As the mac daddy of al hybrids, Toyota Prius is burdened to always be the best in this class. It is getting harder and harder as other manufacturers get better at this game, but the Japanese are not going down without a fight. This is the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime, unveiled at the New York Auto Show, showing everybody how it’s done.
Even the name they have given Toyota Prius Prime hints at the car’s claim of superiority over its peers. It’s a bit cocky to call yourself Prime or best, but then again, this Prius has some bold numbers to back up its vanity. The plug-in hybrid has an estimated rating of 120 or above MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) which means it virtually uses no fuel at all, and it can cover 22 miles on electricity alone.
It’s not just the hybrid goodness that sets Toyota Prius Prime apart from the rival. The manufacturer has also spent a great deal of effort on making the Prime a better car. So it gets a new high-strength platform and double-wishbone independent rear suspension, 11.6-inch, HD central multimedia screen with standard navigation and head-up display, and a range of safety gear including Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection and Automatic Braking; Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist; Full-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control with full stop technology and Automatic High Beams. Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
The one feature of the Prius Prime we like is the Intelligent Parking Assist (IPA) which uses ultrasonic wave sensors to size up a parallel parking space and then squeezes itself into it. Just about the only not-so-good thing about the 2017 Prius is the way it looks, but that’s a matter of personal preference.
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