The Most Affordable PHEV With More Than 40 Miles Of All-electric Range In 2024

There’s a use case that can be appreciated with owning a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). When used properly, it can be a vehicle that has the long-distance peace of mind of an internal combustion engine (ICE) along with zero emissions, silence, and (oftentimes) lower charging costs associated with an electric vehicle (EV). The key here is when used properly, because when you don’t charge a PHEV as intended, then you’re only wasting on the higher upfront cost and the inefficiency of charging the larger battery over a typical hybrid through the ICE.

But PHEV usability is a story for another day. What if you’re already in the market for one, and you’re also in pursuit of the most affordable PHEV with 40 miles of EPA-estimated pure electric range? Well, you’d be surprised that for one, a PHEV with a 40-mile electric range is extremely rare. At the same time, the most affordable PHEV with at least 40 miles of electric range that you’re about to see here also happens to be one of the most affordable PHEVs currently available in the market.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Toyota and other authoritative sources, including CleanTechnica.

Say Hello To The Toyota Prius Prime

That affordable 40-mile PHEV is the Toyota Prius Prime, which also happens to be one of the most affordable PHEVs on the market, period. The Toyota Prius lineup was completely reimagined recently, turning it from a frumpy hybrid fastback that was the joke of enthusiasts into something that’s become much more desirable and emotional. But before we talk about the other aspects of the Prius Prime, we have to first learn which Prius Prime model can achieve at least 40 miles of EPA-estimated electric range.

You Have To Get The Base SE

With an EPA-estimated range of 44 miles, the Toyota Prius Prime SE has one of the longest electric ranges of any PHEV. Splurging any higher for the XSE or XSE Premium reduces the electric range to a still impressive 39 miles, and that’s mostly due to its larger 19-inch wheels. Remember, wheel sizes play a huge role in a car’s fuel or energy efficiency. That means settling for the SE’s smaller 17-inch wheels with aerodynamic wheel covers, but then again, the smaller wheels also mean a better ride due to the thicker tires.

Credit to its efficiency is also due to its hybrid drivetrain. It combines a 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine along with an electric motor that also drives the front wheels. For now, the E-Four electronic on-demand all-wheel drive (AWD) is not yet available, but you’d still be happy to know that the Prime is also the most powerful way to get into a Prius. With 220 system horsepower, this is the most powerful and fastest Prius to date (Toyota doesn’t state system torque figures for its hybrids) with a 0-60 mph time of just 6.6 seconds, yet thanks to its 13.6 kWh lithium-ion battery, it can still achieve that 44-mile EPA-estimated electric range.

But It’s Less Aerodynamic And Efficient Than Before

Did you know that despite being the newer model, the Prius lineup is less aerodynamic than the previous model? The older, frumpy Prius has a drag coefficient of 0.24 Cd, but this new one? Its drag coefficient is 0.27 Cd, and that’s mainly due to Toyota placing a heavier emphasis on making the car look more handsome than ever before. 0.27 Cd, however, is still impressive by any standard.

Despite the stronger emphasis on offering a sportier look, the Prius Prime managed to achieve that 0.27 Cd due to the active grille shutters that open and close depending on the cooling requirements of the engine, as well as the generous use of flat underbody panels to make the Prius Prime as aerodynamic as possible. Expectedly, it’s also a bit less fuel efficient than the previous Prius Prime, with the current model having a combined EPA fuel economy estimate of 52 MPG versus 54 MPG for the previous model.

Everything Else You Get With The Prius Prime SE

Incremental reductions in fuel and aerodynamic efficiency aside, the slight inefficiency is worth it for the majority of car shoppers because even if the previous model was all-in on efficiency, it wasn’t a car you would buy because it looked good or it made the drive exciting. With the new Prius Prime, however, it’s a vehicle that you’d be proud to show off not because of boring achievements like having the highest 0-60 mph, but because of how it’s now a properly handsome car with the acceleration of a sports sedan.

Let’s Talk About That Sleek Exterior

As you can see, the 2024 Toyota Prius Prime SE has a sleeker shape that’s achieved through its signature Hammerhead shark-like front end. The C-shaped LED headlights that are connected by a black trim piece form this unique identity that many of Toyota’s new sedans like the Camry are slowly adopting. The sportscar-like aerodynamic shape is also due to the A-pillars being more steeply raked, which makes the car look nicer but admittedly makes it more difficult to see outside.

Despite wearing 17-inch wheels in the case of this 44-mile SE variant, the Prius Prime in its base form still looks properly sleek. Huge credit goes to its enhanced, sportier proportions, which have been adjusted whilst maintaining the Prius’s signature monoform shape. Topping it all off is a set of distinct full-width LED taillights.

The Inside Also Counts

Like the exterior, the interior of the Prius Prime SE has gotten a significant glowup. Even in base SE, the amount of features you get is pretty good. You get a seven-inch digital instrument cluster that, admittedly, can be blocked by the steering wheel depending on how you’re seated, along with an eight-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system.

Don’t expect leather (or even the vegan-friendly synthetic ones) in the SE, though you still get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the full Toyota Safety Sense suite of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), including Pre-Collision System, Blind Spot Monitor, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Front and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, and Traffic Jam Assist, among other ADAS features.

How The Prius Prime Makes For Great EV Compromise

We’ve been reporting the slower EV sales growth that’s been happening over the past few months. Though EV sales are still growing, that rate of growth isn’t as high as it used to be. Recently, however, there’s been an uptick in hybrid sales, which is reflected by how strong their resale values are in 2023 compared to not just EVs, but even pure ICE vehicles as well. Hybrids are now being seen as a great electrification compromise, and with the Prius Prime SE, there’s a strong case to be made with its affordable price and more than 40-mile electric range.

You Can Treat It As A Range Extender

With its 44-mile EPA-estimated pure electric range, this is well within the 30.1-mile average daily driving distance of an American in 2022. Its pure electric range is so good, that there’s a chance that you’ll only be using the gasoline engine whenever you go out of town–or unless you want to take full advantage of all 220 horses when accelerating to 60 mph in just 6.6 seconds at stoplights. Treat the Prius Prime as intended by charging it daily, and you will enjoy huge savings on your fuel bills. There’s a chance you’ll earn back that extra cost from splurging for the Prius Prime, but that’s a story for another day.

It’s Also The Best Driving Prius Ever

But it also helps that the new Toyota Prius lineup is the best Prius ever when it comes to the driving experience. The newest interpretation of the TNGA-C platform, with its more rigid structure, MacPherson Strut front suspension, multi-link rear suspension, as well as quicker steering has blessed the Prius lineup with a sportier demeanor. Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda is indeed delivering on his promise of “no more boring cars”, and even the humble Prius that’s been the subject of numerous jokes within the car enthusiast community has been transformed into a hybrid that is a tiny bit less efficient than before, but one that’s significantly more attractive to look at and drive.

The new 2024 Prius Prime isn’t just a car you would buy for its still impressive efficiency, but you’d probably now buy it because you do want a car that’s handsomely styled, well-equipped, affordable, and manages to blend the perks of an EV along with the peace of mind of having an ICE. It’s no wonder that the Prius has won numerous awards and accolades in recent months.