Even though the solar roofs aren't "strong" enough to just run the car, it's nice having like a non-invasive permanent trickle charger for the life of the car. I hope they do this with a PHEV minivan and make the hood and entire roof a solar panel. Get some decent power out of it.
It is a waste of money tho, it cost probably around 2000 dollars for the solar roof and you won't get close to 2000 dollars of savings from the solar energie in the car's lifespan.
let’s do the math! if he was getting 4Wh of charge on a very sunny day and 2Wh of charge on a cloudy, rainy day, we can say on average, it gets 2.4-2.9Wh of charge per day, accounting for winter weather and change in solar luminosity and our distance from the sun. If that’s about a mile worth of charge per day, that’s 365 miles per year, which comes out to 7.019 gallons for the prius prime. the average price of a gallon of gas in the US right now is $3.68, which means it would save around $25.83 a year in gas. the price of the solar roof is around $610 so it would take around 23.6 years to pay itself off! considering that things only get more expensive and we know that prius’ can last that long, i would say it’s worth it!
@Defiance GJ None keeps a car for 23 years and the solar panels are probably around 2000 dollars, i looked it up and 2 sollar pannels( about 2.5 square meters) are around 1600 dollars and the solar panels in the car are also built in which would make it more expansive and toyota also doesn't have scale on them which would make it even more expensive. It's only worth it just so you don't have to go tank as often but most people just plug it in at their home so...
@Defiance GJ One thing i believe you may have forgotten to consider is the life of the batteries and other components, as well as nobody tends to keep a car for 20+ years. but i think your math is en pointe
@Defiance GJlove your equation. however, you aren’t factoring any external adaptive variables contingent on this car and buyer’s environment. it means nothing to save $600 if you end up screwing yourself more lmao. Plus who’s to say this car don’t have any other channels where you’d spend more money? It’s the newest generation release of its first iteration lol other problems will occur.
as a remote worker i could see that trickle solar charge keeping my car charged like 80% of the time. Which makes me worry about the gas sitting in the tank too long
Being able to shoot 1 take while almost maintaining perfect rhythm with incredible lines really just shows how insane Marques's skills are. Great video BTW!
This is the first Prius I'd seriously consider buying. Previously, the car was kinda dorky. But now it's something really special. And for me, I do so little driving that a Prius Prime would be, for all intents and purposes, an EV for about 355 days of my year. Very rarely do I ever drive more than 5 miles in a day.
Careful with that plan, prius prime could almost make a day without gas for my commute, but I will reserve 1/4 of my trip for the hyrbid engine. Gasoline sits in the tank too long would turn acidic, it could corrode the engine and eventually destroy it completely, make sure to turn hybrid on for a day trip once in a while.
I think the solar thing would be also be good as an auxiliary to gas vehicles, i.e. keep the starting battery charged, ability to run A/C, radio etc when vehicle is off
Why Ford doesn't put a solar roof on their F-850's baffles me. It could power the King Ranch ™ massage-seats when sitting still, supervising the 'help'. At least then it would only cost $300 to fill, instead of $315...
44 miles of electric range - enough electric only range for a trip to the office and home (for me), or EV only weekend errands to the store, lake or park, a gas motor providing 400+ miles of range at 50+ mpg for extended travel, and decent looks. 220 horsepower and 0-60 in 7 sec isn't bad. This might be the first hybrid I could comfortably live with.
I still think hybrids are the best way to go especially when you factor in an emergency situation or extreme cold weather. I currently have a 2007 for PSI inherited from my grandmother and it's amazing even when the car was much newer how fast the hybrid battery can discharge when it's cold out
0:44: 🚗 The new Prius is impressive with its high-tech features and technology. 2:52: 🚗 The video showcases the exterior features of the Prius, including the windshield, wheels, gas cap, and electric charge port door. 5:21: ⚡️ The Toyota Prius has a solar panel that can charge the battery while parked in the sun, potentially eliminating the need for gas. 8:02: 🔋 The video discusses the UI of solar software and the amount of power generated from sitting in the sun. 10:43: 🚗 The video discusses the features of the new Prius, including a rearview camera and a top-down view when in reverse. Recap by Tammy AI
This is pretty cool. I know it's more things that can break and/or need repairs, but seeing tech like this is definitely going to be parts of the present and future. Solar panels in cars just makes sense. Love it!
Quick tip for those with plugin hybrids: run the engine through a tank of gas once a month or so, or in a year your gas engine won't start just like a regular car that isn't driven for too long.
It's too late. Tesla, hyundai, bmw, and Chinese manufacturers goes flat to the floor for electrification. Electrification goes fast. If they do this kind of upgrade 5-6 years ago, the chance of they stalled the electrification is much higher.
@Karras Bastomi yes, and wouldn't you know it, having a hybrid car like Prius will be a much safer bet if you consider the rate of improvement of those cars. If you are the type of person who changes the cars every 2-3 years maybe you don't care about the current car specs getting obsolete, but for people who buy the car and use it for long time it's much less of a gamble and it will age better.
7 seconds 0-60 is a ton better than the older Prius at ~11 seconds. In addition, I would say that those of us over 60 yo remember the days when anything under 10 seconds was pretty fast.
I had an Audi A6 Avant that had a solar sunroof panel which powered the hvac system, which kept the cabin cool even while parked. That contraption was super high tech for back then.
My parents got a hybrid Toyota RAV4. And although it is one hefty ride I must say it has one of the best user friendly experience ever. It has touchscreen controls but not too much, the parking cameras, the smooth ride combined with the weight of the vehicle, nice safety features, Lane assist. All in all, it is a g o o d car. Toyota has really been feeling the niche for cars for average Joe.
I always thought a Ford or Ioniq would be my first EV but as a 2019 Prius driver this changes things. Im waiting for charging to become more ubiquitous before going full EV.
Over and over, Marcus mentions what he thinks are the blockers to EV adoption, but even as an EV expert, he still has a surprisingly common blind spot: apartments. A huge % of people live in apartments (yes even the US shocking!), and a vanishingly small % of apartments offer adequate EV charging options.
He does mention infrastructure, which is what I would say this applies under. You could, in theory, charge your car at your destination if the surrounding support was available.
Even in those apartment who offers EV charging, there're two problems: 1) Usually you need to buy charge credit from leasing office, which mostly likely cost more than the electricity itself. So not as economical as having your own charging spot. 2) You either need to move your car after a few hours of charging, or choose to be a dick and block others from using that charging spot for the rest of the day.
I know we’re spoiled with car’s performance today, but 20 or even 10 years ago 7 seconds 0-60 wasn’t considered slow, this was a hot hatchback territory and now it’s a fuel efficient Prius. I wouldn’t say it’s slow even today, it’s not super sporty, but it’s rather quick.
7s 0-60 is definitely not slow by normal car standards. Normal cars have 0-60 times around 11s😅. 7s is actually quite fast and is waay enough for normal drivers on their normal commutes. I think youtubers are just sometimes out of touch of how normal world functions. Not everyone is buying a 150k Tesla plaid to have a 2s 0-60😅
@Vit Krivan you don't have to spend 150k for a fast car though; I got a car that does a 1/4 mile in 11.7 seconds for 40k. Probably is less than the prius we were just shown.
Yeah, I agree. Car performance is so overrated nowadays. Many car companies are so focused on making every production car go 0 to 60 in 3 seconds, it’s getting dumb. Who needs to go that fast?? 😂😂. 7 secs 0-60 is plenty quick for at least 99% of the population who buys a normal car.
@Isaac Cornett that’s right - I mean sensation of acceleration and speed is great and I love it, but not every single car has to be a race car, 7 seconds 0-60 is great for an average A to B car :) But not gonna lie - it took me some time and age ;) to get to this conclusion.
