2018 Toyota Prius NH
Drivers looking to score a sweet deal on a 2018 Toyota Prius are really in the market for one thing: cutting-edge fuel efficiency. If saving money at the pump and reducing your carbon footprint are your guiding principles when it comes to car shopping, then you’ll find no better target than this year’s Prius.
With a storied legacy and serious street-cred among the sophisticated celebrity set, the Prius comes in at the right price point, compared to its competitors and delivers on its promise of a greener way to get around.
Toyota treated the Prius to a total overhaul in 2016, so this model year only features a few new tweaks and tricks. Building upon its recent makeover, the 2018 Toyota Prius offers new equipment this year in the form of a new trim level - the Prius One, along with Toyota Safety Sense, standard on all 2018 Prius models.
When you’re ready to drive an environmentally-friendly vehicle like the innovative Prius with its 52 mpg combined EPA rating, check out what the latest and, arguably, greatest version has to offer.
Performance
Given its hybrid nature, the performance afforded by the 2018 Toyota Prius represents the joint efforts of a traditional engine matching to electric motors.
Engine
Starting with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, paired to twin electric motors, the Prius is operated by a continuously variable transmission (CVT), capable of generating up to 121 horsepower to the front wheels.
Don’t expect zippy acceleration from the Prius. Take, for example, Edmunds’ performance testing of the Prius Three trim level, which returned a zero to sixty mph time totaling 9.8 seconds. In other words, you won’t see a Prius blazing down the highway or racing other hybrids anytime soon.
Fuel Economy
But, what the Prius arguably lacks in acceleration it more than makes up for in fuel efficiency. Rated at 54 city/50 highway/52 mpg combined by the EPA, industry experts and consumers alike have realized similar or even better returns in real world driving. In fact, the Prius Two Eco bests those figures at 58 city/53 highway/56 mpg combined. Most of us looking to save money at the pump would gladly suffer somewhat sluggish acceleration in exchange.
Safety
Even though the Prius has been a fixture on American roadways since it launched in 2000, some consumers will still feel skeptical about newer technology, particularly if they’ve never driven or ridden in a hybrid vehicle. A persistent question involves safety and whether hybrid vehicles are as reliable and secure as their gasoline-guzzling counterparts.
As it does with all of its vehicles, Toyota outfitted the Prius with all the cutting-edge safety features one would expect from any 2018 model year vehicle. Expect safety equipment like stability and traction control, full-length side curtain airbags, antilock disc brakes, front-side airbags, passenger seat cushion airbag, and driver knee airbag.
New safety accoutrements that are now standard this year include forward collision warning with automatic braking, a rear view camera, lane departure warning and intervention, and automatic high beams. Higher trim levels, like the Prius Four and Prius Four Touring even offer blind-spot monitoring with rear cross traffic warning as additional standard fare.
Extra safety assurances are provided on the Prius Four and Prius Four Touring, courtesy of Toyota’s Safety Connect System, a subscription service complete with stolen vehicle locator, automatic collision alert, and roadside emergency services.
Safety Ratings
The 2018 Toyota Prius performed exceptionally well in federal crash tests. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Prius a total of five out of five stars, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named the Prius a Top Safety Pick+, with top scores of Good across the board - except in the Front Crash Prevention metric, where the Prius was rated Superior.
Trim Levels
By definition, the Prius is a five-seater, four-door hatchback, which comes in seven trim possibilities. Each of the seven: One ($23,475), Two ($24,685), Two Eco ($25,165), Three ($26,735), Three Touring ($28,115), Four ($29,135), and Four Touring ($30,015) offer unique options and capabilities.
Starting with the Prius One and Two, drivers should expect a number of shared features, like automatic LED headlights, heated mirrors, 15-inch wheels, LED running lights and taillights, twin 4.2-inch driver information screens, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, height-adjustable driver seat, automatic climate control, keyless ignition and entry (only on driver’s side), cloth interior, Bluetooth, heated mirrors, adaptive cruise control, Siri Eyes Free with voice recognition, CD player, AUX audio jack, USB port, six-speaker sound system, 6.1-inch touchscreen, and 60/40-split folding back seat.
Although it’s hard to believe, the Prius Two Eco is even more efficient than the Prius One and Two, featuring a lighter battery, extra low-rolling resistance tires, and an inflation kit in place of a spare tire. Illuminated keyless entry is another fun feature on the Two Eco.
Moving up to the Prius Three, drivers and passengers will enjoy nicer interior materials like simulated leather details, specifically on the armrests and steering wheel. Added convenience comes in the form of a wireless phone charging pad. Extra technological features are found courtesy of Toyota’s Entune infotainment, which includes navigation, HD radio, satellite radio, and a larger, 7-inch touchscreen.
For a little extra everything, check out the Prius Four and its interior enhancements like simulated leather offset by white stitching, a power driver seat with lumbar adjustments, heated seats for both driver and front seat passenger, rear cargo cover, automatic wipers, and additional storage in seatbacks.
Gather up all the bells and whistles on the Prius Three and Prius Four, and then add LED clearance lights, imitation-leather upholstery, sharply accented by blue stitching, along with foglights, and 17-inch alloy wheels, and you’ve got the Touring variants of both trims levels.
With the available Advanced Technology package, both the Prius Three and Four models can benefit from a head-up display and sunroof. Ultimate convenience comes from the Premium Convenience package on the Prius Four and Four Touring, featuring self-parking capability, Safety connect emergency services, and 10-speaker JBL sound system.
Interior
Another unique perk to the compact body style of the Prius hatchback is its surprising cargo room. Measured at 24.6 cubic feet, the 2018 Toyota Prius bests last year’s model by an additional three cubic feet. Take advantage of even more space in the Prius One, Two Eco, and Prius Four, which - absent of a spare tire, afford a total of 27.4 cubic feet of space.
Industry experts and consumers have both praised the more conventional look of the interior in this year’s Prius, along with its easily accessible screens, gauges, and controls.
Exterior
The Prius is nothing if not full of personality. As such, drivers can choose from the following stunning shades to deck out their exterior: Hypersonic Red, Blizzard Pearl, Classic Silver Metallic, Magnetic Gray Metallic, Midnight Black Metallic, Sea Glass Pearl, and Blue Crush Metallic. No matter which color you choose, there is no doubt that you’ll make a statement from behind the wheel of the 2018 Toyota Prius.
