Styling Size-Up: 2017 Toyota Prius Prime vs 2016 Toyota Prius

Toyota revealed the newest member of the Prius family at the 2016 New York auto show, the 2017 Prius Prime plug-in hybrid variant. Dubbed the most advanced Prius yet, the Prius Prime takes the standard Prius up a notch by giving it the ability to travel up to 22 miles on EV mode at speeds of up to 84 mph. Riding on the TNGA platform that first debuted on the standard Prius, the Prius Prime is longer and wider than the old Prius PHEV and makes extensive use of high-strength steel, aluminum, and carbon fiber to keep it strong but lightweight.

Immediately, the first detail you notice on the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime is a unique front fascia that doesn’t feature the standard car’s slanted-in headlights. Instead, the Prius Prime’s front fascia is a little closer to that of the Toyota Mirai fuel cell vehicle. Additionally, the front grille is blacked out in the center and the LED foglight strips are much longer than the ones found on the standard Prius. In comparison, the standard Prius has a thin opening up front and a smaller lower air intake that doesn’t look as aggressive as the Prius Prime’s.

Similarities start to show up when both the Prius and Prius Prime are viewed from the side because they have the same silhouette. However, the Prius Prime features a blunter nose that makes it seem smaller than the standard Prius. At the back, both cars feature unique LED lighting treatments that distinguish them from each other. The standard Prius features taillights that flow down vertically nearly to the rear diffuser, accented by an LED light strip that flows through the entire cluster. In comparison, the Prius Prime’s taillights stretch across the top of the rear end and encircles the lower glass to form two C-shaped patterns. Additionally, the Prius Prime also has LED light clusters in the lower rear fascia that look like rear-mounted fog lights.

Inside the cabin is where another key difference between the standard Toyota Prius and Prius Prime is found because the latter only has seating for four passengers. Additionally, the more advanced infotainment system in the Prius Prime features an 11.6-inch touchscreen versus the standard car’s 7-inch unit. The rest of the Prius Prime’s interior, however, is similar to the standard car, featuring extra screens that can monitor how economically you’re driving and another that shows what the hybrid powertrain is doing.

Does the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime distinguish itself enough from the standard Prius? Is it tamer or even quirkier and more polarizing? Tell us in the comments below.

Last week’s Refreshing or Revolting featured the Tesla Model 3, and the responses were mainly negative.

“I think I like the design with the exception of that oddly bland and downright disturbing front end. Gosh, that’s ugly,” said NE Guy.

“I don’t like the front and the interior is the worst it’s just a huge television in the middle of the car no buttons or controls,” said not your friend.

“Revolting. It’ll sell well with those who want to be seen driving a Tesla or wish they were Musk’s bff, but the thing is unsightly. The front end looks awkward and the interior is hideous. It’s Tesla’s Mac Mini or Zune. It’s the one most people will have to ‘settle’ for,” said Troy Riggins.

“Front end looks unfinished. Rest of exterior is nice, in a retro-90s way. No conventional dash helps with visibility, like the Saturn Ion. Every readout and control placed in the middle is an ergonomic disaster, like the Saturn Ion. All over the place, is what I’m saying. Call it reVOLTing, on a split decision,” said El Kabong Mk.II.

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