2013 Toyota Prius Hybrid

The 2013 Toyota Prius is offered in five main trim options, namely Two, Three, Four, Five, and the new Persona Special Edition that is placed between the Three and Four. The Special Edition comes with some minor visual changes and is just an attempt to make the Prius look sporty or more appealing. All models are powered by the same hybrid powertrain and CVT. The following table shows the detailed features list and prices of each trim of the 2013 Toyota Prius.

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The ‘Three’ trim of the 2013 Prius would be the best choice in the lineup. The Solar Roof Package available with the ‘Three’ trim would be a nice addition as it adds a power tilt/slide moonroof with a solar-powered ventilation system and a remote air conditioning system. The ‘Three’ trim is already a well-equipped one as it adds some features over the already feature-rich base trim of the Prius. 

All models of the 2013 Prius are powered by a 1.8L Inline-4 engine coupled with a pair of electric motors producing 134 hp and 105 lb-ft of maximum power and torque. These numbers are not very exciting, and the power delivery also is not so. However, it surprisingly seems adequate for most people looking for a really efficient machine in the price range. There’s nothing much to be impressed with about the acceleration and handling side of the Prius.

The Prius takes 10.1 seconds to reach a speed of 60mph and crosses the quarter-mile in 17.5 seconds. The ride in the Prus is comfortable, while the electric steering is unresponsive and seems dead. The Prius could also be driven around in an EV mode for which the battery should be at least half-charged and the speed is limited to 25mph. Overall the Prius is a vehicle that drives pretty well when it’s driven how it is supposed to be driven.

The Hyundai Sonata is the most powerful hybrid here, followed by the Ford C-Max. However, the Ford and Hyundai are very similar in terms of on-road acceleration. The Civic and the Prius are underpowered, unexciting, and unimpressive. Overall the C-Max is the best option considering the fact that it is not only powerful but also handles very well. 

This is where the Prius excels, and by excels I mean, it just outperforms and obliterates all of the competitors. The Prius delivers a whopping 51 mpg of fuel efficiency in the city, 48 mpg on the highway, and a combined efficiency of 50 mpg. These are undoubtedly the best figures in a category known for fuel efficiency. Combined with a comparatively small 11.9-gallon fuel capacity, the Prius can travel up to around 595 miles without a recharge. 

The 2013 Toyota Prius is the absolute best in terms of fuel efficiency, followed by the Honda Civic hybrid. The Hyundai Sonata delivers the most range as it comes with a huge 17.2-gallon fuel capacity. The Sonata, however, also happens to be the least efficient machine. The Prius dominates the fuel efficiency game and wins, keeping the opponents miles away. 

The 2013 Prius comes with a low-quality interior cluttered with an abundance of buttons. The materials and elements used to build the cabin are not of good quality, and it is disappointing. There are rivals in the segment that come with a premium interior so good that when looked along with the Prius’s cabin, it seems like one from a higher segment. Overall the interior of the Prius is not a place anyone desires to be in. 

The Prius, however, comes with a great feature set. It comes with automatic climate control as standard in the base trim itself, which is a nice addition. The seats are covered in fabric in the lower trim, while the high-end variants come with SofTex trimmed upholstery. There is an ample amount of space on the inside, and the occupants won’t feel tight. The cargo capacity offered is also pretty good, measuring 21.6 cu-ft, which is a lot for a hybrid hatch.

The Ford C-Max and the Hyundai Sonata have the best-looking interior, and the C-Max also happens to be the most spacious option. The C-Max also comes with the most cargo capacity, followed by the Prius. The Honda Civic Hybrid has an interior that is extremely cluttered and looks like a cockpit, which might be off-putting for many, but we loved it. Overall, the Prius has the worst interior, and the following are its prominent interior features-

• Automatic climate control with air filter, dust, and pollen filtration mode, electric compressor, humidity sensor, and push-button controls 
• SofTex-trimmed heated front seats with seatback pockets
• 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support
• 4-way adjustable front passenger seat 
• Front door storage pockets with sculpted bottle holders
• SofTex-trimmed tilt/telescopic steering wheel

How intuitive is the 2013 Toyota Prius’s infotainment unit?

The 2013 Toyota Prius comes with a 6.1-inch touchscreen infotainment unit along with six speakers. The audio unit is upgraded to an 8-speaker JBL unit in the higher trims. The infotainment unit also features the Entune suite that includes Bing, iHeartRadio, MovieTickets.com, OpenTable, and Pandora along with real-time info of traffic, weather, fuel prices, sports, and stocks. The access to Entune is complimentary for 3 years. The following are the prominent infotainment features of the 2013 Toyota Prius- 

• 6.1-in. touch-screen with integrated backup camera display
• AM/FM CD player with MP3/WMA playback capability
• Eight JBL GreenEdge speakers with an amplifier
• SiriusXM Radio with 90-day complimentary trial
• HD Radio with iTunes Tagging
• auxiliary audio jack 
• USB port with iPod connectivity and control

This is where not much analysis is required to assess the Prius. It is just ugly as it has always been. It looks like an amalgamation of a hatchback and a sedan but in the worst possible way. The rear end is the most bizarre and worst-looking part of the Prius, and the rear end is an abomination to look at. From the front, it looks pretty much like Corolla, and that’s acceptable but in no way beautiful.

The Prius gets 15-inch 5-spoke alloys in all trims except the top-most Five trim which comes with 17-inch alloys. The Prius is offered in twelve shades among which one is an extra-cost option. The Prius has a ground clearance of 5.3-inches which is practical enough and can go over bumps in the city peacefully. Overall, when looked at from the outside, the Prius is still unimpressive.

The Ford C-Max and the Honda Civic Hybrid are the best-looking ones. While they are not exceptionally beautiful, they are not bizarre or weird-looking like the other duo, the Prius and the Sonata Hybrid. The Sonata is the longest and widest, while the Ford is the tallest. The C-Max also comes with the most ground clearance, making it the most practical one. The following are some of the most important exterior features of the 2013 Toyota Prius-

• LED headlights with auto level control, auto on/off feature, and headlight cleaners 
• LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) with on/off feature
• Integrated fog lights 
• LED tail and stop lights 
• Hybrid Synergy Drive blue accent badges 
• 17-in. 5-spoke alloy wheels
• UV reduction glass windshield
• Power tilt/slide moonroof with Solar Powered Ventilation System

The 2013 Toyota Prius has been crash-tested by both NHTSA as well as IIHS and passed all the tests with flying colors. NHTSA has rated the Prius, and it gets an impressive overall rating of 4-stars. It doesn’t get a rating lower than 4-stars for any test conducted. It also performed very well in the crash tests conducted by IIHS, and it also got the 2013 Top Safety Pick award. The following are some of the most important safety features incorporated in the 2013 Toyota Prius-

• Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) 
• Traction Control (TRAC)
• Brake Assist (BA) 
• Smart Stop Technology (SST)
• Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)
• Vehicle Proximity Notification System (VPNS)
• Hill Start Assist Control (HAC)
• Available Pre-Collision System (PCS)
• Available Lane Keep Assist (LKA)

The 2013 Toyota Prius is still the bizarre-looking hybrid car with the best fuel efficiency figures and impeccable reliability. These are the positives, and they stand super strong. However, the Prius lacks power, handling, and a quality interior. Overall the Ford C-Max Hybrid is the better choice as it comes with more power, speed, and better handling while sacrificing fuel economy. But if what you want is a highly efficient vehicle and the compromises mentioned earlier are all acceptable, then go for the Prius.