The plug-in hybrid Prius is the sportiest version of Toyota's legendary hybrid — and it's good enough to make you think twice before getting an EV.
The automotive industry is in a real transitional period at the moment. More and more all-electric vehicles are coming to market, and some people are eager to make the swap. However, even if they want to, not everyone is ready to make that switch just yet, and there are some valid reasons why. Toyota is here to bridge that gap with the all-new plug-in hybrid Prius Prime. The Prius Prime isn't the first plug-in hybrid on the market. Hell, it isn't even the first plug-in Prius, but for the money it could be one of the best vehicles on sale today. Few cars can blend fairly decent power, good looks, great gas mileage, a modern interior and solid driving characteristics for the price of the Prius Prime. For reference, Toyota says the average plug-in hybrid cost $65,000 in the U.S. in 2022. The Prime is well below that. Plug-in hybrids may be the middle ground of the automotive landscape right now, but that's where the Prius Prime thrives. It's a great alternative to going all-electric. Advertisement Full Disclosure: Toyota flew me out to Carlsbad, California, put me up in a hotel I could never afford for a couple of nights and fed me copious amounts of food during my stay, all so I could drive the new 2023 Prius Prime. Plugging in Makes All the Difference G/O Media may get a commission 67% off Steel Outdoor Fire Pit Gather 'round the fire. With a powder-coated, bronze-colored steel finish, this fire pit looks as pretty as it is durable. Buy for $109 at Wayfair Advertisement Advertisement I first drove the fifth-generation Prius back in December of 2022, and I immediately fell in love with it. I know falling in love with a Prius sounds a bit odd, but that's the world we're living in now — the fully-redesigned car is fantastic. There was just one thing nagging me: With the normal Prius, you can only drive under pure EV power for a handful of miles at very low speeds. That's fine in a conventional hybrid, but I wanted more. Enter the 2023 Prius Prime. Toyota says…