The more time I spend with EVs (electric vehicles) and having to deal with charging
them and determining how far I can go on the current charge, the more I realize how
much better and more convenient hybrids are. Hybrids are still part EV, as they have a
battery and an electric motor, but thankfully they don’t rely on the battery 100 percent,
since they also have a conventional gas-powered internal combustion engine. And
probably the best hybrid on the road today is the one that made hybrid a household name
- the Toyota Prius.
When the Toyota Prius hybrid first made the scene 25 years ago, it was a breakthrough
for fuel economy and the auto industry as a whole. Since then, the Prius has been the
benchmark when it comes to hybrid vehicles.
Now in its fifth generation, the 2025 Prius continues to be the poster child for modern car
efficiency. And Toyota has taken it a step further by making the Prius technologically
advanced and stylish at the same time. On the exterior, it uses ultra-efficient LED lighting
for the headlamps, turn signals, and taillights. These features, combined with a sleek,
futuristic design, makes the Prius a real head turner.
Then there is the interior. The cabin features a wraparound dash a sizable center-mounted
infotainment screen (8-inch for the LE, 12.3-inch for the other trim levels). Another
screen is mounted in front of the driver for the gauges and driving information. And
thankfully, the gear shifter is in a conventional location on the center console.
Powering the Prius is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas engine that pairs with an electric motor.
The result is a combined 194 horsepower being sent to the front wheels. All-wheel drive
is available, and by going that route, the Prius gets a second electric motor at the rear
wheels, increasing power to 196 hp.
The Prius is available in four trim levels. The base LE comes with 17-inch wheels, blind-
spot monitoring, rear-cross-traffic alert, and a starting price of not-so-outrageous starting
price of $29,486, making it a reasonable pick for someone who wants to save both money
and gas. The XLE improves on the LE with a larger touch screen, 19-inch wheels,
wireless phone charger, faux-leather covered seats and steering wheel, rain-sensing
wipers, and heated front seats and steering wheel. New for 2025 is the Nightshade trim,
which is an XLE but with black accents. The Limited is the top-of-the-line Prius and gets
a power liftgate, vented front seats and an JBL sound system.
The tester is an AWD Limited and carries an MSRP of $40,409.
On the road, the Prius needs just 7.1 seconds to hit 60 mph. And not only is it quick, but
there is also some spring in the way it moves. The Prius has never been a very exciting
car to drive – and rightfully so, it’s not meant to be. The name of the game for the Prius
has always been about fuel efficiency. But Toyota has been able to make this version of
the Prius a fun driving experience yet take nothing away from the fact that it is still fuel
efficient.
And at the end of the day, saving gas is really what the Prius is all about. If you want the
most fuel-efficient Prius, go with the base LE with front-wheel drive. Not only is it the
cheapest, but it will bring in an EPA estimated 57 mpg in the city and 56 mpg on the
highway. All-wheel drive brings those figures down to 53 and 54 mpg, respectively. The
other models, due to being heavier and equipped with larger wheels, are rated at 52 mpg
in both city and highway for front-wheel drive models and 49 mpg city and 50 mpg
highway for all-wheel drive models.
In its 25-year history, the Prius has gone from an interesting looking, environmentally
friendly gas-sipping vehicle to one that looks great, is fun to drive, and still prefers to sip
gasoline rather than chug it down. Combine that with the incredible value the Prius
continues to be, and it’s easy to see that Toyota has really turned the Prius into a real
engineering marvel.
— Christopher A. Randazzo
By The Numbers:
2025 Toyota Prius Limited AWD
Base Price: $36,765
Price as Tested: $40,409
Layout: front-engine / all-wheel drive
Engine: 2.0 liter 16-valve 4-cylinder and electric motor
Transmission: continuously variable transmission (CVT)
Horsepower: 196 hp
Torque: N/A
EPA Fuel Economy: 49 mpg city / 50 mpg highway [Visit me at www.carsbycar.blogspot.com or email me at auto_cran@hotmail.com]
