First of all, the Prius Prime has proven to achieve impressive mileage figures very easily. This new plug-in model of Prius has been projected to cover up to 25 miles using battery energy only. This exceeds two times the electric power range of the previous Prius plug-in. In addition, the Prime will remain in electric power mode at 84 mph. These are the numbers Toyota has released.
Toyota also revealed that Prius Prime will have the highest miles-per gallon rating at 133 MPGe. This rating is given by the government in an effort to help customers to know the amount of energy consumed by an electric or hybrid car. Chevrolet Volt hybrid has been given a rating of 106 MPGe, BMW i3 electric car at 111 MPGe, while Tesla’s Model S has a rating of 99 MPGe. Whichever way you view it, the fact is that the owners of Prius Prime will visit gas stations less often. Regardless of whether you choose to plug in the car at night or not to plug in, Prius Prime’s highway range is at 53 mpg, while its city driving rate is at 55 mpg. The overall range while driving in the hybrid mode is 54 mpg.
It is quite clear that the numbers are by far exemplary, which makes Prius Prime a great alternative to other models such as Tesla’s fully electric car for people intending to be ecological. Another advantage is that the Prius Prime is cheaper with respect to its purchase price and the cost of gas. Estimates provided by Toyota show that this new plug-in car will cover 640 miles in between fill ups. This is quite impressive for a vehicle that has a gas tank with a capacity of only 11.3 gallons.
For now, the major competitor of Prius Prime will not be Tesla, but rather the Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in hybrid vehicle as well. At a starting cost of $27,100, the Prime’s price is significantly lower that Chevrolet’s $33,320. However, the Volt clearly outshines the Prime with its electric-only range of 53. The extra high-tech touches that Prius Prime has are worth noting. These include an 11-inch centrally placed screen, with a vertical orientation resembling a tablet computer. This screen is the same as that present in a Tesla. In a nutshell the Prius Prime is a car worth purchasing if you consider its reliable nameplate, impressive gas mileage and not forgetting its respectable starting price.