Auto123 is testing the 2024 Toyota Prius for the long term, and here's the second of four parts of our test.
be seen : 2024 Toyota Prius Long-Term Review Part 1: A Pioneer That Never Says Its Last Word
Last week we saw that the Toyota Prius could be considered the first hybrid car to be marketed on the planet, and 24 years later, Canadian drivers have a choice of five versions, three of which are plug-in. Now: Which one do you like?
One thing is for sure, don’t rely on the appearance of one or the other to decide: regardless of the model, they are identical, save for one or two badges. The latter, in fact, has proven to be very useful in distinguishing them. For example, if you see the letters AWD in the corner of the front doors, you’re looking at a regular Prius since its two versions (XLE and Limited) come with all-wheel drive as standard (we’ll get to that), while the three versions of the Prius plug-in (SE, XSE, and XSE Premium) do not accept it. The front-wheel-drive Priuses are part of the Prime family, a name that stands out clearly at the base of the tailgate.
Another undeniable common trait: prime and non-prime are equally beautiful!
Total transformation
Last year, the Prius celebrated its fifth generation with pride by unveiling a silhouette that was as fun as it was unexpected. It wouldn’t be nice to write that previous iterations were ugly… but they couldn’t possibly win a beauty award either.
For example, the second and third generations looked like a suppository, while the fourth generation was drawn by a big Star Wars fan. With the fifth, harmony and balance finally arrive. The Prius is longer, wider and lower, and comes with 17- or 19-inch wheels.
The new Prius’ roofline forms a continuous arc from the hood to the integrated spoiler. It gives the car a sense of speed that makes you want to drive it. The swept-back headlights, simple grille, pointed nose, sculpted sides, tapered windows, modern edges, and a curvy rear end turn the five-door into a coupe, a stylistic trick enhanced by the fact that the rear door handles are hidden. In the C-pillars, as the first time, we look for them.
In short, Toyota's designers and engineers have freed themselves from the past to give us a car that's truly fun to look at. Perhaps they were inspired by that story where the ugly duckling was actually a beautiful swan waiting to be transformed.
Notable aspects
The 2024 Prius Prime is a nice color, but it’s deja vu. On the other hand, during the time I drove the 2024 Prius Limited AWD in “Maximum Yellow,” people didn’t freeze.
A couple in their 50s approached me and peppered me with questions about trunk space and handling. This was the lady who had been considering buying a Prius. I invited her into the driver’s seat while I opened the tailgate wide. They left with smiles on their faces.
At the gas station, when paying inside, the young cashier did not take his eyes off the Prius. He also had a lot of questions.
In another parking lot, a man rolled down the window of his Honda Accord to congratulate me. After repeating how beautiful it was, he concluded by saying, “This Prius has come a long way!”
In short, this color, which lies somewhere in the rainbow between mustard yellow and gold, certainly highlights the sporty shape of the new Prius. As for me, and who knows why, I had an irresistible desire to eat hot dogs…
Original content from auto123.
