2019 Toyota Prius Prime Review

Name: 2019 Toyota Prius Prime Review
Brand: Toyota

Price Range: $16,998 - $26,998

Toyota Prius Prime Advanced 4dr Hatchback Exterior

+180

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$23,830 avg. price

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Edmunds' Expert Review

by Mark Takahashi^{Correspondent
Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the Edmunds YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.}

Pros

Outstanding fuel economy, with 25 miles of electric range
Comfortable front seats
Priced lower than most other plug-ins

Cons

Slow acceleration and noisy engine
Small cargo area
Infotainment system's poor layout and smartphone integration

What's new

The Prius Prime returns unchanged for 2019
Part of the fourth Prius generation introduced for 2016

Plug-in hybrids have all of the advantages of standard hybrids as well as some EV perks. They're an especially great alternative for those with commute distances that fall within the EV range.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Seattle, WA

6 listings

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New Listing
2019 Toyota Prius Prime
Premium 4dr Hatchback
$16,998
great price
$2,146 below market
- 113,101 miles
- 2 accidents, 2 owners, personal use
- 4cyl automatic
- CarMax Centennial (864 mi away)
- Delivery available*
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Upgraded Headlights
Close
Located in Las Vegas, NV
CarMax values transparency and wants you to love your next car, not settle on it. Certain vehicles may have unrepaired safety recalls. Check nhtsa.gov...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
54 Combined MPG (55 City/53 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JTDKARFP7K3117834
Stock: 27262237
Certified Pre-Owned: No
New Listing
2019 Toyota Prius Prime
Plus 4dr Hatchback
$26,398
fair price
$1,068 above market
- 9,009 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use
- 4cyl automatic
- Enterprise Car Sales Colorado Springs (1,064 mi away)
- Home delivery*
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Upgraded Headlights
Close
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Transfer of vehicle from another location to your neighborhood Enterprise Car Sales may require payment of a non-refundable transfer fee to begin the ...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
54 Combined MPG (55 City/53 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JTDKARFP0K3115648
Stock: 8GLS3D
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 04-04-2025

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In the case of the 2019 Toyota Prius Prime, that range is 25 miles. If you're fortunate enough to have a short commute and you buy a Prius Prime, it's possible that stopping to get gasoline could be a rare occasion. Once that range is depleted, you'll still have the hybrid powertrain to keep you going, and the Prime's 54-mpg combined fuel economy estimate is impressive by itself.

There is a trade-off, though. Compared to the standard Prius, the supplemental batteries reduce seating capacity to four, the added weight further dulls overall performance and there's less cargo space. On the plus side, we like the Prime's styling better than that of the regular Prius and compared to other plug-ins, it's a bit more affordable.

The 2019 Toyota Prius Prime is a solid plug-in hybrid choice, but there are some rivals we consider better. Most notably is the Chevrolet Volt that has double the EV range, but you'll have to act fast if you want one since Chevy just discontinued it. All that's left is dealer stock. We also suggest checking out the Honda Clarity Plug-In that delivers a lot for the money.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

7.0 / 10

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime (1.8L inline-4 hybrid | CVT automatic | FWD).

Scorecard

Overall	7.0 / 10
Driving	6.0
Comfort	8.0
Interior	7.0
Utility	6.5
Technology	7.0

Driving

6.0

The Toyota Prius Prime places a high priority on efficiency over dynamic capabilities. You'll find the car competent in the city and adequate once you're up to speed and cruising. The steering and brakes are particularly numb.

Acceleration

5.5

The electric powertrain has sufficient punch for city driving, but don't think you can rely on it with confidence when merging onto the freeway or pulling out to pass. You'll be using a lot of the engine's power for any real acceleration. Our 0-60 mph test run took 10 seconds, which is pretty slow.

Braking

6.0

There's a decent amount of braking power for routine use. But stops can be hard to judge because there's not much feel and the brakes can get grabby, especially in harder applications. Our emergency-panic stop from 60 mph used up 119 feet, and the car tended to wiggle a bit as it came to a halt.

Steering

6.0

While the vehicle goes where you point it, the steering feels light and numb when cruising straight on the highway, and effort doesn't change much as you round corners. It improves somewhat if you decide to push it on a winding road. But in routine use, the Prime doesn't feel all that connected.

Handling

6.0

The Prime's enlarged plug-in battery represents extra weight that sits somewhat high behind the rear wheels, which throws off the balance markedly compared to a regular Prius. It feels heavy, and the soft springs and sluggish damping feel inadequate, most notably when corners come one after another.

Drivability

7.0

The theme is efficiency, so unless you're using big gas pedal inputs, the Prime responds sluggishly. Driving up big hills highlights the lack of power and the vocal gas engine, but downhills are an opportunity to recharge the battery. The Prime loves the city, and it responds well to stop-and-go.

