2017 Toyota Prius Prime Specs & Features

One of the things we’re looking forward to the most this model year is without a doubt the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime. A couple of years ago, the Prius Plug-in was discontinued from the lineup, but now it’s coming back as the highly-advanced Prius Prime. For the Prius Prime, the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive was completely redesigned to boost acceleration, improve fuel efficiency and provide a farther range than previous iterations.

[ READ MORE: 2017 Toyota Prius Prime Canadian Release Date ]

“At Toyota, we are reimagining and reengineering the automobile industry for the future of transportation – and when it arrives at our Toyota Dealers, the Prius Prime will be the most technologically advanced, most fuel efficient vehicle we have ever offered Canadians. The Prius Prime ups the ante on everything; power train performance, handling, style, safety and more.”

– Cyril Dimitris, Vice President, Toyota Canada Inc.

The new Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive utilizes a dual motor-generator drive system for the first time ever, which is what increases the acceleration. Its gasoline engine is new as well, a 4-cylinder Atkinson cycle that has a thermal efficiency of over 40%. Plus, it’s over 22-percent more efficient than the engine that was in the last Prius Plug-in with a full-electric range of over 35 kilometres.

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Technology Highlights

The 2017 Prius Prime adds plenty more than just better efficiency and an all-electric range, it’s also jam-packed with tons of technology upgrades. Some of the technologies in the Prius Prime include a touch-sensor lock to open the door, an incredible display audio screen, SIRI Eyes Free, Qi wireless charging system, a full-color Head-Up Display, rain-sensing wipers and much more.

If you think you might be interested in the brand-new 2017 Toyota Prius Prime, be sure to send us a message right here on the website for more information, or by giving us a call.

We went back to Instagram to find some of the coolest images with the hashtag #Prius attached. The 2016 Prius is currently available, in the 2017 model is on its way – along with its other models, the Prius c, Prius v and the all-new 2017 Toyota Prius Prime. Check out the top 5 #Prius images we could find on Instagram below!

A photo posted by Rachel Sehr Schön (@sehrrsschon) on Sep 28, 2016 at 7:44pm PDT

A photo posted by SHIMPEIMAN®︎ (@shimpeiman) on Sep 28, 2016 at 3:53am PDT

A photo posted by Rossini Barcelona (@rossiniib) on Sep 28, 2016 at 11:25pm PDT

A photo posted by RIO (@rwld_215) on Sep 29, 2016 at 11:54am PDT

A photo posted by Skelly The Skelleton (@skelly_the_skelleton) on Sep 28, 2016 at 3:48pm PDT

2017 Toyota Prius Canadian Release Date

2016 saw the most audacious redesign the Toyota Prius has ever undergone. With a complete makeover to the outside and a total overhaul on everything inside, the Prius is more stylish than ever, and has redefined what it means to be a hybrid vehicle. No longer do hybrid sedans have to sacrifice power to be efficient. The upcoming Prius Prime will express that even more, but for now we cannot wait until the 2017 Toyota Prius Canadian release date arrives.

[ READ MORE: 2017 Toyota Prius Prime Canadian Release Date ]

“The Toyota Prius has never had such a powerful presence – and its features and performance follow through on its strong first impressions. The 2017 Prius – the fourth generation of the most popular and proven hybrid vehicle on the planet – is more compelling, more comfortable, and more responsive than ever.”

– Cyril Dimitris, Vice President, Toyota Canada Inc.

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2017 Toyota Prius Specs & Features

With so many changes happening for the 2016 model year, not much needed to change in 2017. The only changes in the new model are features becoming standard in all trim levels, which includes both the Toyota Safety Sense P and heated front seats. The 2017 Toyota Prius will be offered in just one model with four different trims. The base level, which features an Upgrade Package, the Prius Touring, the Prius Technology and the Prius Technology with Advanced Package. Each trim level adds more great features and enhancements.