I'm rocking the 2010 Prius with the solar option witch was intended for this kind of use, but only generates enough energy to run the fan (not the whole AC). But If you leave a gap in your sunroof or a window it will even out the inside and outside temps when you get back after a day of parking in the sun. Cool to see how far we have come now though 😀
I am super excited for automakers to figure out to wrap around LED's and tuck some under in the gaps where the trunk lid is, for example. That way that one continuous light effect actually works and looks good without the seams.
Even in full size truck market, i think hybrids are gonna hold strong for a while. My apartments dont have charging stations right now so i didnt buy the lightning i wanted, so i can see the appeal of long range performance-capable hybrids
I think the biggest problem with the Prius Prime is that dealers are adding anywhere from $10K - $20K or even more "markups" for them because of the demand/supply. Most of the Toyota dealers aren't even publishing the prices on their website. And sadly, people are willing to pay for those markups which only further encourages those shady practices.
It’s supply and demand . If there are 10 units for every 1000 buyers, as opposed to 1000 units and only 10 buyers. You either discount or mark up. It’s basic market principles that this country has been using for a couple centuries.
Marques, love the review... Another thing I think that it's important to highlight to consumers on the topic of hybrids is that even though they still produce tailpipe emissions, the overall life cycle emissions of owning a hybrid car can often be lower than that of a larger electric car. This is due to the reduced requirement for battery capacity leading to much smaller battery packs being fitted in a hybrid, and as I'm sure you are aware of the embedded emissions involved in the manufacturing and disposal of a battery pack are orders of magnitude higher than the embedded emissions for a small ICE and small battery pack. Even once the tailpipe emissions from 150,000 miles of driving are added to the equation the overall life cycle co2 emissions of the product are comparable if not less, and much less harmful to dispose of... The engine will be recycled with ease!
What a great review. I like the Prius. I think the hybrid system is not a stop gap but a rational expression of a very efficient car without range anxiety. And the people working at Toyota do their very best to make the Prius a reliable, livable car which it has been since it came out. Now it looks great too. Nothing but wins in the Prius column. My only concern is replacing the two-thousand-dollar solar roof after a hailstorm. And God forbid thieves figure out a way to pry that panel off your roof. Time for Toyota to camera up the Prius like Tesla does their cars. Great review of a great car. Nice job to both of you.
I’m looking forward to a truck like this. Most of my miles are working a few miles a few times a week but I’m away in the mountains a lot. Electric won’t do it for me for a while but a hybrid truck with some solar panel charger would be perfect for peace of mind on my overland trips
when Marques said it was slow "0-60 7 seconds" I gasped. there's tons of fun cars that have 0-60 times in that range. he's obviously become so used to the extreme speed of EVs it's insane.
Agreed.That's a respectable time, it won't have problems merging on the highway or anything. Besides, most people aren't slamming the gas every time there's a green light at a stop light, especially when you have passengers. Even Tesla drivers don't do that.
Good to see you supporting what should be standard at this time. The problem is that we all should be striving if not owning hybrids. The infrastructure is not ready for all-electric cars and this is where we should be looking to decrease emissions. For most people, this would be a perfect car when I worked my other job it was 8-10 miles at most driving.
Great content as always. Just have to mention, that connector is called the J1772, the term CCS is specific to the fast charging variant which looks like a J1772 with an extra two connections below it.
thnanks for confirming my thought.. this guy's reviews are HORRIBLE... he just makes noise about the things he things are cool/weird etc.. NO PRACTICAL information for anyone who would be looking to buy.
Would be awesome to have solar panels on the bonnet as well nearly doubling the charging speed (perhaps on a black one?). This would make the whole thing a selling point as it is still a gimmick.
A more insightful perspective to the solar roof is to consider the cost vs benefit. A small solar panel like that costs maybe in the range of a couple 100 $/€ to implement, and will earn itself back in probably around 2 years. After that it's pure gains.
I own a corolla hybrid and i absolutely love it, having a hybrid is really the best of both worlds , also since fully electric cars allegedly produce so much polution just to make that it outweighs a lifetime of gas driving (or at least so ive heard), i guess hybrids are technically the most economically beneficial , or least damaging to the environment, as most of them just have giant metal halide batteries, or something. i watched some ted talk about it, so im not sure if it still holds true today, but i can tell you i love my hybrid either way, its weird that the engine will just turn off in the middle of driving lol. and my gas tank lasts for an eternity, and honestly its got enough speed to do anything you need to do
I wonder how the solar panels would perform in high latitudes, where the sun is out most of the night in summer. Even if the winters are totally dark, a full summer of solar charging would probably save you a buck.
It's kinda insane to me how every car AND truck that isn't a serious budget option isn't a plug-in hybrid. Imagine how much less gas would get used if nearly every passenger vehicle gained a 30-50 mile battery
You don't even need that much range The smallest hybrid Toyota have is the hybrid Yaris it's only 1.15 tons so should get ~7 miles per KWh If that hybrid had just a 3KWh battery it could get 20 miles a day electric x 365 days potentially over 7,000 miles electric per year and if you can charge at work or other locations potentially as much as 14,000 miles per year electric 3KWh pack would only add 20kg mass to the car and maybe $750 cost but you'd save on maintenance as the gasoline engine would be on less of the time Also in theory 1 sqm of solar on its roof would add potentially 1,500 miles of range per year from the solar roof that would be amazing. If you could fit 2 sqm of solar that would be 3,000 miles oer year solar!!
my thoughts exactly or just every new car be a hybrid. So much more gas would be saved not burning so much at stop lights and in traffic which also means less emissions. and hybrids dont need to be lithium powered too, there are other battery tech that can be used as well.
imagine the infrastructure you need to charge all cars because they are all electric now, and how much fuel you need to burn to produce that amount of electricity, if you even have the power facilities that can support that. yes there is renewable energy, but not enough to cover this. imagine what the price of lithium will become and thus he price of the car if you put that much demand on it. and then after you build all this infrastructure which will take years, you'll have something else that will trend and get traction like hydrogen cars maybe, then all that infrastructure and the money put on it is wasted for nothing
I've owned 2 Toyota Prius cars. I wasn't winning any races, but I loved and appreciated the technology. My first was a blue used 2007 which I traded in for a new silver 2012 Model 4 Prius. I loved both cars especially the latter which also had solar panels as well plus a really nice-looking sunroof. It was, (to me), a pretty good-looking Prius. The solar panel was pretty cool except it only powered fans that would cool the car during summer months.
I've got a '21 Prius Prime and I love it. The 25-29 miles I get on it is good enough for 90% of my driving. 44 miles would be perfect. I probably put gas in my car once every 3 months because we occasionally need to drive a couple hundred miles for business or pleasure. The '21 Prius Prime was an improvement in looks but this new Prius styling is great.
I like the design and the fact that they've kept a display behind the steering wheel and lots of physical tactile buttons. I wonder if the electric windows can be stopped mid-way.
I'd love to see a car with a "park mode" where the trunk opens and instead of a convertible roof coming out of it, solar panels unfold, like satellites, to create a canopy that covers the entire car with panels while parked, making the solar recharge significant. RVs have slide outs when parked. Adding more surface area for the panels would make the range gain go from 4 miles to 16+ miles each DAY
More of these "low-end" showcases please. While the bleeding edge is nice and all, it's nice to reviews that are more relatable and/or grounded for most people. _b
@Hirav Parekh It's the top end trim of the car dummy. There are cheaper versions, which is what he is talking about. That was confusing for you I guess.
