The Toyota Prius arrived in the United States in 2000 amid the SUV boom with the sole purpose of squeezing as many miles as possible out of a gallon of gas. Before the Prius, a “hybrid car” was not something American consumers had seen, let alone driven.
A little over a decade later in 2012, Toyota brought a plug-in version to market with a bigger battery. The Prius could now run on electricity alone for short trips before switching back to its hybrid system for everything else.
For the 2027 model year, Toyota is again offering both versions of its legendary Prius: the standard hybrid and the Plug-in Hybrid, with the latter being a hard sell over the original once you factor everything in. As seen in the chart below, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid costs about $5,000 more than the standard hybrid at every trim level, once Toyota’s $1,295 dealer processing and handling fee is factored in.
Standard Trim
Starting MSRP
Plug-in Hybrid Trim
Starting MSRP
Difference
LE
$30,050
SE
$35,275
$5,225
XLE
$33,495
XSE
$38,525
$5,030
Nightshade
$34,300
Nightshade
$39,295
$4,995
Limited
$37,065
XSE Premium
$41,970
$4,905
In addition to its higher MSRP, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid’s gas-only mileage is lower than that of the standard 2027 Prius once the battery is out of the picture. Worse mileage on top of a higher sticker price means that for most buyers, the standard Prius will be the better option.
However, to gain a more clear understanding, we pulled some Toyota spec sheets and compared a full tank in the standard Prius with a full tank and a full charge for the Plug-in Hybrid.
How the powertrains compare
Engine, motors, and battery size for each Prius
Both versions of the 2027 Prius use Toyota’s fifth-generation Hybrid System, pairing a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with electric motor-generators through a continuously variable transmission.
The standard Prius has a small hybrid battery rated at 222 volts and 4.08 amp-hours, working out to under one kilowatt-hour. It’s enough to power low-speed electric driving in limited instances and to store energy recovered from braking. Net system horsepower is 194 for front-wheel drive models and 196 for all-wheel drive models.
Quiz
8 Questions · Test Your Knowledge
Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid
Trivia challenge
Think you know the car that redefined eco-friendly driving? Put your
knowledge to the test.
HistoryTechnologyRangeFeaturesPerformance
Begin
In what year did Toyota first introduce the Prius Plug-in Hybrid to the global
market?
A2009B2010C2012D2015
Correct! Toyota launched the first-generation Prius Plug-in Hybrid (PHV)
globally in 2012, building on a limited lease program that began in 2010. It marked a major step forward
by allowing owners to charge from a standard outlet.
Not quite. The Prius Plug-in Hybrid made its global debut in 2012,
though a limited lease trial program did run in select markets in 2010. The production model brought
plug-in capability to mainstream buyers for the first time.
Continue
Approximately how many miles of all-electric range does the fourth-generation Toyota
Prius Prime (2023) offer on a full charge?
A15 milesB25 milesC44 milesD60 miles
Correct! The 2023 Toyota Prius Prime dramatically improved its EV range
to around 44 miles, up from just about 25 miles in the previous generation. This made it one of the most
capable plug-in hybrids in its class.
Not quite. The 2023 Prius Prime offers approximately 44 miles of
all-electric range, a huge leap over the roughly 25 miles the third-generation model provided. Toyota’s
engineers focused heavily on improving battery capacity for this update.
Continue
What type of battery chemistry does the Toyota Prius Prime use to store energy for
its plug-in electric driving?
ANickel-metal hydride (NiMH)BSolid-state lithiumCLithium-ionDLead-acid
Correct! The Prius Prime uses a lithium-ion battery pack, which offers a
better energy density than the older nickel-metal hydride batteries used in standard Prius hybrids. This
allows for a larger usable capacity without excessive weight.
Not quite. The Prius Prime relies on lithium-ion battery technology
rather than the nickel-metal hydride cells found in non-plug-in Prius models. Lithium-ion chemistry
enables the larger battery capacity needed for meaningful all-electric range.
Continue
What is the combined system horsepower of the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime?
A121 hpB150 hpC220 hpD180 hp
Correct! The 2023 Prius Prime produces a combined system output of 220
horsepower, making it significantly quicker than its predecessors. Toyota’s redesign prioritized driving
excitement alongside efficiency.
Not quite. The 2023 Prius Prime delivers a combined 220 horsepower from
its hybrid system, a major performance jump over earlier generations. Toyota wanted to shed the Prius’s
reputation for being slow and uninspiring to drive.
Continue
Which charging standard does the Toyota Prius Prime use for its onboard AC charging
port?
ACHAdeMOBCCS Combo 1CJ1772 (Type 1)DTesla NACS
Correct! The Prius Prime uses the SAE J1772 (Type 1) connector, which is
the standard Level 2 AC charging port used across most non-Tesla plug-in vehicles in North America. It
does not support DC fast charging.
Not quite. The Prius Prime charges via the SAE J1772 connector, the
common Level 2 AC standard for North American plug-in vehicles. Unlike some EVs, it does not feature DC
fast-charging capability, so charging happens via a standard outlet or Level 2 home charger.
Continue
What name did Toyota use when it rebranded and redesigned the Prius Plug-in Hybrid
starting with the second generation in 2017?
APrius Hybrid PlusBPrius PHVCPrius PrimeDPrius EV
Correct! Toyota introduced the ‘Prius Prime’ name for the
second-generation plug-in model in 2017, replacing the earlier ‘Prius Plug-in Hybrid’ branding used in
North America. The name change reflected a more distinct identity for the plug-in variant.
Not quite. The second-generation plug-in Prius was renamed the Prius
Prime when it launched in 2017. Toyota used ‘Prius PHV’ in some markets like Japan, but ‘Prius Prime’
became the standard name in North America and many other regions.
