As a blogger who's spent decades behind the wheel of everything from muscle cars to luxury SUVs, I've been curious ... but never really interested in testing out the Prius. Since 2020, the Prius has been a product synonymous with boring practical efficiency, not anything fun or aspirational. That's changed in recent years across the board at Toyota and thankfully this has included Prius as well. Given the option of a fully decked -out Tundra or the Prius for my next guys weekend getaway - the choice is clear. However, if I was looking for a great commuter car that still allowed me to feel like I'd arrived when pulling up to a client's office - and saved hundreds of dollars in gas each year? Well then this is clearly the right choice.
On a personal level, I just wasn't sure what to expect and I approached the 2024 Toyota Prius with more than a little skepticism initially. As a "big and tall guy" who's firmly in my late 40s, I've always viewed the Prius as that sensible-shoe car that prioritized efficiency over everything else. Boy, was I wrong. This was probably the most surprising car review that I've done all year long!
First Impressions Matter
The moment I laid eyes on the 2024 model, I knew this wasn't your typical Prius. With its sleek silhouette, wide rear stance, and those optional 19-inch wheels on the XLE trim, this hybrid looks more sports car than eco-warrior. Standing at just 56.3 inches tall, it's about 2 inches lower than its predecessor, giving it an aggressive, ready-to-pounce appearance that turned heads during my weekend adventure.
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Getting Comfortable (Sort Of)
Let's address the elephant in the room: yes, this car sits low. As someone who's no stranger to creaky knees and dad noises when getting up, I'll be honest – entering and exiting took some strategic maneuvering. However, once inside, I was shocked by the spaciousness. Toyota's designers have worked some serious magic with the interior layout, creating a cockpit that feels both modern and accommodating, even for a bigger guy like myself.
Road Trip Ready
During my recent three-hour journey through Michigan, including a scenic drive around St. Joseph's beach areas and snow-covered vineyards, the Prius revealed its true character. The 2.0L hybrid powerplant, pushing out 194 hp (196 with AWD), provided plenty of punch when needed, while maintaining an impressive 57 MPG combined rating – the best ever for a Prius.
The available Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive proved its worth on snowy roads, offering extra grip without significant fuel economy penalties (still managing 54 MPG combined). At points on the Indiana Turnpike when I dropped the speed down to 65 to test efficiency I was able to actually exceed 58 mph! At full-traffic speed though, this number dipped below 50 but that is still a massive advantage of a car like this over a long road trip in a truck or full-sized SUV for instance.
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Off highway, the handling was surprisingly sporty, making those winding vineyard roads more fun than I'd care to admit in what's essentially an eco-friendly vehicle.
Tech That Makes Sense
The cockpit features a clean, modern design that minimizes distractions. The standard 8-inch (or available 12.3-inch) touchscreen is perfectly positioned, and the driver's display provides all essential information without requiring gymnastics to view it.
While I've become accustomed to relying on a Heads Up Display for driving, I really liked the way Toyota positioned the instrument display here. It's high enough to see when looking straight out to the road and that means you can stay alert, but also avoid extra complexities when swapping from one drive to the next with needing to adjust that display the way you do with mirrors and seat position.
The Reality Check
While this Prius is a fantastic daily driver and weekend getaway car for two adults, it's not ideal for taking one, much less two other dudes with you. The rear seating, while adequate for short trips with kids, isn't where you want to spend any amount of extended time as an adult. It would be good for a father son trip though.
The Bottom Line
At a starting price of $27,650 for the LE grade (and approaching $40k for the fully loaded Limited we drove), the 2024 Prius represents an incredible value proposition. It's no longer just the practical choice – it's actually a fun choice. For anyone seeking incredible fuel efficiency but not quite ready to make the leap to a plug-in hybrid, this reimagined Prius delivers something unexpected: a genuinely enjoyable driving experience wrapped in a surprisingly cool package.
As someone who's spent years chasing horsepower numbers and 0-60 times, I never thought I'd say this, but Toyota has managed to make the Prius... cool. And that might be its greatest achievement yet!
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