Comfort

8.0

The Prius Prime feels largely similar to a regular Prius in terms of ride, engine noise and road noise, but that's only when the engine is actually on. The Prime's 25-mile electric range changes the game by adding the quietness of a pure EV driving experience for a significant chunk of time.

Seat comfort

8.0

The seats are ergonomically well-designed. They're not couch-soft but have that initial give that lets them conform to your body. The seat bottom is short, but we had no issues on a long drive. The rear seats are similar to the fronts but with broader seatbacks. They're also properly comfortable.

Ride comfort

7.0

The Prime's ride is generally flat, and it does not float or wallow. Its suspension handles small, rolling-type bumps quite well, but the suspension and tires tend to transmit harsh square-edge bumps directly into the cabin, especially if they come one after another.

Noise & vibration

8.0

Obviously, it's quiet in EV mode. But the gas engine is annoyingly noisy when you've got the pedal pinned. There's some wind and road noise, both of which become noticeable mainly when the engine is off at near-highway speeds in EV mode.

Climate control

7.5

The Prius has an effective automatic climate control system, but on the Premium and the Advanced only the temperature and defroster have physical buttons. Everything else is on the touchscreen. The Plus uses an easier system. The unique Eco mode has the ability to focus cooling solely on the driver.

Interior

7.0

The massive central touchscreen of the top-level Advanced (and the midlevel Premium) adds some Tesla-like high-tech flair, but it makes certain routine tasks less intuitive. Otherwise, the Prius Prime is not so different from any other Prius. The one big exception: A Prius Prime seats only four people.

Ease of use

6.0

We've never liked the Prius' central dash, and the Prime Advanced (and Premium) also has a huge touchscreen with layered menus for many functions. Volume is on the passenger side, and a passenger must reach to the driver's side to adjust the temperature. All of this is far easier on the base Plus model.

Getting in/getting out

8.0

Easy for people to slip in and out thanks to large door openings and narrow sills. Rear-seat denizens benefit from seatbacks that are nearly flush with the body structure — no need to scoot forward to exit. But taller rear occupants may have to duck on the way in because the roof slopes down.

Driving position

7.0

The seats are nicely adjustable for routine use, but they lack the bolstering necessary to hold the driver in place for sporty driving. But we're more concerned about the insufficient steering-wheel telescoping range. The wheel doesn't pull back far enough for taller drivers.

Roominess

8.0

There's ample room for 6-footers to occupy the front and rear rows at the same time, although wider passengers may feel as if they're sitting close to the doors. The rear seats have generous toe space. But the overall feeling of roominess is lessened a bit by the bulbous dash and bulky center console.

Visibility

6.5

The low cowl and sloping hood provide a generous view, but it is hard to locate the corners when parking nose-in. The split rear window can be distracting, and cargo can easily obstruct the view. The thick roof pillars create big rear blind spots. You will rely on the camera system and parking sensors.

Quality

8.0

The Prime uses a mix of metal and composites to minimize weight, but the results don't feel cheap or poorly made. It features tight panel gaps, and all the interior pieces feel connected and solid. But certain glossy plastic accent pieces may not agree with everyone.

Utility

6.5

Unfortunately, the Prime's biggest weakness lies in its cargo capacity. The larger battery pack required for running the EV lives under the raised cargo floor, so you give up cargo volume. This design means increased liftover height and reach, too. Other than that, the car is easier to live with.

Small-item storage

8.0

There's ample space for your odds and ends. The standard smartphone charging tray is large and functional, and it's handy even if you don't use it for charging. It has a deep center console that can swallow an SLR camera with a lens and door pockets that can hold medium-size water bottles.

Cargo space

5.0

The large battery pack takes a big bite out of cargo capacity because it raises the floor considerably. Something as routine as a grocery bag will be too tall to fit under the security cover and will obstruct visibility through the rear window.

Child safety seat accommodation

7.0

The lower LATCH points are easily accessed underneath a flap of seat fabric, while the top tethers are a little harder to get to. The large rear door openings are convenient, but the low roofline toward the rear of the door may make accessing rear-facing seats harder.

Technology

7.0

The large center screen may draw most of your attention, but you'll find it's not efficient at displaying pertinent information. Many of the icons and subpages are excessively large, and some of the data is repeated in the instrument panel. Too much data is split between the dash and center screen.

Audio & navigation

6.5

The audio interface is fairly easy to use, and the JBL sound system is adequate. The touch-panel volume adjuster is atrocious; use the steering controls instead. The navigation system is excessively restrictive about what you can do while in motion, and its fonts and graphic design are old.

Smartphone integration

7.0

It has Bluetooth streaming audio, a cover art display, and a USB jack for iPhones and Android devices. But Toyota does not support the newer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto interfaces, preferring instead to use its own proprietary Entune system, which isn't nearly as intuitive.