Continue
What is the approximate combined MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) rating for the
2023 Toyota Prius Prime when running in electric mode?
A84 MPGeB107 MPGeC127 MPGeD150 MPGe
Correct! The EPA rates the 2023 Prius Prime at approximately 127 MPGe in
electric-only mode, reflecting outstanding efficiency for a plug-in hybrid. Its aerodynamic redesign and
improved drivetrain contributed significantly to this figure.
Not quite. The 2023 Prius Prime earns an EPA rating of around 127 MPGe
when operating in full electric mode. This places it among the most efficient plug-in hybrids available,
thanks in part to Toyota’s aerodynamic redesign and refined powertrain.
Continue
Which generation of the Toyota Prius Prime introduced a dramatic fastback roofline
and completely new exterior styling compared to the standard Prius?
AFirst generation (2012)BSecond generation (2017)CThird generation (2023)DThe Prius Prime has always shared identical styling with the standard Prius
Correct! The third-generation Prius Prime, launched for model year 2023,
debuted a bold new fastback design that visually distinguished it from the standard Prius more than ever
before. Toyota’s designers aimed for a sleek, coupe-like profile to boost appeal.
Not quite. It was the 2023 third-generation Prius Prime that introduced
the striking fastback roofline and aggressive new styling. Earlier generations shared much more of their
exterior design with the standard non-plug-in Prius, making them harder to tell apart.
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The Prius Plug-in Hybrid swaps in a planetary-type CVT connecting two motor-generators (Toyota calls them “MG1 and MG2”), alongside a 13.6 kWh lithium-ion battery, roughly 15 times the capacity of the standard hybrid’s battery. As a result, the larger battery pushes net system horsepower to 220 and gives the Plug-in Hybrid its EPA-estimated 44 miles of all-electric range on the SE trim, or 39 miles on the XSE, Nightshade, and XSE Premium.
The standard Prius has no comparable EV-only range. Its EV Mode exists mainly for slow, short-distance driving around a parking lot or small neighborhood, not for a real commute.
The plug-in hybrid’s battery adds up to 364 lbs.
Curb weight and fuel economy across every trim
The Plug-in Hybrid’s battery adds weight to the car, which is a major reason its total range is shorter than the standard Prius’.
Toyota spec sheets put the Plug-in Hybrid’s battery pack at 284 lbs. on its own, or 287 lbs. on the XSE Premium with the available solar roof. Curb weight differences between comparable trims run even higher than that, meaning the battery accounts for most (but not all) of the added weight.
SE (3,461 lbs.) versus LE FWD (3,097 lbs.): 364 lbs. heavier.
XSE and Nightshade (3,516 lbs.) versus XLE and Nightshade FWD (3,164 lbs.): 352 lbs. heavier.
XSE Premium (3,571 lbs.) versus Limited FWD (3,219 lbs.): 352 lbs. heavier.
This extra weight is reflected in the EPA combined mpg ratings for the 2027 model year. The SE trim of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid returns 51 combined once its battery runs dry, four mpg below the standard Prius LE and its 55 combined rating.
Meanwhile, the Plug-in Hybrid’s XSE, Nightshade, and XSE Premium return 47 mpg combined, four mpg below the XLE, Nightshade, and Limited trims of the standard Prius at 51 mpg.
Related
The different types of hybrid powertrains explained
Not all hybrids work the same way—here’s a simple guide to the different types of hybrid powertrains and how they differ.
Standard Prius still wins on total range
How far each Prius travels when full
Credit: Toyota
Toyota rates the Plug-in Hybrid’s total driving range, electric and gas combined, at 600 miles for the SE trim and 550 miles for the XSE, Nightshade, and XSE Premium.
The standard Prius does not get an official total range figure from Toyota, but its fuel capacity and combined mpg rating make it simple to calculate. Every FWD trim has an 11.3-gallon tank. The LE returns 55 mpg combined, for a calculated range of about 622 miles. The XLE, Nightshade, and Limited trims return 51 mpg combined from that same tank, for a calculated range of about 576 miles.
Lined up, trim level by trim level, the standard Prius travels farther on its own than the Plug-in Hybrid does on a full tank and a full charge combined:
Standard Prius LE (about 622 miles) vs. Plug-in Hybrid SE (600 miles): the standard Prius goes about 22 miles farther.
Standard Prius XLE, Nightshade, and Limited (about 576 miles) vs. Plug-in Hybrid XSE, Nightshade, and XSE Premium (550 miles): the standard Prius goes about 26 miles farther.
The Plug-in Hybrid’s 13.6 kWh battery is designed to reduce gasoline use on short trips, not to extend overall range. It pays off during easy-going commutes, as a driver may never touch the gas tank at all. But this advantage fades on longer, more demanding drives where all-electric power isn’t possible. Once that battery is depleted during the all-electric portion of a daily commute, its added weight works against the car, reducing gas mileage.
Since the standard Prius never carries that weight to begin with, its mileage holds steady from the first mile to the last, which is part of why it travels farther overall.
What we would pick here at How-To Geek
None of this makes the Plug-in Hybrid the wrong choice. A driver who plugs in every night and rarely drives past the battery’s 44-mile range could go weeks without visiting a gas station, something the standard Prius cannot do.
However, for those who want to maximize fuel economy, especially on longer or more demanding trips, the standard 2027 Prius is the better option. It’s also less expensive to purchase than its Plug-in Hybrid counterpart. Buyers should expect to pay about $5,000 more for the Plug-in Hybrid than for the standard Prius for the 2027 model year, regardless of trim level.