“It’s a Prius guys there’s not a lot for me to talk about”. He needs to humble up, his audience is regular people who want to see these kinds of cars. So out of touch. 7:53
I was given a test drive of the original Toyota Prius (First Generation) many years ago. I was impressed. Huge windshield, great field of view. Comfortable and quiet. Best part, it drove like a regular car.
Solar on the roof makes sense and hopefully will get better. The trunk setup on this looks good. How well did you fit in that back seat? And the Dodge Ram Charger had fast windows. Always thought it was going to break. This is not a fast window.
@Kacpa2 Which normal Prius. The Prius C did not looked bad at all, it was kind of sporty, at least in how it handled due to the low center of gravity and suspension.
I think you might have sold a bunch of Priuses for Toyota. And that’s a good thing. You touched on what appealed to me about plug-in hybrids: most days you can run around on electric, but if you need to hit the road, range anxiety and infrastructure availability are not concerns. Another sort of positive factor, at least in the near term: allocation of resources. If most days you drive a fully electric car fewer than 40 miles, you are carrying around batteries that you aren’t using (but you did pay for them)…and if battery manufacturing capacity is still an issue, those under-utilized batteries could be powering five or ten more plug-in hybrid cars. Eventually that problem will disappear, as will the infrastructure shortcomings. But for now, for the reasons you mention, a plug-in hybrid seemed like a great choice when I needed a car in 2020, so I got a Prius Prime (that model gets only 25-30 miles of electric range). I liked it so well that when I needed another car in 2021 I got a RAV4 Prime (similarly satisfying). Thanks for the interesting video.
This genuinely looks really good! I just wish you'd gone into more detail about what it's like to drive - even with the extra power is it still basically boring?
I think it really makes sense. I like the solar panels because 2 free miles gained is really cool for just leaving it in the sun. My drive to work is 8 miles. So I’d basically never be using the gas engine.
Usually, batteries decline after time, even if you dont use your EV. This Solar is not keeping only your state, but also keeps your in healthy condition. Thumbs up!
A more useful purchase would be a battery bank with a solar panel which could be used to trickle charge the car a little every day using the standard 110V EVSE plugged into the battery bank. Granted, it isn't as cool as telling your friends you have a solar panel on your roof, but it would be more useful and probably cost less. An off grid home charging solution with 800W solar and 5-10kwh of battery could probably also be put together for less than the cost of the panel option on the car (unsure of the cost of that option though).
My 2013 plug in Prius, driven in the mountains in Idaho along with some freeway cruising, posted 69.8 mpg the last fillup, common thru the warmer months, less of course during the winter. HYBRIDS, especially plug in hybrids, are by far the best bang for the buck.
New subscriber, 75 years young, and haven’t seen the peace sign for decades now. I enjoyed the candid approach used here with just the right amount of information and impressions. Well done!
This would be perfect for my commute. I do 60km both ways, and this would nearly cover that whole distance on battery. I also park in the sun at work! Looks pretty slick.
For crowded city living, this seems great, for us in Florida where your usual daily commute to work is 15-25 miles, not so great. But don't get me wrong this is actually really cool and I'm itching for the day where solar is good enough where cars can run off it purely!
Solar makes a lot of sense on Aptera, by the way. The Prius Prime weighs 3,500 lb and has a drag coefficient of 0.27. Aptera is all about efficiency - 0.13 drag coefficient => 25 kWh battery pack => ~1,800 lb weight => Up to 40 miles of range per day from the Sun.
Until I can get an EV battery charged from dead or swapped out in under 20 minutes, I'll always consider Hybrid the right motor for me. You can also add extended battery packs for the older prius, maybe the new, that is electrically isolated from the car computer, which gives you more range with electric mode.
I want this car or something similar to it when I'm ready to trade out my 2015 camaro. I really love the solar roof top as it more than likely also serves to keep your car cooler too. The little battery life it gains isn't that great, but its better than nothing! Does anyone know if the plug in would also accept charge from a solar generator?
Solar panel is a sweet feature too because if someone, which they shouldn't, forgets to fill up their car w/ gas and is too far from an electric charging station they'd normally be royally screwed but...in theory....they might be able to just wait it out for more power, however, that would take a long time. A very, very long time. Probably wouldn't be a saving grace for anyone but the extra range from the panel could be the difference between someone getting to a gas/charging station and being stuck on the side of the road.
As an owner of RAV4 Prime, the EV only range is a conservative range. By default it was programmed so that if you live in an area with lots of hills or a fast-ish driver, that range will match where and how you drive. The car will learn where you live and how you drive and then the range will adjust. After 2 months during the warm season, the range of my RAV4 prime went from 42 miles when I picked it up from the dealership to 54 miles after learning about me.
I LOVE the way this looks. I had an '08 Prius that I had for.. 6 or 7 years I think? I eventually traded it in for my current-drive '18 Chevy Bolt. It was close at the time whether or not I went to the EV, or bought a new hybrid. Might have gone with this if it was available at the time
I love my 3rd gen Prius, best ride on the road. I will be getting another, but mine has 160k, looks and runs like a brand new car, has held up fantastic, and it is a beast in the snow where I'm at in Michigan. There will probably be a newer generation before I buy again. I hope they bring back the utility of the 3rd gen with their next iteration.
Even though its July 2023, the new Prious hasnt reached us in sunny Israel but Marcus presentation really entered me to the shoppers line. Thanks for a well done presentention! Dov
solar panels for EVs are so underrated IMO. If you live in the city and rely on street parking (i.e. can't charge at home) just the "battery goes up instead of down when not driving", no matter how little, makes a world of difference
@Nick V as long as it's going up and not down (more than the idle drain). Without that I have to go to my car *just* to charge it if I don't drive for a while.
So I might actually buy this. I want something with good gas milage and with the amount of weekly driving I do I would never have to get gas, and it looks good. Awesome car.
First time viewer here; I appreciate the low key and very useful review of this new Prius Prime. I hope these new Prius' are sufficiently available when I walk into a dealer so that finding one I like is possible. Going from a no-tech, plain metal key NB Miata to one of these should be an interesting experience in learning how to use all the technical bells and whistles. Being 79 years old, my only real concern is if the new Prius is as hard to exit as the Miata. If it is, I may need to go with the RAV4 Prime. Or just keep the Miata and consider the entering and exiting as a form of exercise. Thank you for informative review.
The previous Prius Prime for me is like a spaceship. Especially the back side with bended rear glass. Even Teslas look like obsolete cars in comparison with it. The new Prius - modern but nothing outstanding.
That cool sound at the end is actually really cool. I live in an apartment above a busy intersection in Pasadena and the constant sound of people locking and unlocking their vehicles with a loud horn is so insanely annoying. All manufacturers need to start doing what that new Prius is doing. Also, the solar panels on the roof is super cool! Now I want one
I like watching your videos Marquez. For me, i feel optimistic and positive. I feel alright after watching your videos unlike most others on yt. Thank you for what you do :D
If you park in the sun to use your solar roof the question is: How long do you have to park there to get enough charging to cool the car down with the AC and have charge left instead of parking in the shadow
What's also cool is that this Prius is made in Japan. Unlike those in the 90s, very few Japanese cars nowadays are made in Japan. They are usually built outside of Japan
Timely video. My 2012 Prius has heart 200k miles and I’m going to have to upgrade before long. Planning to get another hybrid and this looks like an attractive option.
The reason you don't want the hatch to open really fast in case you have your head/face anywhere over the back edge of the hatch. You don't want to be accidentally smacked by that hatch. TBH, it doesn't need to super fast opening for any advantageous reason. When it comes to heavy electrically moved parts is't best to move in a slow controlled speed. Safety first.
