The Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid has been updated and now comes with seating for 5 passengers, instead of previous 4-seater layout. The 5th seat was announced in the U.S. earlier this year where it’s called Prius Prime. Other updates include new metallic ‘Galaxy Black’ paint, 17-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, and new upholstery color schemes & materials for the cabin.
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Prius PHEV is powered by 1.8 liter Atkinson-cycle VVT-i engine, delivering 98 hp and 142 Nm of torque. Two electric motors propel the wheels– one produces 70 hp and 163 Nm and the other churns out 30 hp and 40 Nm.
Together with the petrol engine and an 8.8 kWh lithium-ion battery, the result is a total system output of 120 hp, a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 11.1 seconds and a top speed of 162 km/h. It boasts an all-electric driving range of 68.2 km, and even with the battery depleted the car can still achieve a fuel economy figure of 37.2 km per liter on the Japanese JC08 cycle, up from 31.6 km per liter on the outgoing model.
Related: Toyota to Discontinue Prius C in Favor of Corolla Hybrid
Battery charging takes around 2 hours 20 minutes using a 200 V outlet and 14 hours through a 100 V socket. Plus there is also a solar panel on the roof that can increase the electric-only range by as much as 6.1 km when parked under the sun the whole day, or around 2.9 km per day on average. The panel also recharges the auxiliary battery when the car is being driven, reducing fuel consumption.
A computer animation professional with over 23 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations, TV channels & production facilities in Pakistan. An avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver quality content to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com
