2022 Toyota Prius hybrid

The XLE trim of the 2022 Toyota Prius is the one to have in one's garage. The heated front seats and SofTex touches on the seat fill in the void of lower trim cabins. The added safety features over the base L Eco and bigger alloy wheel further enhance its price tag justification and makes it to be the most cost-effective in the lineup.   

"Although the segment has come a long way in the last 20 years, the funky Toyota hatchback is still a fierce competitor." - Motor Trend

The 2022 Toyota Prius is a 5-trim hybrid hatchback having L Eco as the base variant at $24,525. This configuration gets features such as the Fabric-trimmed seats and Audio Plus with 6-Speaker Sound system along with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 as standards. The LE comes next with a price of $25,735 with which Intelligent Clearance Sonar and Blind-Spot Monitor Units are further added to ensure a safe drive. 

 The XLE trim costs $28,575 and tends to enhance the comfort with Heated front SofTex-trimmed seats and heated steering wheel. It also receives 17-inch wheels to ride on instead of the 15-inch alloy wheels. The Nightshade Edition with an expense has been integrated with the same convenience as that of the XLE. The last in the queue is the Limited at $32,820 having an exclusive Navigation System, 10-speaker JBL premium audio system, and other assets.         

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"Sky-high fuel efficiency with front or all-wheel drive remains the main draw for Toyota's iconic Prius hybrid." - cars.com

The 2022 Toyota Prius Hybrid has been powered with a 1.8L I-4 hybrid powertrain that churns out 121 hp and 105 lb-ft of torque. It is coupled with a standard CVT either in RWD or AWDe. However, the optional AWDe can be availed of with LE, XLE, and Nightshade Edition trims only.  

The Toyota Prius Hybrid comes with a Drive Select Mode that makes shift among the EV, Eco, and Power modes. The Eco is simply meant for an economical drive while the Power can help you squeeze past quickly in the cities. But it feels a slight sluggish while throttling and the soft suspensions dampen undulation insignificantly. 

The 2022 Prius Hybrid accelerates from 0-60 MPH in 10.8 seconds while a quarter-mile takes 18 seconds on the clock. Apart from these, it has been armed with a regenerative brake system having 10-inch front vent and 10.2-inch rear disc rotors that bring it from 70-0 MPH within 194 ft.   

Based on the comparison, the Prius Hybrid is 1.1 seconds slower than the Ioniq Hybrid in 0-60 MPH. On the other hand, Honda Insight Hybrid has a 10 MPH higher top speed than its Toyota counterpart but is nearly $2,000 more expensive than the latter too.  

"The Toyota Prius is one of the highest-rated vehicles for fuel economy, and one of the most efficient models without a charge port." - The Car Connection

The 2022 Toyota Prius Hybrid has a fuel economy of 55 MPG overall that can be increased to 58 MPG in the cities. With its 11.3-gallon fuel tank, it returns a range coverage of over 600 miles in all driving conditions. 

As per data, the Toyota Prius Hybrid has 70 miles deficit in combined range practicality against the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid, thanks to 3 MPG better efficiency of the Hyundai. Meanwhile, the 2022 Prius Hybrid has 100 miles more range than the Kia Niro despite having a 0.6-gallon smaller tank.  

"The Prius is a fundamentally easy car to get into and drive. Aside from the shifter, all other controls will feel immediately comfortable to the majority of drivers." - Edmunds

The interior of the 2022 Toyota Prius Hybrid is an open spacious cabin with Fabric and SofTex seat trims on offer. The Fabric accents include the shades of Black and Moonstone while the SofTex adds Harvest Beige along with the same two Fabric formats.

Not just that, the SofTex-trimmed steering and seats available in the Toyota Prius Hybrid are incorporated with heat function from XLE onwards. Also, it has a smart-flow automatic climate control for interior temperature regulation and a cargo capacity of 27.4 cu-ft for loading necessary stuffs. 

