Used 2017 Toyota Prius

While Toyota’s 2017 Prius hybrid embodies the original car’s same basic concept, that being an internal-combustion engine wedded to an electric motor, the latest version is both stylistically and technologically leaps and bounds better. The latest Prius now has lots of competition, but it remains the segment’s fuel-economy leader and is bolstered by a new model, the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid. Able to travel up to 25 miles solely on electric power, the Prime offers one more Prius competitor to challenge Ford’s C-Max Energi and Chevy’s Volt. With its slick new styling, refined interior, improved chassis and new standard suite of driver-assist technologies, the 2017 Toyota Prius remains the gold standard in hybrid automobiles.

Despite its small size and lightweight frame, Toyota’s 2017 Prius hybrid is amazingly rigid. A rigid chassis allows for a better suspension, which endows the Prius with surprising agility. Body roll in the corners is kept to a minimum and the steering, although not on par with the Mazda3 or Honda Civic, is light and fairly precise. However, with a zero-to-60-mph time of about 10 seconds, the Prius lands on the slower side of the compact-car crowd. The Prius’ brakes feel strong, although the skinny low-rolling-resistance tires create longer-than-expected stopping distances. On the highway, the 2017 Prius hybrid delivers a smooth ride and a quiet cabin with very little wind or road noise evident. One downside is the Prius’ front seats that sit low to the floor, making entry and exit somewhat laborious.

The interior on Toyota’s Prius Hybrid for 2017 employs two 4.2-inch color info screens with primary instrumentation parked atop the dashboard. Higher trims also include a color head-up display, as well as pedestrian detection. The instrument screens ride the center of the dashboard, reducing eye redirection, according to Toyota, though some think otherwise. Interior materials, including new synthetic leather in higher trims, look and feel rich. A low center-console height gives the front compartment a more open feeling, and the rear compartment feels roomier despite a very small reduction in interior volume and lower roofline compared to the previous generation.

Although the shape seems familiar, with the same wedgy design theme, there’s more drama in the 2017 Toyota Prius compared to previous generations, which looked a little dowdy by comparison. Longer, lower and wider than its predecessors, with more character creases in the bodyside panels, the 4th-generation Prius has a strong curbside presence, as well as a distinctive going-away view. The lower hoodline contributes to improved aerodynamics — the coefficient of drag (Cd) goes from 0.25 to 0.24 — and also enhances the driver’s forward sightlines.

TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE P
Standard on every Prius for 2017 is the Safety Sense P suite of driver assists. Along with radar adaptive cruise control, the system includes a pedestrian-detection feature, lane-departure warning and steering assist, automatic high-beam headlights and autonomous braking.

HEAD-UP DISPLAY
Offered on the more expensive trim levels, the 2017 Toyota Prius hybrid’s head-up display projects eye-level readouts for speed, navigation information and system data for the hybrid powertrain.

The feature list for the basic Prius Two makes it clear that “basic” does not mean “stripper” for this car. Dual 4.2-inch customizable color information displays, 6.2-inch color touch screen, 6-speaker AM/FM/CD Entune audio, 2.0 USB port, Bluetooth streaming, Siri eyes-free, hands-free phone link, voice recognition, 3-mode driver pre-sets (EV, ECO, Power), cruise control, tilt/telescope steering column, cargo area tonneau cover, rearview camera, stability control, traction control and eight airbags. Toyota’s Safety Sense P includes full-speed dynamic cruise control, capable of bringing the car to a complete stop.

On the Prius Three and higher trims, the Advanced Technology package adds a power tilt/slide moonroof with a sliding sunshade, and the color head-up display. The Premium Convenience Package includes a 7-inch touch screen, navigation, Entune 10-speaker JBL audio, advanced voice recognition, as well as the standard Prius Two and Three features, and a good many others. Premium Convenience is limited to Prius Four and Prius Four Touring trims.

Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive has been adapted to a number of the company’s vehicles. It’s also been licensed to other carmakers. The latest electric motor is rated at 71 horsepower and 120 lb-ft of torque. Combined system output is down 13 horsepower compared to generation three, but efficiency is up. On all but the base trim, the electrical side of the powertrain is supported by a lithium-ion battery pack. On the plug-in Prius Prime, an 8.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack can be charged in under six hours using a standard 115-volt outlet.

1.8-liter 4-cylinder
95 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
105 lb-ft of torque @ 3,500 rpm
Permanent magnet AC electric motor
71 horsepower, 120 lb-ft of torque
Total system output: 121 horsepower
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 54/50 mpg, 58/53 mpg (Eco model), 55/53 mpg, 133 MPGe EV mode (Prime)

Note: Due to changes in EPA testing to more effectively reflect real-world conditions, some 2017 models show slightly lower fuel-economy scores than their 2016 versions.