TOYOTA PRIUS 2021 REVIEW: STILL A RELEVANT HYBRID?

EV Channels Review

The 2021 Toyota Prius i-Tech, despite its polarizing exterior styling and a cabin that feels somewhat dated and plasticky for its price point, offers a surprisingly engaging driving experience thanks to its well-tuned chassis on Toyota's TNGA platform. The reviewer highlights its comfortable ride, composed handling, and unexpected throttle adjustability, making it more fun to drive than its traditional image suggests. While the interior features a unique digital gauge setup and a functional touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, the reviewer notes the prevalence of hard plastics, a foot-operated parking brake, and a lack of rear air vents or USB ports as drawbacks. Fuel economy, while not reaching the claimed 3.4L/100km on a highway-biased test loop, still achieved a respectable 5.0L/100km, making it economical to run. However, the reviewer questions its value proposition at over $50,000, especially when the same hybrid powertrain is available in the more affordable Corolla sedan, and the absence of parking sensors on the top-trim i-Tech model is a notable omission.