Driver aids

7.5

The Prime has effective blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning and rear cross-traffic alert systems. It's also equipped with adaptive cruise control, but it turns off automatically as the car slows down past 23 mph with just two subtle beeps. Use it only for highway cruising.

Voice control

7.5

The Prime's voice control system is slow, but ultimately it's easy to use if you take the time to let it learn your voice. Once you know what words and phrases to use for each function, it can be very accurate for navigation, entertainment and even climate settings.

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Compare 2019 Toyota Prius Prime trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

2019 Toyota Prius Prime models

The 2019 Toyota Prius Prime is available in three trim levels: Plus, Premium and Advanced. All share the same hybrid powertrain and perform identically, so the differences among them boil down to features. The Plus is obviously the value play of the range, but it has a decent list of standard equipment. The Premium, meanwhile, brings a few key comfort-oriented items. The Advanced trim level adds a lot of features that will surely appeal to tech-savvy buyers, though they come at a big increase in price.

All Prius Primes have a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine paired to a plug-in hybrid system. Total system output is 121 horsepower, delivered to the front wheels through a specialized continuously variable automatic transmission. The EPA estimates the Prime can drive up to 25 miles using pure electric power. Fully charging the battery takes 5.5 hours using a 120-volt power source or a little more than two hours with 240 volts.

The Plus trim level starts you out with 15-inch wheels, LED headlights, automatic climate control, keyless access (driver's door only) and start, heated front seats, a 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, a USB port, and a six-speaker sound system with satellite radio. A suite of driver safety aids, called Toyota Safety Sense P, is also standard and includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams.

Stepping up one rung to the Premium trim level puts you into the Prius Prime's sweet spot. It includes a power driver's seat, an 11.6-inch central touchscreen and upgraded infotainment system, simulated leather (SofTex) upholstery, keyless entry on the other three doors, and wireless smartphone charging.

The Advanced trim level adds on a premium audio system, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a heated steering wheel, an auto-dimming mirror, a head-up display, a smartphone app with a charge management system and remote-control climate operation, automatic wipers, and a semi-automated parking function.

2025 Prius Plug-in Hybrid

Compare

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Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2019 Toyota Prius Prime Plus 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.31 per gallon for regular unleaded and $0.12 per kWh for electricity in Washington.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Washington

$61/mo

$204/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

Calculate my fuel costs

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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

5/5Excellent

#1 out of 28 among Midsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Toyota Prius Prime from 2008-2022.}

$356/yr

vs. $415/yr
for Average Midsize Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.28x/yr

vs. 0.87x/yr
for Average Midsize Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

4.4%

vs. 10.2%
for Average Midsize Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Toyota Prius Prime Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.4

37 reviews

5(62%)

4(24%)

3(5%)

2(6%)

1(3%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

One month in and I'm very happy

Mike C, 11/23/2018

2018 Toyota Prius Prime Plus 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

I bought a Prius Prime about a month ago and have been using it to do my 20-mile (each way) commute since then. I charge it overnight using a regular 120v plug next to my driveway. I wanted a no-nonsense commuting car that would be reliable. I leased two other Toyota hybrids before this: a Camry and a Rav4. It came down to the Prime vs. the Chevy Volt. I liked the much longer EV …

Updated - Love the car! Sold it!

Ash, 03/27/2019

2019 Toyota Prius Prime Advanced 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Sold my Prime Advanced for a RAV4 Prime XSE. The parting gift from the prime was its exceptional resale value. The prime had been good to me for 3 years, 48K miles, zero trouble, wonderful fuel economy. What else you can ask for in a Hatchback. Decided to get the Prius prime after 3 years with a 2012 Leaf (Horrible), 2015 Ford CMax (Roomy car with decent Mileage, too bad ford did not …

Prius prime delivers what I wanted most

Mike Smith, 08/30/2018

2018 Toyota Prius Prime Advanced 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

I purchased the PRIUS Prime to add a high MPG auto for the daily commute. So far, I have surpassed the rated MPG and the number of miles in electric mode. My average MPG so far while in hybrid mode is 57 and I have averaged 35 miles in electric mode. It achieves and exceeds exactly what I wanted in fuel economy. Where the PRIUS lacks a bit: it only really has a single zone climate …