Thats every car, in my opinion no matter what car you have if it has a good black paint job it takes it to a completely different level, all 3 of my cars have been black!
I like the idea of the plug in hybrid. A gas tank can be virtually untouched accept on few occasions like traveling... but it's there so you don't need to waste time at charging stations on long trips.
Gasoline has an issue, the engine, full EV have another (minor issue), the battery. However, hybrids have two issues, engine issues and battery. Twice the worry.
@CelebrityLyrics valid point. But I'd much rather have the capabilities the new prius offers over going full EV. I just wish they'd do this set up with the tacoma or tundra so you can have a short commute truck to save on fuel that a normal truck would drink up.
two problems, when running on gas you hav the wight of the batteries, on the way around, there is the wheight of the engine. Hybrids are not efficient!
I have driven a Prius for over 10 years. The "I have to get in front of the Prius" is strong in too many people... happens a lot when you pass them on the highway as well.
A beautiful and excellent hybrid. Hybrids are definitely part of the solution as the world transitions from what we have to what we want. Hope to see more hybrids this well designed from other legacy automotive manufacturers.
Electric cars are terrible for the environment. Here are some reasons why 1. Child labor and rare metal mining: The production of electric vehicle batteries relies on rare metals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel. Unfortunately, the extraction of these minerals often occurs in countries where labor and environmental regulations are lax. This can lead to unethical mining practices, including the exploitation of child labor, hazardous working conditions, and ecosystem destruction. It is crucial to ensure responsible sourcing and promote transparency throughout the supply chain to address these concerns. 2. Carbon emissions from battery production: The manufacturing process for electric vehicle batteries, which involves mining, refining, and processing of raw materials, requires a substantial amount of energy. Depending on the energy sources used during battery production, significant carbon emissions may be generated. These emissions need to be considered when evaluating the overall environmental impact of electric vehicles. 3. Battery disposal and recycling: Electric car batteries have a limited lifespan and eventually need to be replaced. The disposal of used batteries can pose environmental challenges, as they contain hazardous materials that need proper handling and recycling. Without appropriate recycling infrastructure in place, there is a risk of improper disposal, leading to pollution and potential harm to ecosystems. 4. Charging infrastructure limitations: While expanding charging infrastructure is necessary for widespread electric vehicle adoption, it can also have environmental implications. Constructing charging stations requires land development, electricity infrastructure upgrades, and resource consumption, which can impact natural habitats and ecosystems if not adequately managed.
I saw one on the way home yesterday, and I literally had to take a double take at it, because it looked so damn good and unique. I had to speed up to get a good look at it, and was shocked out of my mind when I saw the badge saying Toyota Prius. That's putting it mildly too. This thing is beautiful in person. I still can't believe it's a Prius. I've always thought they were hideous in styling. But this one, OMG it's a beauty.
I bought my 2013 Chevy Volt with 55k miles on it in 2017 for about $13k and use the car primarily for daily work commute and errands around the town. Daily roundtrip work commute average is about 18 miles. Per full charge, I still get about 40 miles of range and the car often reminds me to use the ICE engine to use the old gasoline. I average only about six visits to the gas station per year. One of the best investments I've made!
i saw one of these yesterday, and it really caught my eye cuz of how sleek and sporty it looks. It's about time that MFR's realize that electric cars don't have to be ugly
Even though the solar roofs aren't "strong" enough to just run the car, it's nice having like a non-invasive permanent trickle charger for the life of the car.
I hope they do this with a PHEV minivan and make the hood and entire roof a solar panel. Get some decent power out of it.
It is a waste of money tho, it cost probably around 2000 dollars for the solar roof and you won't get close to 2000 dollars of savings from the solar energie in the car's lifespan.
let’s do the math! if he was getting 4Wh of charge on a very sunny day and 2Wh of charge on a cloudy, rainy day, we can say on average, it gets 2.4-2.9Wh of charge per day, accounting for winter weather and change in solar luminosity and our distance from the sun. If that’s about a mile worth of charge per day, that’s 365 miles per year, which comes out to 7.019 gallons for the prius prime. the average price of a gallon of gas in the US right now is $3.68, which means it would save around $25.83 a year in gas. the price of the solar roof is around $610 so it would take around 23.6 years to pay itself off! considering that things only get more expensive and we know that prius’ can last that long, i would say it’s worth it!
@Defiance GJ None keeps a car for 23 years and the solar panels are probably around 2000 dollars, i looked it up and 2 sollar pannels( about 2.5 square meters) are around 1600 dollars and the solar panels in the car are also built in which would make it more expansive and toyota also doesn't have scale on them which would make it even more expensive. It's only worth it just so you don't have to go tank as often but most people just plug it in at their home so...
@Defiance GJ One thing i believe you may have forgotten to consider is the life of the batteries and other components, as well as nobody tends to keep a car for 20+ years. but i think your math is en pointe
@Defiance GJlove your equation. however, you aren’t factoring any external adaptive variables contingent on this car and buyer’s environment. it means nothing to save $600 if you end up screwing yourself more lmao. Plus who’s to say this car don’t have any other channels where you’d spend more money? It’s the newest generation release of its first iteration lol other problems will occur.
40% to 52% using solar didn't sound impressive, but when understood as 4 extra miles of range (per day) it actually sounds impressive
as a remote worker i could see that trickle solar charge keeping my car charged like 80% of the time. Which makes me worry about the gas sitting in the tank too long
On a EV you lose 5-10 miles a day parked in your driveway because it's like a phone.
He mentioned he did not use the car for 2.5 days, so more like 4% per day.
In the Boston area this would be effectively useless...over the past 7 days we have seen the sun for perhaps 10 hours lol
It's basically 120 extra free miles each month.
Being able to shoot 1 take while almost maintaining perfect rhythm with incredible lines really just shows how insane Marques's skills are. Great video BTW!
almost like toyota wrote the script lol
He called the J1772 port a CCS port after talking about being all about tech...but hey, who's counting
@Michael Flynn what a nonsensical comment
@George Orwell people make mistakes when talking, shocker 😵😵😵
@ozzy Pun intended?
This is the first Prius I'd seriously consider buying. Previously, the car was kinda dorky. But now it's something really special. And for me, I do so little driving that a Prius Prime would be, for all intents and purposes, an EV for about 355 days of my year. Very rarely do I ever drive more than 5 miles in a day.
naw it's still dorky and a prius
same. but , any "paywaIIs"? and how does it handle in the snow?
Same, this is the only Prius I would consider buying, looks original and quirky!
Total 5 mile commute?? Consider a bike or walking my friend, and have a road tripper for those other 10 days
Careful with that plan, prius prime could almost make a day without gas for my commute, but I will reserve 1/4 of my trip for the hyrbid engine. Gasoline sits in the tank too long would turn acidic, it could corrode the engine and eventually destroy it completely, make sure to turn hybrid on for a day trip once in a while.
I think the solar thing would be also be good as an auxiliary to gas vehicles, i.e. keep the starting battery charged, ability to run A/C, radio etc when vehicle is off
Why Ford doesn't put a solar roof on their F-850's baffles me. It could power the King Ranch ™ massage-seats when sitting still, supervising the 'help'. At least then it would only cost $300 to fill, instead of $315...
You can't run ac with that😂
@Kevin Fernandez oh then I guess it is a completely useless waste of money Then
@Kevin Fernandez Except it does. So... The Prius with solar roof has been running AC since 2012.
44 miles of electric range - enough electric only range for a trip to the office and home (for me), or EV only weekend errands to the store, lake or park, a gas motor providing 400+ miles of range at 50+ mpg for extended travel, and decent looks. 220 horsepower and 0-60 in 7 sec isn't bad. This might be the first hybrid I could comfortably live with.
