Auto123 puts the 2024 Toyota Prius to the long-term test. Here is the second of four parts of our test.
See : 2024 Toyota Prius Long-Term Review, Part 1: A Pioneer That Never Says Its Last Word
Last week, we saw that the Toyota Prius can be considered the first hybrid car marketed on planet Earth and that, 24 years later, the Canadian motorist has the choice between five versions, three of which are also plug-in. Now, which one to choose?
One thing is for sure, don’t rely on the looks of one or the other to decide: no matter the model, they are identical, except for one or two badges. The badges, in fact, prove very useful in telling them apart. For example, if you see the letters AWD in the corner of the front doors, you are in the presence of a regular Prius since its two versions (XLE and Limited) have four-wheel drive as standard (we’ll come back to that), while the three variants of the plug-in Prius (SE, XSE and XSE Premium) do not offer this system. These front-wheel drive Priuses are part of the Prime clan, a name that stands out clearly at the base of the tailgate.
Another undeniable common trait: Prime and not Prime are equally pretty!
Total metamorphosis
Last year, Prius celebrated its 5th generation in style by unveiling a silhouette that was as pleasing as it was unexpected. It wouldn’t be nice to write that previous iterations were ugly… but they wouldn’t have won a beauty award either.
Toyota Prius 2006 | Auto123.com
Toyota Prius PHV 2013 | Auto123.com
Toyota Prius 2017 | Auto123.com
Toyota Prius 2019 | Auto123.com
The 2nd and 3rd generations, for example, looked like a suppository, while the 4th was designed by a Star Wars fan too big. With the 5th finally comes harmony and balance. A longer, wider and lower Prius, shod with 17 or 19 inch wheels.
The roofline of the new Prius forms a continuous arc from the hood to the integrated spoiler. It gives the car a fastback look that makes you want to drive it. The hooked headlights, minimalist grille, pointed nose, clean sides, tapered windows, modern wheels and cheeky rump transform the 5-door into a coupe, a styling trick reinforced by the fact that the rear door handles are hidden in the C-pillars. Just like the first time, you look for them.
In short, Toyota’s designers and engineers have freed themselves from the past to offer us a car that is frankly pleasant to look at. They may have been inspired by this story where an ugly duckling was in reality a magnificent swan that was just waiting for its transformation.
La Toyota Prius Limited AWD 2024 | Auto123.com
Notable walks
The 2024 Prius Prime XSE I drove was in “tank blue” (where do they get those names from?). Nice color, but seen before. However, during the time I drove the 2024 Prius Limited AWD in “maximum yellow,” people were not left indifferent.
A couple in their fifties approached me and peppered me with questions regarding trunk capacity and driving. This was the lady who was toying with the idea of buying a Prius. I invited her into the driver’s seat while I opened the hatch wide. They drove away with smiles on their faces.
At a gas station, when it was time to pay inside, the young cashier wouldn’t take his eyes off the Prius. He too had a lot of questions.
In another parking lot, a gentleman rolled down the window of his Honda Accord to congratulate me. After repeating how beautiful he thought it was, he concluded, “That Prius has come a long way!”
In short, this color, located somewhere in the rainbow between mustard yellow and gold, certainly highlights the athletic curves of the new Prius. For my part, who knows why, I had an irresistible desire to eat a hot dog…
The 2024 Toyota Prius Prime XSE | Auto123.com
Original content from auto123.
2024 Toyota Prius Long-Term Review, Part 2: The Swan That Was a Duckling
Auto123 puts the 2024 Toyota Prius to the long-term test. Here is the second of four parts of our test.
See: 2024 Toyota Prius Long-Term Review, Part 1: A Pioneer That Never Says Its Last Word
Last week, we saw that the Toyota Prius can be considered the first hybrid car to be marketed on planet Earth and that, 24 years later, the Canadian motorist has the choice between five versions, three of which are also plug-in. Now: which one to like?
Style Over Substance? Not Quite
One thing is for sure, don’t count on the looks of one or the other to decide: no matter the model, they are identical, except for one or two badges. The latter, in fact, prove very useful in telling them apart. For example, if you see the letters AWD in the corner of the front doors, you are in the presence of a regular Prius since its two versions (XLE and Limited) receive four-wheel drive as standard (we’ll come back to that), while the three variants of the plug-in Prius (SE, XSE and XSE Premium) do not accept this system. These front-wheel drive Priuses are part of the Prime clan, a name that stands out clearly at the base of the tailgate.
Another undeniable common trait: Prime and not Prime are equally pretty!
A Total Metamorphosis
Last year, Prius celebrated its 5th generation in style by unveiling a silhouette that was as pleasing as it was unexpected. It wouldn’t be nice to write that previous iterations were ugly… but they wouldn’t have won a beauty award either.
Toyota Prius 2006 | Auto123.com
Toyota Prius PHV 2013 | Auto123.com
Toyota Prius 2017 | Auto123.com
Toyota Prius 2019 | Auto123.com
The 2nd and 3rd generations, for example, looked like a suppository, while the 4th was designed by a Star Wars fan too big. With the 5th finally comes harmony and balance. A longer, wider and lower Prius, shod with 17 or 19 inch wheels.
The roofline of the new Prius forms a continuous arc from the hood to the integrated spoiler. It gives the car a fastback look that makes you want to drive it. The hooked headlights, minimalist grille, pointed nose, clean sides, tapered windows, modern wheels and cheeky rump transform the 5-door into a coupe, a styling trick reinforced by the fact that the rear door handles are hidden in the C-pillars. Just like the first time, you look for them.
In short, Toyota’s designers and engineers have freed themselves from the past to offer us a car that is frankly pleasant to look at. They may have been inspired by this story where an ugly duckling was in reality a magnificent swan that was just waiting for its transformation.
La Toyota Prius Limited AWD 2024 | Auto123.com
Making a Statement
The 2024 Prius Prime XSE I drove was in “tank blue” (where do they get those names from?). Nice color, but seen before. However, during the time I drove the 2024 Prius Limited AWD in “maximum yellow,” people were not left indifferent.
A couple in their fifties approached me and peppered me with questions regarding trunk capacity and driving. This was the lady who was toying with the idea of buying a Prius. I invited her into the driver’s seat while I opened the hatch wide. They drove away with smiles on their faces.
At a gas station, when it was time to pay inside, the young cashier wouldn’t take his eyes off the Prius. He too had a lot of questions.
In another parking lot, a gentleman rolled down the window of his Honda Accord to congratulate me. After repeating how beautiful he thought it was, he concluded, “That Prius has come a long way!”
In short, this color, located somewhere in the rainbow between mustard yellow and gold, certainly highlights the athletic curves of the new Prius. For my part, who knows why, I had an irresistible desire to eat a hot dog…
The 2024 Toyota Prius Prime XSE | Auto123.com
Original content from auto123.
