2020 Toyota Prius Prime

The entry-level Prime LE has 15-inch alloy wheels, and it comes with LED headlights. The XLE adds automatic LED headlights along with technology upgrades in the cabin. Bumping up to the top-level Limited adds automatic windshield wipers and LED fog lights.

The Prius Prime has a four-cylinder gas engine and two electric motors. Together, these generate 121 horsepower. A large lithium-ion battery pack charges the motor, and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) works to maximize the efficiency. This plug-in hybrid effortlessly switches between gas and electric, and it can go up to 25 miles on pure electric power. When it switches over, you can drive over 500 miles on gas and electric hybrid power.

Charging the battery with a 120-volt outlet takes about 5.5 hours, and for faster charging, you can use a 240-volt outlet and get it done in just over two hours.

The three different driving modes change the acceleration and braking in the Prime. Choose between Power, Normal, and Eco depending on what you need, with the Power option increasing the regenerative braking. The ride in the Prime is smooth over most road surfaces, and the regenerative braking provides excellent stopping power.

Inside, the Prime now has room for up to five people. There's a good amount of space for both the front and the rear seat passengers with comfortable, supportive seats for the driver and front-seat passenger. Cloth upholstery comes standard along with heated front seats. The steering wheel in the LE comes trimmed with Toyota's SofTex simulated leather, and this same material comes on the seats in the XLE and Limited. The Limited also adds a heated steering wheel.

The LE has a 7-inch touch screen display, navigation, satellite radio, and Bluetooth. Bumping up to the XLE gets you the Entune infotainment system along with a wireless charging pad for smartphones and a vertically oriented 11.6-inch touch screen. The Limited comes with extra smartphone apps as part of the infotainment system, and it adds the Safety Connect emergency communications system along with a JBL stereo upgrade with ten speakers.

All the Prius Prime models have a long list of standard safety features that include adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, a pedestrian detection system, and it comes with automatic braking and a lane departure warning system with steering intervention. The Limited adds a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic detection, a color head-up display, and front and rear parking sensors. This top-level trim also adds an automatic parking system.