Hybrid prime
I was thinking the same exact thing. Most of the week, its drive to work and back, drop kids off, or grocery shopping.
Never before have I been so thrilled for a Prius. 😂
Lol exactly
Facts 😂😂
100%. I actually like the Prius's face more than the EQS's. WILD! 😂
EV are crap ..
@Jim Anderson 🏳️🌈⃠ lol
You’re not wrong. I’ve seen a few in the wild and it turned my head. They did a wonderful job on the redesign.
Same! 😂
I saw one on the free way a couple days ago and I had the same reaction
I still think hybrids are the best way to go especially when you factor in an emergency situation or extreme cold weather. I currently have a 2007 for PSI inherited from my grandmother and it's amazing even when the car was much newer how fast the hybrid battery can discharge when it's cold out
0:44: 🚗 The new Prius is impressive with its high-tech features and technology.
2:52: 🚗 The video showcases the exterior features of the Prius, including the windshield, wheels, gas cap, and electric charge port door.
5:21: ⚡️ The Toyota Prius has a solar panel that can charge the battery while parked in the sun, potentially eliminating the need for gas.
8:02: 🔋 The video discusses the UI of solar software and the amount of power generated from sitting in the sun.
10:43: 🚗 The video discusses the features of the new Prius, including a rearview camera and a top-down view when in reverse.
Recap by Tammy AI
This is pretty cool. I know it's more things that can break and/or need repairs, but seeing tech like this is definitely going to be parts of the present and future. Solar panels in cars just makes sense. Love it!
Quick tip for those with plugin hybrids: run the engine through a tank of gas once a month or so, or in a year your gas engine won't start just like a regular car that isn't driven for too long.
put stabil in gasoline, use engine once a week lol
The previous generation, at least, would turn the engine periodically for that reason. If the driver had otherwise been in EV mode all the time.
@Tribute2the80s The Volt PHEV does it automatically too.
Here's another tip, if you're worried about old gas and don't drive as much, only fill it up 25% full of gas
So glad Toyota is giving the Prius the attention it deserves
i read they only producing 15,000 a year. They will be rare and have stealership markups applied.
@Ab Bc 15,000* is for US market. Total production is higher, other markets are getting Prius PHEV as well
It's too late. Tesla, hyundai, bmw, and Chinese manufacturers goes flat to the floor for electrification. Electrification goes fast. If they do this kind of upgrade 5-6 years ago, the chance of they stalled the electrification is much higher.
@Karras Bastomi yes, and wouldn't you know it, having a hybrid car like Prius will be a much safer bet if you consider the rate of improvement of those cars. If you are the type of person who changes the cars every 2-3 years maybe you don't care about the current car specs getting obsolete, but for people who buy the car and use it for long time it's much less of a gamble and it will age better.
7 seconds 0-60 is a ton better than the older Prius at ~11 seconds. In addition, I would say that those of us over 60 yo remember the days when anything under 10 seconds was pretty fast.
Prime does 0-60 in 5 secs
Was thinking the same thing. My Dad’s 85 Camaro would hit 60 in a little over 7 seconds. That was a huge thrill for us high school kids in the 80s.
My Nissan Ariya EV does 7 secs with FWD. it’s plenty fast and lots of torque to weave in and out of traffic
You gotta keep in mind MKBHD drives a Tesla lol
I had an Audi A6 Avant that had a solar sunroof panel which powered the hvac system, which kept the cabin cool even while parked. That contraption was super high tech for back then.
My parents got a hybrid Toyota RAV4. And although it is one hefty ride I must say it has one of the best user friendly experience ever. It has touchscreen controls but not too much, the parking cameras, the smooth ride combined with the weight of the vehicle, nice safety features, Lane assist. All in all, it is a g o o d car. Toyota has really been feeling the niche for cars for average Joe.
I always thought a Ford or Ioniq would be my first EV but as a 2019 Prius driver this changes things. Im waiting for charging to become more ubiquitous before going full EV.
Over and over, Marcus mentions what he thinks are the blockers to EV adoption, but even as an EV expert, he still has a surprisingly common blind spot: apartments. A huge % of people live in apartments (yes even the US shocking!), and a vanishingly small % of apartments offer adequate EV charging options.
He does mention infrastructure, which is what I would say this applies under. You could, in theory, charge your car at your destination if the surrounding support was available.
Whoa I never even considered that
Even in those apartment who offers EV charging, there're two problems:
1) Usually you need to buy charge credit from leasing office, which mostly likely cost more than the electricity itself. So not as economical as having your own charging spot.
2) You either need to move your car after a few hours of charging, or choose to be a dick and block others from using that charging spot for the rest of the day.
You must live in a good area, most apartments and condos in my city don't have EV charging. Only a few. And it doesn't seem like it will change soon.
Even fewer offer adequate gas pumps!
As long as restaurant parking in my area etc. has EV charging I think I'd be happy with that
I know we’re spoiled with car’s performance today, but 20 or even 10 years ago 7 seconds 0-60 wasn’t considered slow, this was a hot hatchback territory and now it’s a fuel efficient Prius.
I wouldn’t say it’s slow even today, it’s not super sporty, but it’s rather quick.
7s 0-60 is definitely not slow by normal car standards. Normal cars have 0-60 times around 11s😅. 7s is actually quite fast and is waay enough for normal drivers on their normal commutes. I think youtubers are just sometimes out of touch of how normal world functions. Not everyone is buying a 150k Tesla plaid to have a 2s 0-60😅
I don't give a rats ass about speed I just want a reliable car that gets me there safely
@Vit Krivan you don't have to spend 150k for a fast car though; I got a car that does a 1/4 mile in 11.7 seconds for 40k. Probably is less than the prius we were just shown.
Yeah, I agree. Car performance is so overrated nowadays. Many car companies are so focused on making every production car go 0 to 60 in 3 seconds, it’s getting dumb. Who needs to go that fast?? 😂😂. 7 secs 0-60 is plenty quick for at least 99% of the population who buys a normal car.
@Isaac Cornett that’s right - I mean sensation of acceleration and speed is great and I love it, but not every single car has to be a race car, 7 seconds 0-60 is great for an average A to B car :)
But not gonna lie - it took me some time and age ;) to get to this conclusion.
I'm rocking the 2010 Prius with the solar option witch was intended for this kind of use, but only generates enough energy to run the fan (not the whole AC). But If you leave a gap in your sunroof or a window it will even out the inside and outside temps when you get back after a day of parking in the sun. Cool to see how far we have come now though 😀
They should also make a foldable windshield solar screen that plugs in a port to charge the car. Helps in sunny days either ways.
I am super excited for automakers to figure out to wrap around LED's and tuck some under in the gaps where the trunk lid is, for example. That way that one continuous light effect actually works and looks good without the seams.
That sounds very economical to repair and replace…
Nice to see a company improving an existing model instead of trying to reinvent from scratch
Even in full size truck market, i think hybrids are gonna hold strong for a while. My apartments dont have charging stations right now so i didnt buy the lightning i wanted, so i can see the appeal of long range performance-capable hybrids
I think the biggest problem with the Prius Prime is that dealers are adding anywhere from $10K - $20K or even more "markups" for them because of the demand/supply. Most of the Toyota dealers aren't even publishing the prices on their website. And sadly, people are willing to pay for those markups which only further encourages those shady practices.
Yep! I want one, but realistically, I'll have to wait 5 years for a reasonable price. I'll keep driving my 04 corolla until then.
Oh dont get me started on people being dumb and paying for marked up prices. Yes the car is good. Wait a few fucking weeks and buy it at retail price.
ICE dealerships ruin everything with their markup crap, which should not be allowed by Toyota.
