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Meet The Better Looking Sibling of The Prius, the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime

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Used cars for sale in Orange County, like the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime, are good-looking and fuel-efficient second-hand cars that can’t be ignored. Its long, sleek front slopes down elegantly at the end is a stylish plug-in version of the Prius hybrid. Some car buyers of used cars in Orange County go as far as to say that the Prime is more stunning than the conventional Prius, and that is a fair point to make. 

The 2017 Prius Prime comes in three versions. The entry-level Plus, the mid-level Premium, and the top-of-the-range Advanced. All three are different from the ever-present Prius hybrid with its charge port, extraordinary styling, and a larger 8.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack that facilitates an EPA-rated 25 miles of electric-only driving range. When the battery’s charge has drained, the car always has some electrons in reserve; the Prime returns to a conventional hybrid mode. This blends electric power with the bridled ferocity of a 95-hp 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle inline-four gas engine. 

Driving

Every trim of the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime utilizes a 95-hp 1.8-liter four-cylinder and two motor/generator units (MGUs) that come together to generate 121 horsepower. These three power sources are employed to the front wheels through a planetary gearset that acts as a continuously variable automatic transmission. 

The gas engine operates on the Atkinson cycle to save even more fuel, and reverse movement is managed solely on electricity. Similar to the Prius hybrid, the electric motors also act as a generator, converting kinetic energy (motion) into electricity that, in different circumstances, would be converted into heat by the friction brakes rather than being saved in the traction battery. Typically, the premium non-plug-in Prius hybrids use lithium-ion packs, while the others have economic nickel-metal-hydride units. The pack has a home under the rear seats and weighs 265 pounds. 

Toyota has let Prime owners decide how they want their engines to dispense their electric and gas power. The battery gets a complete charge using the included 120-volt wall outlet charger, which does take some time, or else you do it faster using a 240-volt connection, which takes about two hours. Using either charge option allows the Prime to default to EV mode at the next startup.

Used cars for sale in Orange County, particularly the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime, have three driving modes which are Normal, Eco, and Power. If you want, you can leave it in this setting, operating through the electric-only range, or push a console button to divert into hybrid mode, and for the most part, conserve the battery’s charge for electric-only operation for later. Another button summons the EV Auto mode to make the Prime decide how to use the energy. In this circumstance, the car works mainly like a hybrid but carefully distributes scrapes of electric-only operation where it feels necessary.

Technology

The Prime Plus has some decent goodies such as LED headlights and taillights, automatic grille shutters, heated door mirrors, a 4.2-inch driver information display, a 7.0-inch touchscreen with navigation, automatic climate control, a proximity key with a push-button start, and heated front seats. 

Next up the totem pole is the Prime Premium, which switches out the Plus’s 7.0-inch infotainment display for an enormous 11.6-inch, vertically oriented screen. Other than that, the only other upgrades you’ll find are SofTex faux-leather seat upholstery instead of cloth, proximity-key sensors for the front passenger door, and the trunk to enhance the Plus’s one in the driver’s door, as well as an inductive phone-charging pad in the center console.

The top dog Advanced is a little more special with its heated steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a color head-up display, parking sensors, a self-parking system, and remote controls for the HVAC system. Also, the Advanced is the only Prime that has blind-spot monitoring, even though forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking, automatic high-beams, and lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist are standard on all models. 

Comfort

When it comes to the inside looking out, every Prius Prime has pretty much the same interior. Although the seat coverings stand apart, each has the same rubberized plastic dashboard, four-seat layout, and soft-touch door panels. Additionally, you won’t find a middle seat in the rear, which means the Prius is a four-passenger vehicle. Nevertheless, each of these four passengers will enjoy ample space. The seats are comfortable, and visibility to the front and sides is good. 

Passenger space is usually what you’ll find in most compact cars. The front seats are heated and trimmed in SofTex synthetic leather that’s very similar to leather upholstery. The curved roofline does reduce headspace for taller passengers, but it doesn’t affect the driver’s visibility. 

The 2017 Prius Prime provides about 19.8 cubic feet of cargo space, which is above average for a compact car but less than the standard Prius hatchback’s 27.4 cubic feet. The cargo hold is less because of the Prime’s rechargeable battery, which is mounted in the car’s rear. However, the 60/40 split-folding back seat adds extra cargo-carrying ability.

The Plus’s 7.0-inch touchscreen works well, has a straightforward menu structure, and handy hard-button shortcuts to main functions such as audio, navigation, phone, along with volume and tuning knobs. The Premium and Advanced models are equipped with a whopping 11.6-inch touchscreen with loads of display space and impressive. Contrary to the Plus, the Premium and the Advanced jam-packed the climate controls into the large screen. The Prime’s touchscreen is kitted with shortcuts in the form of floating onscreen balls that spin around and provide swift access to efficiency, apps, and navigation-destination menus.

Overall

The Prius Prime’s new engine and extra EV range compared to the predecessor Prius Plug-in Hybrid provide more standard equipment and technology and better driving flexibility. If you’re looking for very fuel-efficient used cars for sale in Orange County, the Prius Prime provides car buyers with one of the best cars for value of money in America.