Amazing Car, Especially with Tax Credit

Skip Horvath, 05/01/2019

2019 Toyota Prius Prime Advanced 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Let's start with the worst features: Acceleration is what you'd expect from an EV hybrid, but I've found it adequate to do any merging or passing on both city roads and highways. The Toyota entertainment system is a nightmare, crashing and rebooting as if it were a Windows computer circa 2000, and the car does not support Apple CarPlay unlike other Toyota models. However, the … end-around is to use your iPhone or Android apps and bluetooth for a perfectly fine interface. The third disaster feature is navigation which is just like all the other terrible navigation systems ever built into every other car. Just ignore it and use Waze or Google Maps or a Garmin. The screen is nice and big, so I find I can stick my suction-cup Garmin to it for perfect viewing rather than on the windshield. Now the good stuff: I've had my car a month, have yet to gas up, and the gas level is just slightly below "full." That's because most of my driving is under 25 miles round trip and I plug in each trip. So far I'm averaging 100 mpg. The car handles like my old Prius V or any other Prius for that matter. Cargo space is slightly reduced but I find it adequate. As of April 2019 Toyota still has plenty of $4,500 tax credits to give away, unlike many other car manufacturers who have been making EVs or EV hybrids for a while, so that allowed me to get the Advanced model for the price of the basic model (though I won't see that $4,500 until April 2020). Of the Advanced features, I like lane following, lane cross warning, blind-spot warning, near-hazard warning, and watch-out-for-that-car-you-can't-see-zooming-behind-you-as-you-are-backing-up warning. I don't use the auto parking system as I can park the car faster myself. The nicest little touch is the wireless recharger for your cell phone. I just plop my phone in the phone-shaped area and not worry about the battery level. In short, I couldn't be happier with this car unless it had a workable entertainment system that I didn't have to work around. I'm updating the review now that I've had the car half a year. All my driving locally is within 30 miles round-trip and I literally don't gas up until I have to go on a road trip. There was a 2-month period where I stayed local, put no gas in the car and the fuel level didn't do down at all. When I do hit the highway, road noise is acceptable, as is handling, but you won't mistake this Prius for a Lexus. The blind-spot warning feature is really useful on the road for those drivers that like to park in your blind spot while cruising along. I generally fill up the car when I'm at about 1/8 tank, and it costs an average of $25 to do so. For that I get about 4-1/2 hours of driving (a little over 300 miles). The tolls I have to pay on the PA, OH, and IN turnpikes cost me more than the gas. I average around 60 miles/gallon overall, which is also not like a Lexus, but in a good way. This car isn't going to turn any heads, but it exemplifies the advantage of plug-in hybrids. If your local driving is truly local (< 30 miles round trip per day) but you occasionally go on the road, an all-electric vehicle doesn't cut it unless you don't mind waiting 20 minutes for a partial charge-up. An all-gasoline vehicle also doesn't cut it because of poor mileage and spewing carbon into the air. Plug-in hybrids rule, or will once people figure it out.

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2019 Toyota Prius Prime, so we've included reviews for other years of the Prius Prime since its last redesign.

See all 37 reviews of the Toyota Prius Prime

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2019 Prius Prime Highlights

Trim:

Plus

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$27,350
EV Tax Credits & Rebates	$4,100 Based on income
Engine Type	Plug-in hybrid
EPA Electric Range	25 miles
Combined MPGe (Electric + Gas)	133 MPGe^{MPGe is the official metric that the EPA uses to measure the efficiency of alternative-fuel (including electric) vehicles. Just like regular MPG shows how far a car will travel on one gallon of gas, MPGe shows how far a vehicle will drive on 33.7kWh of electricity - the energy equivalent of one gallon of gasoline. Combined MPGe is the combined total of 45% city MPGe + 55% highway MPGe.}
Cost to Drive	$61/month
Total Charging Time (240V)	2.1 hours
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	19.8 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Prius Prime models:

Toyota Safety Sense: Bundles a variety of standard driver safety aids, including forward collision warning and mitigation.
Safety Connect: This subscription-based emergency assistance telematics system includes a variety of services.
Blind-Spot Monitoring: Alerts the driver if a car is in an adjacent lane when a turn signal is activated.

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Acceptable
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2019 Toyota Prius Prime Review

Price & Payment

Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

For sale near Seattle, WA

2019 Toyota Prius PrimePremium 4dr Hatchback

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2019 Toyota Prius PrimePlus 4dr Hatchback

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

Edmunds' Expert Rating

Trim tested

Scorecard

Driving

Acceleration

Braking

Steering

Handling

Drivability

Comfort

Seat comfort

Ride comfort

Noise & vibration

Climate control

Interior

Ease of use

Getting in/getting out

Driving position

Roominess

Visibility

Quality

Utility

Small-item storage

Cargo space

Child safety seat accommodation

Technology

Audio & navigation

Smartphone integration

Driver aids

Voice control

Which Prius Prime does Edmunds recommend?

2019 Toyota Prius Prime models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Toyota Prius Prime Reviews

Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

One month in and I'm very happy

Updated - Love the car! Sold it!

Prius prime delivers what I wanted most

Amazing Car, Especially with Tax Credit

2019 Prius Prime Highlights

Safety

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