24k on Toyota USA website. Cheapest is 44k in my European official dealer.
It’s supply and demand . If there are 10 units for every 1000 buyers, as opposed to 1000 units and only 10 buyers. You either discount or mark up. It’s basic market principles that this country has been using for a couple centuries.
I'm proud of you man. I've been watching your channel forever. you came a long way. Thanks for your channel. From cell phones to cars. good stuff.
Marques, love the review... Another thing I think that it's important to highlight to consumers on the topic of hybrids is that even though they still produce tailpipe emissions, the overall life cycle emissions of owning a hybrid car can often be lower than that of a larger electric car. This is due to the reduced requirement for battery capacity leading to much smaller battery packs being fitted in a hybrid, and as I'm sure you are aware of the embedded emissions involved in the manufacturing and disposal of a battery pack are orders of magnitude higher than the embedded emissions for a small ICE and small battery pack. Even once the tailpipe emissions from 150,000 miles of driving are added to the equation the overall life cycle co2 emissions of the product are comparable if not less, and much less harmful to dispose of... The engine will be recycled with ease!
What a great review. I like the Prius. I think the hybrid system is not a stop gap but a rational expression of a very efficient car without range anxiety. And the people working at Toyota do their very best to make the Prius a reliable, livable car which it has been since it came out. Now it looks great too. Nothing but wins in the Prius column. My only concern is replacing the two-thousand-dollar solar roof after a hailstorm. And God forbid thieves figure out a way to pry that panel off your roof. Time for Toyota to camera up the Prius like Tesla does their cars. Great review of a great car. Nice job to both of you.
This is honestly a pretty impressive vehicle.. Never before have I been so thrilled for a Prius. .
I’m looking forward to a truck like this. Most of my miles are working a few miles a few times a week but I’m away in the mountains a lot. Electric won’t do it for me for a while but a hybrid truck with some solar panel charger would be perfect for peace of mind on my overland trips
when Marques said it was slow "0-60 7 seconds" I gasped. there's tons of fun cars that have 0-60 times in that range. he's obviously become so used to the extreme speed of EVs it's insane.
I was just about to comment this, 7 secs in some cars feels quick honestly
Agreed.That's a respectable time, it won't have problems merging on the highway or anything. Besides, most people aren't slamming the gas every time there's a green light at a stop light, especially when you have passengers. Even Tesla drivers don't do that.
@LifeofaPsalmist Remember Fast & Furious when Brian owed Toretto and 10 second car? That was fast back then! LOL
@Babyboyo1 The 10 seconds referred to a quarter mile time though, not the 0-60 time...
7 seconds is not fun, y'all need to go drive some new cars lol
This is honestly a pretty impressive vehicle.
Good to see you supporting what should be standard at this time. The problem is that we all should be striving if not owning hybrids. The infrastructure is not ready for all-electric cars and this is where we should be looking to decrease emissions. For most people, this would be a perfect car when I worked my other job it was 8-10 miles at most driving.
That's so impressive. Theoretically (or maybe literally) you can charge the battery while driving on long road trips and using gas.
Great content as always. Just have to mention, that connector is called the J1772, the term CCS is specific to the fast charging variant which looks like a J1772 with an extra two connections below it.
thnanks for confirming my thought.. this guy's reviews are HORRIBLE... he just makes noise about the things he things are cool/weird etc.. NO PRACTICAL information for anyone who would be looking to buy.
Would be awesome to have solar panels on the bonnet as well nearly doubling the charging speed (perhaps on a black one?). This would make the whole thing a selling point as it is still a gimmick.
A more insightful perspective to the solar roof is to consider the cost vs benefit. A small solar panel like that costs maybe in the range of a couple 100 $/€ to implement, and will earn itself back in probably around 2 years. After that it's pure gains.
I own a corolla hybrid and i absolutely love it, having a hybrid is really the best of both worlds , also since fully electric cars allegedly produce so much polution just to make that it outweighs a lifetime of gas driving (or at least so ive heard), i guess hybrids are technically the most economically beneficial , or least damaging to the environment, as most of them just have giant metal halide batteries, or something. i watched some ted talk about it, so im not sure if it still holds true today, but i can tell you i love my hybrid either way, its weird that the engine will just turn off in the middle of driving lol. and my gas tank lasts for an eternity, and honestly its got enough speed to do anything you need to do
I wonder how the solar panels would perform in high latitudes, where the sun is out most of the night in summer. Even if the winters are totally dark, a full summer of solar charging would probably save you a buck.
This car would be great in india and Pakistan because sun is out 313 days a year
huge difference in horsepower between the old verses new model. Probably a lot more fun to drive.
Hybrid, physical buttons everywhere, solid build.
Apart from the small trunk this seems pretty good.
It's kinda insane to me how every car AND truck that isn't a serious budget option isn't a plug-in hybrid. Imagine how much less gas would get used if nearly every passenger vehicle gained a 30-50 mile battery
You don't even need that much range
The smallest hybrid Toyota have is the hybrid Yaris it's only 1.15 tons so should get ~7 miles per KWh
If that hybrid had just a 3KWh battery it could get 20 miles a day electric x 365 days potentially over 7,000 miles electric per year and if you can charge at work or other locations potentially as much as 14,000 miles per year electric
3KWh pack would only add 20kg mass to the car and maybe $750 cost but you'd save on maintenance as the gasoline engine would be on less of the time
Also in theory 1 sqm of solar on its roof would add potentially 1,500 miles of range per year from the solar roof that would be amazing. If you could fit 2 sqm of solar that would be 3,000 miles oer year solar!!
Right? How difficult would it be to put a 20kwh battery under the rear seats or something like the discontinued Chevy Volt. That was a great car.
my thoughts exactly or just every new car be a hybrid. So much more gas would be saved not burning so much at stop lights and in traffic which also means less emissions. and hybrids dont need to be lithium powered too, there are other battery tech that can be used as well.
imagine the infrastructure you need to charge all cars because they are all electric now, and how much fuel you need to burn to produce that amount of electricity, if you even have the power facilities that can support that. yes there is renewable energy, but not enough to cover this. imagine what the price of lithium will become and thus he price of the car if you put that much demand on it.
and then after you build all this infrastructure which will take years, you'll have something else that will trend and get traction like hydrogen cars maybe, then all that infrastructure and the money put on it is wasted for nothing
Imagine eating a steak without killing cows. Would you do it? How would you expect everyone to do the same
I've owned 2 Toyota Prius cars. I wasn't winning any races, but I loved and appreciated the technology. My first was a blue used 2007 which I traded in for a new silver 2012 Model 4 Prius. I loved both cars especially the latter which also had solar panels as well plus a really nice-looking sunroof. It was, (to me), a pretty good-looking Prius. The solar panel was pretty cool except it only powered fans that would cool the car during summer months.
I've got a '21 Prius Prime and I love it. The 25-29 miles I get on it is good enough for 90% of my driving. 44 miles would be perfect. I probably put gas in my car once every 3 months because we occasionally need to drive a couple hundred miles for business or pleasure. The '21 Prius Prime was an improvement in looks but this new Prius styling is great.
I like the design and the fact that they've kept a display behind the steering wheel and lots of physical tactile buttons. I wonder if the electric windows can be stopped mid-way.
wouldn't doubt they stop mid-way - it would be a bit silly if they didn't!
