The Toyota Prius was an all-new model for 2023, and now it’s driving away with the 2024 AutoTrader Award for Best Overall Car, a huge feat for this efficient and proven model. This award covers both the regular Prius hybrid as well as the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid (PHEV).
To win an award, a vehicle has to impress our jury of more than 20 automotive experts from across the country. A great many vehicles did just that, but the Prius had to outperform its competition in numerous crucial areas, including its performance, features, comfort, practicality, and value.
That last factor always requires extra consideration from our judges, and it was especially important here. In the final round of voting, the Prius defeated the BMW i4, Honda Civic/Civic Hatchback, Hyundai Ioniq 6, and the Porsche Taycan/Taycan Cross Turismo. That Porsche starts around four times the price of the Prius, and some people might be tempted to think that the more expensive the car, the better it is. Instead, our expert judges don’t just look at price, but at value – if buyers are getting the best “bang for the buck” for what they’re paying, no matter how much or how little it is. The 2024 Prius starts at $39,010, including a non-negotiable delivery fee of $1,860, while the Prius Prime begins at $40,910.
The 2024 Toyota Prius uses a 2.0L four-cylinder engine that, on its own, makes 150 horsepower and 139 lb-ft of torque. When it’s combined with the electric hybrid motor, the system produces a net 196 horsepower. All-wheel drive (AWD) is standard equipment, and using a second rear motor to power those back tires fuel-free when needed for extra traction. It self-charges its battery using regenerative braking and doesn’t get plugged in.
The Prius Prime also uses that 2.0L engine, in front-wheel-drive only, and it creates a combined 220 horsepower with its hybrid system. Its special trick is that it does plug in, and when it’s charged up – which you can do on a Level 2 charger or a regular household outlet – it can drive on electricity alone up to 72 km in the entry SE trim, or up to 64 km in the heavier XSE trims. That’s an impressive upgrade over the last-generation Prius Prime, which was only rated at 40 km on a charge. Even that 72 km is much less than any all-electric car on the market, but there’s no range anxiety. Once that stored charge depletes, the Prius Prime automatically reverts to traditional hybrid operation, charging with regenerative braking and continuing to drive for as long as there’s gas in the tank.
Perhaps the most noticeable difference when the Prius went to a new model is that, as I pointed out in my review, “It still looks like nothing else on the road, only now that’s a compliment.”
For driving performance, AutoTrader’s Road Test Editor Dan Ilika said of the Prius Prime that, “While the previous Prius Prime was just fine to drive, this new one has been dialled up to premium levels. It’s smooth and serene, with excellent suspension damping, while it feels firmly planted in a way its predecessor simply didn’t.”
The Prius sips fuel at the official rate of 4.8 L/100 km in combined driving, while the Prius Prime rates from 4.5 to 4.9 L/100 km, both on regular-grade gasoline. Along with fuel economy, our judges also looked at how easy it is to use the Prius’ controls, its seat and ride comfort, and the substantial list of driver-assist safety features. It faced some very fierce competition, but ultimately, the Prius and Prius Prime proved impressive enough to be named Best Overall Car for 2024. What a feat for this pioneering green vehicle; it was once a niche car for a very particular type of driver, but now it’s grown into a stylish and well-rounded vehicle for a much wider audience without losing its trademark efficiency.
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