Though few people would look at a Prius and see it as a high-performance vehicle, the truth is that they are every bit as rigorously engineered as a Porsche or BMW. Toyota's designers maintain a ruthless pursuit of fuel economy, improving whenever and wherever they can.
For 2019, several variations of the Prius are available, intended to appeal to the variety of hybrid car buyers who have different requirements. The Prius, the standard on which all the others are based, is a 4-door compact hatch that comes in L Eco, LE, XLE, and Limited trims. Prius LE and XLE trims can be optioned with the new AWD-e, an automatic, on-demand all-wheel-drive system that utilizes a rear-mounted electric motor to power the rear wheels as necessary. The subcompact Prius c is a bit smaller than the standard Prius but still offers 4-door access for five occupants and a cargo space of 17 cubic feet. Meanwhile, the plug-in hybrid Prius Prime is a four-door with 2+2 seating.
All three standard Prius models are powered by a 1.8L 4-cylinder engine connected to Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive electric motor. The only transmission choice remains a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Prime pairs the fuel-sipping 1.8-liter engine and CVT with an 8.8 kWh battery pack. The car can run on battery power alone for up to 22 miles, perfect for the daily commute, while total range in hybrid mode is about 600 miles.
The interior of the Prius is big and airy, offering an open feel and a good view of the road ahead, with improved headroom over previous generations. Two 4.2-inch multi-information displays are housed within the instrument panel. Basic information such as speed and fuel level are displayed on the right. The left display, on the other hand, is programmable, allowing the driver to choose what information he or she wants to see at any time. A head-up display projects onto the windshield and serves to further keep the driver in the know without ever having to look away from the road. The Prime benefits from an 11.6-inch touchscreen display that is centrally mounted vertically, similar to that found in the Tesla, and it is controlled through simple tap/swipe gestures, much like a tablet.
Basic features on the Prius include 15-inch alloy wheels, low rolling resistance tires and four-wheel disc brakes. Higher trim levels include a navigation system, 17-inch alloys, and synthetic leather seating surfaces. A suite of safety options includes a pedestrian detection system and a pre-collision warning system, as well as a radar-controlled dynamic cruise control system.
Options include a premium JBL sound system and a full parking assistance system, which will make parallel parking much easier with the help of ultrasonic sensors. Electric all-wheel-drive, or AWD-e, is optional on LE and XLE trims.
Fuel Economy
Excellent Interior Room
Sharp Styling
Quiet Interior
Reasonable Price
Plug-in Option
Available Electric All-wheel Drive
The big Prius news for 2019 is that Toyota has added optional all-wheel drive to the hybrid's spec sheet. The automatic, on-demand AWD-e system has no center differential and does not need a rear driveshaft; the system instead uses an electric magnet-less rear motor capable of powering the rear wheels up to 43 mph. Toyota says the Prius AWD-e will still return 52 mpg in the city and 48 mpg on the highway. Additionally, all Prius models receive mild exterior styling changes, and trim names have changed, from the previous numerical designations, to L Eco, LE, XLE and Limited. Only the LE and XLE trims will offer the AWD-e option.
One of the most remarkable things about the Prius is how little it asks from the owner in exchange for its legendary fuel efficiency. Special fuel isn't needed, and there's no need to plug the standard Prius into the wall at night. Further, drivers are not consigned to a tiny interior and miniature storage space, and finally, premium mileage numbers don't have to cost an arm and a leg.
The Prius drives, handles and behaves just like any other mid-sized car. It just happens to get the kind of fuel economy that can impress almost anyone. Starting at around $24,000, the Prius is competitive with other cars in its price bracket, offering ample interior space, a quiet comfortable ride, plenty of interior gadgets and world-famous mileage figures. With the Prius Prime plug-in's range of up to 600 miles, there's nowhere that can't be gotten to in a Prius.