I'd love to see a car with a "park mode" where the trunk opens and instead of a convertible roof coming out of it, solar panels unfold, like satellites, to create a canopy that covers the entire car with panels while parked, making the solar recharge significant. RVs have slide outs when parked. Adding more surface area for the panels would make the range gain go from 4 miles to 16+ miles each DAY
Brilliant idea
Your reviews are always top shelf- and the solar is really a nice touch. Great review 🤘
More of these "low-end" showcases please. While the bleeding edge is nice and all, it's nice to reviews that are more relatable and/or grounded for most people. _b
Low end 🤣🤣🤣 it's a 50k car lol
@Hirav Parekh lol all Clip-Sharers want to review super cars
prefer marcus reviews for those kind of cars too. i think its more intune with the tech channel
@Hirav Parekh It's the top end trim of the car dummy. There are cheaper versions, which is what he is talking about.
That was confusing for you I guess.
“It’s a Prius guys there’s not a lot for me to talk about”. He needs to humble up, his audience is regular people who want to see these kinds of cars. So out of touch. 7:53
I was given a test drive of the original Toyota Prius (First Generation) many years ago. I was impressed. Huge windshield, great field of view. Comfortable and quiet. Best part, it drove like a regular car.
Great coverage. Wondering if the solar would contribute to keeping the car cool during summer heat??
Solar on the roof makes sense and hopefully will get better. The trunk setup on this looks good. How well did you fit in that back seat?
And the Dodge Ram Charger had fast windows. Always thought it was going to break. This is not a fast window.
a great car and the cost makes it even more impressive
Whoever designed this needs a raise 🔥
It's funny that the tech was pretty much spot on with the first generation but it took them 25 years to get the design right.
Earlier Prius Prime looks good too. Its normal prius that looked like an abomination.
@Kacpa2 Which normal Prius. The Prius C did not looked bad at all, it was kind of sporty, at least in how it handled due to the low center of gravity and suspension.
@Hedgehog The Sonic Not the Prius C. 2015-2023 non Prime one. on wikipedia is the fourth generation.
Yeah and in all that time it STILL has only 40ish miles of electric range....why bother??🥱
@BILL HANNA 40 miles of electric range is enough.
I think you might have sold a bunch of Priuses for Toyota.
And that’s a good thing.
You touched on what appealed to me about plug-in hybrids: most days you can run around on electric, but if you need to hit the road, range anxiety and infrastructure availability are not concerns.
Another sort of positive factor, at least in the near term: allocation of resources. If most days you drive a fully electric car fewer than 40 miles, you are carrying around batteries that you aren’t using (but you did pay for them)…and if battery manufacturing capacity is still an issue, those under-utilized batteries could be powering five or ten more plug-in hybrid cars.
Eventually that problem will disappear, as will the infrastructure shortcomings.
But for now, for the reasons you mention, a plug-in hybrid seemed like a great choice when I needed a car in 2020, so I got a Prius Prime (that model gets only 25-30 miles of electric range). I liked it so well that when I needed another car in 2021 I got a RAV4 Prime (similarly satisfying).
Thanks for the interesting video.
This genuinely looks really good! I just wish you'd gone into more detail about what it's like to drive - even with the extra power is it still basically boring?
I think the trunk opening speed is just fine. Especially if it doesnt have any advanced sensors to prevent collision.
I think it really makes sense. I like the solar panels because 2 free miles gained is really cool for just leaving it in the sun. My drive to work is 8 miles. So I’d basically never be using the gas engine.
Usually, batteries decline after time, even if you dont use your EV. This Solar is not keeping only your state, but also keeps your in healthy condition. Thumbs up!
As someone who typically works from home and doesnt drive until the weekends, The solar panel actually seems functional
minus the fact I'd have it stored in the garage. I'd prob opt for a useable sunroof if that was an option.
@Matt I think that’s definitely an option, a panoramic roof will definitely make it seem more roomy since the roof is very low.
The new Prius is pretty awesome!
It's like my Chevy Volt from 2013.
A more useful purchase would be a battery bank with a solar panel which could be used to trickle charge the car a little every day using the standard 110V EVSE plugged into the battery bank. Granted, it isn't as cool as telling your friends you have a solar panel on your roof, but it would be more useful and probably cost less.
An off grid home charging solution with 800W solar and 5-10kwh of battery could probably also be put together for less than the cost of the panel option on the car (unsure of the cost of that option though).
Until you realize that the solar panel doesn't even generate enough power to overcome phantom drain.
My 2013 plug in Prius, driven in the mountains in Idaho along with some freeway cruising, posted 69.8 mpg the last fillup, common thru the warmer months, less of course during the winter. HYBRIDS, especially plug in hybrids, are by far the best bang for the buck.
New subscriber, 75 years young, and haven’t seen the peace sign for decades now. I enjoyed the candid approach used here with just the right amount of information and impressions. Well done!
This would be perfect for my commute. I do 60km both ways, and this would nearly cover that whole distance on battery. I also park in the sun at work! Looks pretty slick.
For crowded city living, this seems great, for us in Florida where your usual daily commute to work is 15-25 miles, not so great. But don't get me wrong this is actually really cool and I'm itching for the day where solar is good enough where cars can run off it purely!
Solar makes a lot of sense on Aptera, by the way. The Prius Prime weighs 3,500 lb and has a drag coefficient of 0.27. Aptera is all about efficiency - 0.13 drag coefficient => 25 kWh battery pack => ~1,800 lb weight => Up to 40 miles of range per day from the Sun.
7:57 Technically, it does have a "sunroof." 😉
😂 true
AYOOOOOOOO!
All sunroof, no moonroof.
All a real sunroof is anyway, is a poor mans convertible.
Wow lol 😂
Until I can get an EV battery charged from dead or swapped out in under 20 minutes, I'll always consider Hybrid the right motor for me. You can also add extended battery packs for the older prius, maybe the new, that is electrically isolated from the car computer, which gives you more range with electric mode.
They actually managed to design something that looks good, while being a Prius.
Looks really nice, wished the back was more on par with the front and the sides though.
Has a very sporty lookto it, specially from the side.
I want this car or something similar to it when I'm ready to trade out my 2015 camaro.
I really love the solar roof top as it more than likely also serves to keep your car cooler too. The little battery life it gains isn't that great, but its better than nothing!
Does anyone know if the plug in would also accept charge from a solar generator?
Solar panel is a sweet feature too because if someone, which they shouldn't, forgets to fill up their car w/ gas and is too far from an electric charging station they'd normally be royally screwed but...in theory....they might be able to just wait it out for more power, however, that would take a long time. A very, very long time. Probably wouldn't be a saving grace for anyone but the extra range from the panel could be the difference between someone getting to a gas/charging station and being stuck on the side of the road.
As an owner of RAV4 Prime, the EV only range is a conservative range. By default it was programmed so that if you live in an area with lots of hills or a fast-ish driver, that range will match where and how you drive. The car will learn where you live and how you drive and then the range will adjust. After 2 months during the warm season, the range of my RAV4 prime went from 42 miles when I picked it up from the dealership to 54 miles after learning about me.
That’s cool, but also kind of freaky that the car is basically AI.
Man you're so lucky to have a RAV4 Prime. Here in Canada the waitlist to get one is 5 f*cking years.
Yeah, don't count on the estimate. Try driving those 54 electric miles first before getting excited about it.
@Tal Aviv In a lab and unrealistic WLTP measurement tool: anything is possible.
I LOVE the way this looks. I had an '08 Prius that I had for.. 6 or 7 years I think? I eventually traded it in for my current-drive '18 Chevy Bolt. It was close at the time whether or not I went to the EV, or bought a new hybrid. Might have gone with this if it was available at the time
The order of vehicles really should have been gas, electric, then hybrid being the newest technology. Toyota has always been ahead of the curve.
I love my 3rd gen Prius, best ride on the road. I will be getting another, but mine has 160k, looks and runs like a brand new car, has held up fantastic, and it is a beast in the snow where I'm at in Michigan. There will probably be a newer generation before I buy again. I hope they bring back the utility of the 3rd gen with their next iteration.
