Toyota Prius PHEV : All Consumption Measurements from Our Supertest

Test - Toyota Prius PHEV: All Consumption Measurements from Our Supertest

Supertests – Plug-in Hybrid Cars

Toyota Prius PHEV

The queen of hybrid cars, the Toyota Prius now offers only one plug-in hybrid version. We put it to the test.

The Toyota Prius is the car that launched large-scale hybridization. A success story that now totals over 23 million Toyota hybrids sold worldwide. As the brand’s flagship, the sedan is now renewed with a fifth generation that’s quite surprising.

Still attractive to look at, it now comes with a new generation of hybrid powertrains. However, it has opted for a single plug-in hybrid version for the European market. After a first highly convincing test, we decided to take it further and subject it to our Supertest.

The Supertest of Plug-in Hybrids, A Return

If it wasn't called this way initially, the Supertest section was created to demystify plug-in hybrid technology.

Toyota Prius PHEV

While electric cars, increasingly common, have raised more questions recently, plug-in hybrid vehicles are still quite interesting: better-developed mechanics, surprising range, and technologies borrowed from electric cars...

This technology still has many advantages for certain types of drivers. We decided to evaluate one of the market's benchmarks each month.

However, our measurement protocol has changed since then, and comparisons with previous measurements will no longer apply. Now, vehicles are tested using our common mixed measurement loop with electric vehicles, consisting of three parts (road, highway, city), in both directions.

Toyota Prius PHEV

To avoid influencing the consumption results, performance measurements are now conducted in a separate session. Additionally, due to the changes in Supertests for electric vehicles, special attention will be paid to the charging tests.

But remember that consumption measurements are always complex exercises and only reflect the reality of our unique test. Depending on your habits, the roads you drive on, and many other parameters, the results you observe may vary.

Our Supertests aim to measure cars in the real world, on the same roads, and under the best possible similar conditions to establish a ranked hierarchy among them.

Presentation of the Toyota Prius PHEV

Toyota Prius PHEV

Forget everything you knew about the Prius. The new generation sedan is based on a more modern platform, called TNGA-C 2.0, which allows the Prius to feature the fifth generation of the renowned HSD hybrid powertrain.

Toyota Prius PHEV

It consists of a 152-hp 4-cylinder gasoline engine (M20A-FXS) using an Atkinson cycle and a 163-hp electric motor (1VM). The combined system produces a total of 223 hp, which is sent to the front wheels via the continuously variable transmission (e-CVT).

This power is possible only in the plug-in hybrid configuration due to a larger battery capacity. Positioned under the rear seat, the battery has a gross capacity of 13.6 kWh, with an estimated usable capacity of around 10.4 kWh. The battery can be recharged using a 3.3 kW AC charger, taking 4 hours for a full charge.

Our Tested Toyota Prius PHEV

In the Design trim, the tested Toyota Prius PHEV claims a total electric range of 72 km (98 km in the city). This helps reduce its fuel consumption to 0.7 l/100 km with 16 g/km of CO2 emissions.

Ignoring the unnecessary utility factor of the European standard, the sedan achieves a fuel consumption of 4.6 l/100 km and 105 g/km of CO2. We conduct tests to see how this translates in the real world.

Toyota Prius PHEV

Toyota Prius PHEV in Brief

Mechanical power: 152 hp (thermal) + 163 hp (electric)
Total power: 223 hp
Net power: 151 hp – 111 kW
Curb weight: 1,555 kg
Power-to-weight ratio: 7.38 kg/hp
WLTP values: 0.7 l/100 km – 16 g/km of CO2 – 72 km of electric range
AC recharge: 3.3 kW – 4 hours
Tires: Yokohama BluEarth-GT AE51 – 195/50 R19 (C, A, 71)

All Our Consumption Measurements for the Toyota Prius PHEV

HEV Mode with Full Battery: 3.9 l/100 km
This mode allows the car to operate like any hybrid car, relying on available charge to assist the thermal engine under high demands or to limit consumption. However, with a fully charged battery, the HV mode allows a few excesses until about 88% charge remaining.

After this point, we noticed that the electric consumption stabilizes, and the operation becomes similar to the HV mode with an empty battery.

In real-world testing, consumption was well-controlled at the beginning of the route on hilly secondary roads and highways. In the city, while the vehicle had already reached its working threshold, the Prius managed to drive using only the electric motor when needed, ending with the same charge level as at the start of the section (87%).

On the return leg, energy loss was significantly lower, and we finished the route with 88% charge remaining. Ultimately, we recorded an average consumption of 3.9 l/100 km in this driving mode. With a 40-litre tank, this gives the Prius a theoretical total range of nearly 1,000 km before needing to refuel.

HEV Mode with Empty Battery: 4.4 l/100 km
When the electric driving mode is no longer possible, the Prius’ battery is not entirely depleted. The first gauge, ranging from 0 to 100%, indicates the usable remaining charge, while a second, more modest gauge shows a reserve in green. If no percentage is displayed, the vehicle's remote control app indicates a remaining 30% charge.

This generous capacity does not affect performance. The car continues to function similarly to the first mode, with the electric motor typically taking over around 30 km/h, and less frequently at a maximum of 45 km/h if conditions are favorable. We recorded a final average consumption of 4.4 l/100 km—a great performance for this plug-in hybrid sedan!

Auto EV/HV Mode: 0.1 l/100 km
This mode automatically alternates between hybrid and electric driving, but not between both engines. When the vehicle navigation is active, it manages the available charge across the entire trip. Otherwise, it favors electric driving as much as possible. The thermal engine only engages when entering the highway, leaving the electric motor to work for the rest of the journey. It is best suited for long trips.

EV Mode: 64 km Range
According to the WLTP standard, the Prius PHEV is credited with a 72 km range with its 19-inch wheels (86 km in the entry-level Dynamic trim). Our mixed loop test recorded a total electric range of 64 km, with a final consumption of 16.2 kWh/100 km.

This highlights the efficiency of the e-CVT transmission, unlike traditional gearboxes in other plug-in hybrids, which cause higher consumption. On the way out of our city loop (more favorable than on the return), the sedan even achieved an average of 12.3 kWh/100 km, giving it more than 80 km of range in those conditions.

Long Highway Journey: 6.1 l/100 km
As confirmed in our initial measurements, the Toyota Prius PHEV does not show significant overconsumption when the battery is empty. This is especially true during long highway trips. After several hundred kilometers, we recorded an average of 6.0 l/100 km with a full battery (88%) and 6.2 l/100 km with the battery empty (0%). The overall average was therefore 6.1 l/100 km.

Toyota Prius PHEV Performance

With a total power of 223 hp, the Toyota Prius PHEV shows unprecedented performance for the model. The manufacturer claims a 0-100 km/h time of 6.8 seconds in the sportiest mode. In normal mode, with the battery charged to 80%, we measured a time of 7.31 seconds, compared to 7.38 seconds with the battery fully drained. Since the electric boost is available for slightly less time, the times are slightly longer. However, drivers should not notice any difference while driving.

Charging, Full, and Usage Costs for the Toyota Prius PHEV

The Toyota Prius PHEV is only available with a single 3.3 kW onboard charger. Unfortunately, it cannot benefit from the dual charger configuration of the upcoming C-HR PHEV, which would have allowed for double the charging power at AC stations, thus reducing downtime. According to the manufacturer, it takes 4 hours for a full charge. Our measurements, which recorded a peak of 3.6 kW at the start of the charge, suggest that it takes about 3 hours and 40 minutes. Public charging stations used recorded a total of 11.4 kWh for a complete charge.