Only two 2021 Prius modelsLE AWD-e and XLE AWD-einclude all trim levels from the Prius and Prius Prime. Starting at $27,135, the LE AWD-e variant has a 51/47/49 mpg rating. The XLE AWD-e is rated 51/47/49 and has a starting price of $29,575 as well. The only AWD trims are the L Eco, 2020 Edition, and Limited. The LE, XLE, and Limited grades of the 2021 Prius Prime are also all FWD-only vehicles.
In This Article...
What is AWD-e?
The 2021 Prius’s AWD-e system combines conventional FWD with a 5.7kW rear-wheel electric motor to deliver AWD when it’s required. In contrast, when AWD is engaged, a conventional AWD linkage system uses a full-length driveshaft to transfer about 20% of the vehicle’s power to the rear wheels. Direct power is dynamically sent to the back axle by the AWD-e electric motor. This results in reduced power loss and rapid torque when it is required. The AWD-e system can travel up to 43 mph, which makes it ideal for safely accelerating from an ice stop or navigating on slick metropolitan streets.
Can the Toyota Prius AWD handle snow?
The Toyota Prius is capable of making a smooth drive in light snow for a hybrid fastback of its size.
Although its performance in light snow is somewhat limited by its 5.3-inch ground clearance, the Prius nevertheless performs admirably.
With its light steering and robust brakes, the Toyota Prius exemplifies agility and is sturdy enough to push through snow.
Additionally, it has an available all-wheel drive system that sends torque assistance if either of your wheels start to lose grip.
Snowy driving conditions frequently result in low traction, but the Toyota Prius’ All-Wheel-Drive will be equipped to deal with it.
Overall, the Toyota Prius performs admirably for a hybrid vehicle in snowy conditions.
When did Prius introduce AWD?
The U.S. market Prius range debuted an all-wheel drive model using Toyota’s E-Four system in late November 2018 for the 2019 model year. Since 2015, hybrid variants of the RAV4 and Lexus NX as well as the Prius sold in the Japanese market have had access to this. [70] A revamp of the Prius’ headlights and taillights was also made, and it was unveiled on December 17 in Japan. [71]
In the US, Toyota debuted the Nightshade Edition in 2021 for the 2022 model year. It painted the external trim pieces black, just as other Nightshade versions. It was offered with a FWD or AWD-e drivetrain and in three different exterior colors. [72]
Is the hybrid Toyota Prius AWD?
The Toyota Prius is still a very effective hatchback in 2022, but it isn’t the must-have hybrid it once was. Although its wedge-shaped design tries to increase fuel efficiency, it is not attractive. With only 121 horsepower, the powertrain can only accelerate slowly. The Hyundai Ioniq Blue beats the Prius Eco model, attaining 59 mpg, while the Prius Eco model offers an EPA combined rating of 56 mpg. The Prius is the only compact hybrid that has all-wheel drive, which is a bonus, but it doesn’t change how lethargic it is to drive. The Honda Insight sedan just outperforms the Toyota, while the Toyota Corolla Hybrid is more affordable and nearly as fuel-efficient. Unfortunately, the 2022 Prius struggles to remain relevant in a market niche it helped to establish.
Can a Prius be fitted with winter tires?
The Prius’s low fuel consumption is one of its many wonderful features. The fact that a Prius has thin, low rolling resistance tires contributes to its excellent fuel economy. Low rolling resistance tires offer much less traction, which causes more road slippage even if this boosts miles per gallon. This is especially true when it is snowing or icy outside. The answer? Take your Prius out with snow tires.
- The Prius is a front-wheel drive vehicle, which means that more than 60% of its weight is up front. This enables greater control on slick surfaces, yet snow tires are strongly advised due to the low rolling resistance tires.
The Toyota Prius’s snow-handling capabilities
It works out fairly nicely, in fact. Over the course of several wintry days, I traveled between 10 and 298 miles in a 2017 Toyota Prius Two Eco, combining city and highway driving.
How It Drives in Snow
I was able to drive the Prius on several icy and snow-covered roads before the December temperatures threatened to reach a record high for Chicago on the last day of my loan to see how it handled the hazardous winter weather.
The Prius is a front-wheel-drive car with all-season tires as standard, according to Toyota. All-season tires are adequate, but winter tires give better traction and performance.
I observed no difference in tire traction throughout my test compared to any other all-season-shod vehicle I had been evaluating.
The Toyota Prius also tends to understeer, which means the front end stays moving straight even as you tilt the steering wheel to steer into a bend, making it a generally predictable vehicle to drive in the snow. Every time I tested this, as soon as I let off on the gas or used the brakes lightly, the front end of the Prius found traction, allowing me to make the turn. Once more, this experience is comparable to other front-wheel-drive cars I’ve driven in snow.