Even though its July 2023, the new Prious hasnt reached us in sunny Israel but Marcus presentation really entered me to the shoppers line. Thanks for a well done presentention! Dov
Design-wise... it's come a long way. Good to see they've kept the signature rear.
solar panels for EVs are so underrated IMO. If you live in the city and rely on street parking (i.e. can't charge at home) just the "battery goes up instead of down when not driving", no matter how little, makes a world of difference
No matter how little? I think it does matter lol
@Nick V as long as it's going up and not down (more than the idle drain). Without that I have to go to my car *just* to charge it if I don't drive for a while.
You could literally never get stuck. Pretty awesome to me. Imagine camping for a week, you’d have enough to get home…for free!
as a glass guy, they’re gonna be a pain in the ass and expensive to change if it breaks
@Ian repairability is always a concern with any increase in product complexity. No argument.
So I might actually buy this. I want something with good gas milage and with the amount of weekly driving I do I would never have to get gas, and it looks good. Awesome car.
First time viewer here; I appreciate the low key and very useful review of this new Prius Prime. I hope these new Prius' are sufficiently available when I walk into a dealer so that finding one I like is possible.
Going from a no-tech, plain metal key NB Miata to one of these should be an interesting experience in learning how to use all the technical bells and whistles. Being 79 years old, my only real concern is if the new Prius is as hard to exit as the Miata. If it is, I may need to go with the RAV4 Prime.
Or just keep the Miata and consider the entering and exiting as a form of exercise.
Thank you for informative review.
Hope the design team got a big raise, did a beautiful job and I think will age great
The previous Prius Prime for me is like a spaceship. Especially the back side with bended rear glass. Even Teslas look like obsolete cars in comparison with it. The new Prius - modern but nothing outstanding.
@ittakir Modern ? It harks back to the Celica from early 2000. A car that still draws heads today.
That cool sound at the end is actually really cool. I live in an apartment above a busy intersection in Pasadena and the constant sound of people locking and unlocking their vehicles with a loud horn is so insanely annoying. All manufacturers need to start doing what that new Prius is doing.
Also, the solar panels on the roof is super cool! Now I want one
I like watching your videos Marquez. For me, i feel optimistic and positive. I feel alright after watching your videos unlike most others on yt. Thank you for what you do :D
Since I've owned it, my 2020 plug-in Hybrid has averaged almost 400MPG! Only 25K, no range anxiety. SERIOUSLY UNDERRATED.
Important to note that the Prius is the world's first production hybrid electric car. First sold in Japan, 1997.
Some say the Honda insight is but at something else
No, Porsche developed the first hybrid electric vehicle. Electric vehicle has a long history.
@Haijia Zhu tbh a proper mass production one it kind of is.
@Eduardo Espinoza Honda Insight was the first to North America
@Haijia Zhu The Porsche was a prototype. First mass produced hybrid is in fact the Prius.
If you park in the sun to use your solar roof the question is: How long do you have to park there to get enough charging to cool the car down with the AC and have charge left instead of parking in the shadow
Solar panel charging is cool it may be minimal but its at least an option. I wonder if in sunny climates how useful it will be.
What's also cool is that this Prius is made in Japan. Unlike those in the 90s, very few Japanese cars nowadays are made in Japan. They are usually built outside of Japan
Timely video. My 2012 Prius has heart 200k miles and I’m going to have to upgrade before long. Planning to get another hybrid and this looks like an attractive option.
The reason you don't want the hatch to open really fast in case you have your head/face anywhere over the back edge of the hatch. You don't want to be accidentally smacked by that hatch. TBH, it doesn't need to super fast opening for any advantageous reason. When it comes to heavy electrically moved parts is't best to move in a slow controlled speed. Safety first.
Something not covered here is just how good and seamless it looks in black. I was shocked the first time I saw one drive by.
Thats every car, in my opinion no matter what car you have if it has a good black paint job it takes it to a completely different level, all 3 of my cars have been black!
@Austin unfortunately it absorbs heat from the sun a little too well so I have never owned one here in Australia 😢
I like the idea of the plug in hybrid. A gas tank can be virtually untouched accept on few occasions like traveling... but it's there so you don't need to waste time at charging stations on long trips.
Gasoline has an issue, the engine, full EV have another (minor issue), the battery. However, hybrids have two issues, engine issues and battery. Twice the worry.
@CelebrityLyrics valid point. But I'd much rather have the capabilities the new prius offers over going full EV. I just wish they'd do this set up with the tacoma or tundra so you can have a short commute truck to save on fuel that a normal truck would drink up.
two problems, when running on gas you hav the wight of the batteries, on the way around, there is the wheight of the engine. Hybrids are not efficient!
@paulo diasThat 55 miles per gallon says otherwise
@Exile what is a "commute truck"?
When I get a new car, I'll be getting this one I think.
It's everything I want in a car right now honestly.
I have driven a Prius for over 10 years. The "I have to get in front of the Prius" is strong in too many people... happens a lot when you pass them on the highway as well.
One of my favorite things about Toyota is the fact that they keep all the tactile physical buttons
Pretty impressive. I would get it if I had the money. Nice design too.
A beautiful and excellent hybrid. Hybrids are definitely part of the solution as the world transitions from what we have to what we want. Hope to see more hybrids this well designed from other legacy automotive manufacturers.
Electric cars are terrible for the environment. Here are some reasons why
1. Child labor and rare metal mining: The production of electric vehicle batteries relies on rare metals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel. Unfortunately, the extraction of these minerals often occurs in countries where labor and environmental regulations are lax. This can lead to unethical mining practices, including the exploitation of child labor, hazardous working conditions, and ecosystem destruction. It is crucial to ensure responsible sourcing and promote transparency throughout the supply chain to address these concerns.
2. Carbon emissions from battery production: The manufacturing process for electric vehicle batteries, which involves mining, refining, and processing of raw materials, requires a substantial amount of energy. Depending on the energy sources used during battery production, significant carbon emissions may be generated. These emissions need to be considered when evaluating the overall environmental impact of electric vehicles.
3. Battery disposal and recycling: Electric car batteries have a limited lifespan and eventually need to be replaced. The disposal of used batteries can pose environmental challenges, as they contain hazardous materials that need proper handling and recycling. Without appropriate recycling infrastructure in place, there is a risk of improper disposal, leading to pollution and potential harm to ecosystems.
4. Charging infrastructure limitations: While expanding charging infrastructure is necessary for widespread electric vehicle adoption, it can also have environmental implications. Constructing charging stations requires land development, electricity infrastructure upgrades, and resource consumption, which can impact natural habitats and ecosystems if not adequately managed.
@Sam Sir, this is a Wendy's.
What we want in america perhaps, not in developing nations.
I saw one on the way home yesterday, and I literally had to take a double take at it, because it looked so damn good and unique. I had to speed up to get a good look at it, and was shocked out of my mind when I saw the badge saying Toyota Prius. That's putting it mildly too. This thing is beautiful in person. I still can't believe it's a Prius. I've always thought they were hideous in styling. But this one, OMG it's a beauty.
I bought my 2013 Chevy Volt with 55k miles on it in 2017 for about $13k and use the car primarily for daily work commute and errands around the town. Daily roundtrip work commute average is about 18 miles. Per full charge, I still get about 40 miles of range and the car often reminds me to use the ICE engine to use the old gasoline. I average only about six visits to the gas station per year. One of the best investments I've made!
i saw one of these yesterday, and it really caught my eye cuz of how sleek and sporty it looks. It's about time that MFR's realize that electric cars don't have to be ugly