
• % of Prius sales that may be Prime? 30%.
• Days to emissions crossover between Prius and Prius Prime with std. national grid and miles driven per year? Unknown.
• Why no AWD with Prius Prime? Larger battery packaging.
• Why was DI and MPFI incorporated? Power.

2023 Toyota Prius Prime First Drive personal impressions and additional Q&A...

• The driver display sightline over the wheel sucks
• Less body roll but the 23 still provides a comfortable ride
• More reverb buffeting with front drivers and rear quarter panel dropped a small amount
• 23 Prime is as quiet as the 4th gen. 23 Prius is noisier than the 4th gen Prius
• Regen is definitely stronger. It is similar to One-pedal but will not slow all the way to a stop. I cannot find a way to adjust it. And I want a lot less!
• EV and HEV stats. The new XSE with 19s is not as efficient as my LE w/ 15's by 10 to 20% - Posted in this thread previously
• Started first all-EV drive at 0.6 miles and 92% SOC. Completed first drive with both city and highway results after 52 miles at 0% SOC
• Charging Cable locks to the car while charging. Unlock car to release. Posted previously
• Cargo Volume measurements and comparison to 2022. Posted previously
• 13.4 kWh total, 11.5 kWh useable
• 650V from 600V in the 2017 - 2022
• No ICE to MG1 clutch in the 2023. The higher power output Li-Ion and MG1 takes care of the problem

Wayne

 

Hi All:

From the 23 Toyota Prius Prime presentation deck.

This

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leads to this:

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Wayne

 

Hi All:

Another possible reason along with the larger wheel openings, higher ground clearance, and not-straight sculpted sides from the plan view, for the higher Cd is the underbody. There is a lot of open area under there but I suspect the rear underbody panels were pulled for this Media shot.

2023 Toyota Prius Prime underbody

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Wayne

 

Hi All:

What the SE trims 17" alloys and wheel covers look like up close. They are more gray than black like the Prius LE.

2023 Toyota Prius Prime 17" alloy and wheel cover



2023 Toyota Prius 17" alloy and wheel cover
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Wayne