What has changed
The car’s brakes felt a little “grabby” in the snow, which took me off guard a few occasions. This is mostly because the regenerative braking mechanism of the gas-electric hybrid car uses energy lost during stopping to recharge the battery. Before you come to a complete stop while traveling at a slow pace, there is an abrupt increase in braking force, which causes the automobile to jolt to a stop. It took some getting used to, but when I wasn’t wearing my cozy but cumbersome winter boots, I was better able to modulate the pedal and had smoother stops.
How It Braves the Cold
Battery life is negatively impacted by cold air, as anyone with a smartphone can attest. The Prius, however, differs from a phone in that it has an engine and exhaust fumes as its own heat source.
Toyota claims that the exhaust heat recirculation system of the automobile enables the heater and hybrid system to be warmed by the heat from the exhaust gases.
However, it should be noted that if you tend to venture outside in extremely cold weather, the Prius owner’s manual warns that “it may not be possible to start the hybrid system when the hybrid battery (traction battery) is extremely cold (below approximately minus 22 degrees Farenheit [minus 30 degrees Celsius]). In this instance, consider restarting the hybrid system once the battery temperature has risen as a result of rising outside temperatures, etc.
The automobile has been left outside all night in temps as low as 15 F during my testing, with the coldest starting temperature being 21 F. I regret not having had the opportunity to explore the Prius’ lesser capabilities. What I did observe is that the Prius began to operate right away, and the gas engine began to operate nearly quickly to help the climate control system. The Prius Eco started on warmer days with a high temperature of 52 F and ran in electric mode for a while before switching to the gasoline engine.
Mileage
I averaged 42.9 mpg on the coldest day while combining city and highway driving, which is much less than the Prius’ EPA-estimated 56 mpg combined fuel economy figure. It’s possible that the Prius’s prolonged exposure to cold weather played a role, but it’s also true that I kept the climate control set at 74 degrees Fahrenheit, which is not the most efficient approach to increase fuel efficiency.
I traveled 596 miles on the highway in the Prius. The Prius achieved 51.9 mpg on the portion of the journey that began at 27 F and warmed to 37 F. The Prius achieved 51.2 mpg for the return trip, which began at 52 degrees, warmed to 66 degrees, and ended at 49 degrees. Again, these numbers fall short of the EPA’s anticipated 58 mpg highway fuel efficiency figures, despite the fact that the agency doesn’t test vehicles in windy conditions or during peak holiday traffic.
Equipment Hits and Misses
Because my first car didn’t have a defroster, I have a thing for cars that defrost windows quickly in the cold, and the Prius does not disappoint. It rapidly removed the fog and made it simple for me to see where I was going despite the wide windshield and quantity of glass in both the front and rear of the vehicle.
Sadly, the Prius Eco lacks a feature that might have been useful occasionally during my drive: a back windshield wiper. The rear wiper comes standard on all other Prius levels.
After utilizing the Prius to transport groceries, Christmas packages, and skis, I can finally understand why it’s so well-liked on the trails. The Prius is spacious inside, and I found it to have a better cargo space than several of the small SUVs I’ve tried, particularly the Ford Escape and Mazda CX-5. However, there is one downside: Contrary to those SUVs, the cargo floor has a lip that can grab objects instead of being flush with the back of the vehicle. If it weren’t there, I would prefer it.
Overall
Overall, even though the mileage numbers are low, they don’t really surprise me because I wasn’t trying to squeeze out any extra miles by not using the cruise control or turning off the air conditioning. As with any other car, I drove the Prius as I would any other one, and I typically came near to but didn’t reach the fuel economy estimates.
I don’t often go outside when it’s that cold, so even while the idea of owning a car that might not start at 22 below zero might worry me, that’s not really the case. I truly don’t mean “don’t often” when I say “don’t often.” Similarly, although there are days when I believe I would prefer all-wheel drive, the reality is that front-wheel drive is enough in the types of conditions I typically drive in.
Of course, it must be acknowledged that the abrupt warmth we encountered prevented us from testing the Prius’ full capabilities in the cold. Maybe the next time I can test its performance in cold weather by traveling a little further.
What drawbacks come with owning a Toyota Prius?
Since its launch, the Toyota Prius has been one of the most popular hybrid cars available. Although rival automakers attempt to replicate the Prius’s popularity, Toyota continues to dominate the hybrid market. The fourth-generation Toyota Prius, which debuted in 2018, has several great features to offer, including its plug-in model, the Prius Prime, which was added to the lineup in 2017.
Due to the Prius’ recent redesign in 2016, don’t anticipate too many modifications till 2019. The 2018 Toyota Prius has many upgrades over the 2017 models in terms of features and specifications. Toyota’s new TNGA platform is now being used to construct the Prius. The greatest difference for this year is that all models now come standard with alloy wheels.
Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2018 Toyota PriusThe Pros
1. Excellent Fuel Efficiency
The 2018 Toyota Prius has outstanding fuel efficiency. No matter which trim level you select, you will get roughly 54 mpg in the city and 50 mpg on the highway. Finding something else with as good of a fuel efficiency is challenging, thus the Prius naturally benefits greatly from this.
2. A large interior
The 2018 Toyota Prius’ cabin is surprisingly roomy for such a compact car. Although those in the back seats might feel a little crammed, those in the front seats will have plenty of head, shoulder, and leg room.
3. A number of Regular Active Safety Features
It is hardly surprising that the Prius boasts a lengthy list of standard and available active safety measures given how highly Toyota values safety. Pre-Collision warning, pedestrian recognition, automatic high beams, and Lane-Departure alert are all parts of the Toyota Safety Sense suite that are included as standard equipment on all models.
4. User-Friendly Controls
The 2018 Toyota Prius has controls that are all easily accessible and have clear markings. No need to speculate as to what a knob or button might do. From the driver’s position, it is simple to access all controls, and a number of significant controls are mounted on the steering wheel.
5. Simple Entry and Exit
It’s simple to get in and out of the car, especially up front. There is adequate height for persons of any stature to swing their legs out, and doors swing out fairly far. Additionally, you won’t have to be concerned about exiting without hitting your head on the doorframe.
6. Excellent Side and Front Visibility
Although rear view is limited, front roof pillars are sufficiently thin to provide good front and side visibility. Drivers won’t have any trouble determining how far their front bumper is from another car or the sidewalk thanks to the excellent, large front windshield.
7. There is Ample Cargo Space
The 2018 Toyota Prius has a surprisingly significant amount of cargo space, despite the fact that it may not seem like it. It is possible to maximize the luggage capacity by folding down the 60/40 split rear seats, which makes it simple to transport heavy objects.
The Infotainment System, 8.
One of the best systems available is the infotainment system from Toyota. The standard Prius comes equipped with a four-speaker radio system, Bluetooth, USB connector, and a 6.1-inch touchscreen infotainment display. As you move up in trim levels, you can add satellite radio, navigation, and the Etune app suite to the mix for a fairly affordable price.
9. Flexible Steering
On the Prius, steering feels responsive and intuitive. Any driver will observe that they receive a lot of feedback, particularly about how the steering system handles challenging curves and twisting roads. You will feel more confident performing these kinds of turns as you obtain smaller tires.
Secure Handling 10.
The Prius handles well and is a fairly sporty little car. While driving in most weather conditions, the car seems quite balanced and steady despite the tires’ little lack of traction.
buying advice
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Reasons Not to Buy a 2018 Toyota PriusThe Cons
1. Riding Comfort
The 2018 Toyota Prius features a firm ride quality, which is perhaps its major flaw. The tires are undoubtedly made to provide decent mileage rather than to cushion every bump on the road. Even the Prius c hatchback is a little more pleasant than the standard Prius, which can be very bumpy when driving over even the slightest amount of bad road topography.
2. Slow Accumulation
The Prius is not particularly good at accelerating. Although the Prius can accelerate reasonably well compared to other cars in its class, it is designed for fuel efficiency rather than cruising at high speeds. You may need to think about purchasing a totally new vehicle if you want something with a little more oomph.
3. Subpar interior components
The Toyota Prius has this drawback with some of Toyota’s other contemporary models. The inside has the appearance of being made with inferior materials. The cloth upholstery and several of the knobs and buttons appear to be prone to wear and tear with time, even though nothing appears to be about to break at any second.
4. Loud Cabin While Highway Speeds
There is no mistaking it: this car is not silent! When trying to get the Toyota Prius to travel beyond 55 miles per hour on the highway, you will have to put up with a lot of road, wind, and engine noise in addition to its stiff ride quality. The engine frequently complains when the car is pressed to move fast, and the cabin appears to lack the necessary insulation to keep part of the outside noise out.
How it compares to the opposition:
With its 58 mpg fuel efficiency, which is unquestionably best-in-class for this year, the 2018 Hyundai Inoiq Hybrid is a top-tier rival for the Prius. The Ioniq, on the other hand, is less roomy and has a smaller plug-in range.
Despite having a lower fuel economy than previous models, the 2018 Honda Civic Hybrid performs well on highways and in cities. The Civic is quite roomy and has a ton of safety equipment.
Overall, the 2018 Toyota Prius is a roomy, very fuel-efficient vehicle. The Prius is still one of the top hybrid sales performers due to its focus on fuel efficiency, even if it will need to step it up in 2019 to compete with newer hybrid models from other automakers.