The 2022 Prius Hybrid has a 12.2 cu-ft bigger cargo volume than Insight that reduces to 3 cu-ft when compared against the Ioniq Hybrid. However, both Ioniq and Insight come with 4-inch better legroom in the rear row. Meanwhile, the infotainment unit of the Prius Hybrid entails the Audio Plus with a 7-inch touchscreen as standard.   

The 6-speaker audio unit makes up for the musical notes and rhythms. However, one can experience the 10-speaker JBL premium audio system and use an 11.6-inch touchscreen in the Limited Trim. This trim also features the algorithm of the exclusive Navigation unit. The other notable features are: 

• 7-inch / 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• 6-speaker sound system 
• Power adjustable and heated front seats
• SofTex Upholstery on seats and steering wheel
• Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa integration
• Climate control with pollen filter

"The Prius has been an aesthetically polarizing car over the years, but that's part of the car's charm." - Kelley Blue Book

The 2022 Toyota Prius Hybrid remains the same in dimension and curves with its 8 exterior colors. The finishes of the Midnight Black Metallic, Electric Storm Blue, and Sea Glass Pearl make it stand out in the crowd. Though its fascia is tech armed with Bi-LEDs in pairing with High Beam Assist but it lacks the appeal of modern design cravings. 

The Toyota Prius Hybrid sprints on the tracks with its 15-inch and 17-inch alloy wheels as per trims. Moreover, the Adaptive Front Light System has been kept exclusive for the Limited trim. Swaying away from this brings the additional Premium Convenience Package at $515 into the light which adorns the top with a tilt/slide moonroof. 

From the numbers, it is evident that the 2022 Prius Hybrid has a 1-inch smaller ground clearance than the Kia Niro. This aids in going through extreme terrains or undulation-laden tracks. The Hyundai Ioniq, simultaneously, shares the curb weight and overall length and dimension with Prius to a large extent, resulting in parallel dynamics.

• Bi-LED projector low- and high-beam headlights with auto-off feature
• LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) with on/off feature
• 15-inch and 17-inch alloy wheels
• LED clearance lights
• Active grille shutter
• Heated power outside mirrors with folding feature

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"The Prius comes standard with a comprehensive suite of active-safety features." - CarsDirect

The 2022 Toyota Prius Hybrid is a structural sound platform that has a safety rating of 5-star by NHTSA and a "Good" by IIHS. However, it misses to be the part of the "Top Safety Pick" award. Regarding its standard and optional safety features, some of them have been listed down:  

• Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
• Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist
• Lane Tracing Assist
• Smart Stop Technology
• Road Sign Assist
• Blind Spot Monitor
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Automatic Collision Notification

2022 Toyota Prius Hybrid vs 2022 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid

The 2022 Toyota Prius Hybrid lags behind the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid in all parameters. Right from the performance to range practicality to seating spaciousness, the Ioniq is far superior to the Toyota Prius Hybrid and hence gets the preference. 

2022 Toyota Prius Hybrid vs 2022 Honda Insight Hybrid

The 2022 Toyota Prius Hybrid has an impressive range and fuel economy against the Honda Insight Hybrid. However, when it comes to performance and cabin roominess, especially in the rear row, the Insight takes the edge and comes out to be a better proposition than the Toyota Prius Hybrid. 

2022 Toyota Prius Hybrid vs 2022 Kia Niro Hybrid

Spacious on the inside and power performer on the outside, the Kia Niro is a step ahead of the 2022 Toyota Prius Hybrid. Though the miles coverage favors Toyota Prius Hybrid but it's not enough to make it a compelling choice between the two. 

The 2022 Toyota Prius is a decent hatchback for sale by the brand considering its features and technology. But the underwhelming sophistication inside the cabin in terms of comfort and engagement and the corresponding low power performance do stain its overall image against its rivals. Hence, the Hyundai Ioniq and other potent rivals can be further checked out before making it the final call.