An outstanding blend of efficiency, performance, comfort, safety, convenience, and… well, the list goes on, the 2017 Toyota Prius makes an excellent choice for any type of driver. The most exciting thing about the new model, however, is its 1.8L 4-cylinder engine that delivers 121 horsepower while still achieving 4.5 l/100km combined fuel efficiency. Both more powerful and efficient than previous generations.

If you think you might be interested in the upcoming new 2017 Toyota Prius, be sure to schedule an early test drive here on our website or by giving us a call at the sales desk.

The long-reigning champion of hybrid sales, the Toyota Prius, has been completely redone for 2016.

Pricing: 2016 Toyota Prius

Base price: $25,995

Options: $590 Upgrade package; $255 optional paint colour

Freight: $1,690

A/C tax: $100

Price as tested: $28,630

Exterior

Toyota described the Prius’ new look with the line “Sportier new styling”. You’d be forgiven for thinking this will be a slick-looking little ride especially with colour choices like my review car’s “Hypersonic Red”. It already sounds sporty, doesn’t it?

Well, it’s not quite that sporty. I will acknowledge Toyota’s 5-door liftback does get some edgier styling and comes to the table with some very bold lines and creases. There are nifty touches, such as the standard LED headlights and daytime running lights. But let’s not get caught up in marketing speak – the Prius is still a weird-looking car. It actually doesn’t bother me, but I wouldn’t go so far as calling it sporty or pretty. And the wheel covers in this trim do not look good. But it will catch your eye, and those newfound aerodynamics will, in fact, slice through the wind thanks to that “sportier new styling”.

Interior/Tech/Convenience

Inside the new Prius, you will find a spacious-feeling cabin with improved materials which now include some legitimate soft-touch plastics and less weird textures. The wrap-around dash styling is pretty swoopy and you’ll find a very wide centre “instrument” bin – which is all digital – with a ton of information.

The heated fabric seats are manually adjustable and quite comfortable. A floating centre stack holds the 6.1-inch touchscreen with Toyota’s simple but well laid out user interface. It handles your sound system, phone functions and a wealth of fuel economy data. Higher trims can be had with 7-inch screen that includes navigation. Below the screen is an automatic climate control system and the now-familiar-but-no-less-strange Prius gear selector set-up.

The Prius comes standard with a back-up camera and my review sample had a bit of optional driver assistance technology – adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert, a pre-collision system and auto high beams.

Rear Seats

At 5’10”, I had lots of head room and leg room in the back seat. There are three seats in the back, and the centre position is actually big enough for an adult – it’s not super comfortable, but it works. More than I can say for plenty of other 4-door cars that are this size or even bigger. Rear passengers get a 12V plug at the back of the centre console and if you need to anchor some kids’ seats, there are two sets of LATCH connectors.

Storage

I really liked the drop-in bin at the front of the console. Of course there’s a pair of cupholders and you’ll find USB, 12V and auxiliary plugs in the console too. Under the armrest lid is a carpeted bin. I’m happy to report that the armrest lid is now upholstered in a fabric that isn’t as strange as the former Prius’ neoprene-feeling stuff.

Prius’ trunk has a high load floor but is quite spacious at 697 litres. Those rear seats fold flat (in a 60/40 split) – if you do this, you get a very impressive cargo capacity to work with.

Under the Hood

The front-wheel drive Prius is motivated by a 1.8-litre 4-cylinder gas engine and Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive system, which combine for a net 121 horsepower. As you’d expect, it comes with a continuously-variable transmission (CVT).

Toyota says the Prius will use 4.4 L/100 km in the city and 4.6 L/100 km on the highway, which is an improvement on what was already a stellar performer in terms of fuel economy. I ended up with an average of a nearly unbelievable 4.7 L/100 km over the course of my week with this fuel sipper. It ended up costing me less than $5.00 to fill. And I made no effort to save fuel or drive economically although there are plenty of electronic coaches available to help you with this if you care. In the end, it posted very very impressive fuel economy numbers – and that’s the whole point of this car.

