Ever since Toyota introduced the Prius to international markets in 2000, the hybrid car has been leading the way in fuel efficiency and smart design. For 2018, the one major change is an available 11.6-inch touch screen upgrade, but that comes on top of an already long list of useful features and efficient design choices. Between the Prius’ seven trim options, you can find a lot to love.
The Efficient Prius Two Eco
Most Prius models offer 54 city and 50 highway mpg. Those are high numbers, even for a hybrid, and the only place you can find higher figures is with plug-in hybrids or pure electric vehicles. And you can get those numbers thanks to the Prius Prime, but as far as the regular hybrid goes there’s one trim that stands out: the Prius Two Eco. By cutting down on weight, replacing the spare tire with a tire repair kit, and making other minor changes, the Two Eco manages to offer 58 city and 53 highway mpg.
The Effective Toyota Safety Sense P
Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P) is a special package that adds important driver assistance features to every trim of the 2018 Prius. These features include the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection and Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, a feature that keeps track of the vehicle in front of the Prius and can slow down to a complete stop if that’s what it takes to keep pace with traffic. The other TSS-P features are automatic high beams and a lane departure alert.
The Tech-Friendly Interior
The new 11.6-inch touch screen takes up just about the whole center console, which means the new infotainment system controls more of the Prius’ features. But whether or not you get a model with the bigger screen, the Prius comes standard with a 4.2-inch color display in the instrument cluster. Like with previous models, the Multi Information Display lets you customize the information you receive like when the Prius switches to battery power and how fast your battery can recharge. You can also get interior features like a wireless charger for available devices.
The Extra Space
Buying the hybrid version of a car usually means getting less cargo space. After all, they need to put the big hybrid battery somewhere, so it might as well sit under the trunk or cargo area. But since Toyota engineered the Prius to be a hybrid from the ground up, there’s no need to tuck the battery somewhere inconvenient. Between that and the low-profile hatchback, the Prius can hold up to 27.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats or up to 65.5 cubic feet when you fold down the 60/40 split back row.
Not much has changed for the 2018 Prius, but the car went through a complete redesign for 2016 and you can still see plenty of the forward-thinking designs and high-tech solutions in the 2018 model. So if you’re considering getting a new Prius vehicle, now makes a great time to buy Toyota’s most efficient traditional hybrid vehicle.
Image via Flickr by crudmucosa, used under CC BY 2.0