The Drive

Yes, the Prius’ mileage was awesome. But it is the driving experience that surprised me the most. While nobody will accuse the Prius of being a snappy performer, the amount of power is actually perfectly adequate for normal driving. There are plenty of drive modes – Normal, Power – which makes things surprisingly sprightly, Eco – which is the most efficient hybrid mode but was quite drivable in this Prius and EV mode, which will stick to pure electric drive as long as possible.

Toyota did a great job with the ride, which is exceedingly comfortable, and even the handling is nothing to sneeze at. I found the Prius livelier than before in the corners. Am I saying it’s fun to drive? Not really. But I’m saying it handles well and it’s happy to play along when you crank the steering wheel over a bit. And frankly, that’s the case for most vehicles these days.

The Prius’ regenerative brakes, which one expects to be mushy and grabby at the same time as in nearly all hybrids, seem to have been improved and feel a bit more conventional. Noise and vibration are handled very well, and the Prius remained quiet even at highway speeds. Visibility out of the Prius is mostly fine, but your rear view is still irritatingly bisected by the transition between the extreme slope of the hatch glass and the vertical glass part of the rear fascia.

Overall, there is nothing that a Prius driver will be compromising on when it comes to the driving experience, as long as you’re OK with a car that isn’t particularly fast. Of note, and as I touched on when talking about the handling too, that applies to plenty of other vehicles too – not just hybrids, or the Prius specifically.

The Verdict

In the end, I came away from my week in the Prius with respect. Here’s a vehicle that fulfills its mission in sipping fuel and keeps its promise there. And yet, there are few compromises required to achieve that goal. There’s nothing that this car doesn’t do well, so if you’re OK with its styling, there shouldn’t be any reason not to consider a Prius. Because it will do anything you ask of it, and it will do it well.

WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) was middling. She said the car was simple to drive and it was comfortable and spacious, but she simply couldn’t get past the exterior on this one. Oh well, can’t win them all…

Blog provided with permission from Tom Sedens, a local automotive blogger in Edmonton, Alberta, and member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). For more vehicle reviews, visit wildsau.ca.

2017 Toyota Prius v Canadian Release Date

Shortly after announcing the exciting new 2017 Toyota Prius Prime, Toyota revealed that the family-oriented Prius v would be following in the footsteps of its other family members. In 2016, the Prius was completely overhauled, and while no massive changes like that are slated for the Prius v, it will offer better efficiency and a whole host of versatility – which might just be what that v stands for. With 2017 model year vehicles already arriving around the country, we cannot wait for the 2017 Toyota Prius v Canadian release date.

[ READ MORE: What are the most fuel efficient vehicles in Canada? ]

“Like every model in the Prius family, the Prius v is built around the world’s most popular and proven hybrid powertrain – delivering a winning combination of remarkable efficiency and emissions performance, plus driving fun, comfort, reliability and safety. Find out what thousands of Canadian drivers already know: the Toyota Prius v delivers all the benefits of a crossover and more.”

– Cyril Dimitris, Vice President, Toyota Canada Inc.

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2017 Toyota Prius v Specs & Features

The 2017 Prius v is just a small hatchback vehicle, much like the regular Prius, but it’s designed as more of a wagon than a regular hatchback. This design means that it has plenty of space for both people or your stuff. In fact, it offers 40% more cargo capacity than the regular 2016 Toyota Prius, which is pretty spacious in its own right. While the Prius v isn’t going to win any literal races, its space and efficiency make it a great option for growing families.

Speaking of power and efficiency, the hybrid powertrain delivers 136 horsepower while achieving 5.6 l/100km combined fuel efficiency. That is quite impressive! Add to that great options like regenerative braking and driver-selectable powertrain options – of which there are four: Normal, Power, ECO and EV –  and you’ve got an awesome vehicle. If you think the 2017 Toyota Prius v might be the right vehicle for you, be sure to schedule a test drive right here on our website.