2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in: What's New

Vehicle Overview

The Prius lineup gains a plug-in hybrid version for 2012 with the introduction of the Prius Plug-In. Based on the regular Prius, the Prius Plug-In provides a wider range of electric-only operation with the ability to travel up to 15 miles on electric power alone. When the lithium-ion battery pack is depleted and during certain driving conditions, the Prius Plug-In operates as a traditional hybrid car. Fuel-conscious competitors include the Chevrolet Volt and Ford Fusion Energi.

Exterior
Like the regular Prius, the Prius Plug-In slips cleanly through the air with a drag coefficient of .25, which improves gas mileage. Subtle styling cues distinguish the plug-in version including chrome accents on the door handles, grille, liftgate and charge-port door. Additional exterior features include:

• Blue-tinted headlight covers; LED headlights available
• LED taillights
• 15-inch alloy wheels
• Rear spoiler
• Available fog lights

Interior
One of the Prius’ distinguishing cabin features — a center-mounted instrument panel — carries over to the Prius Plug-In. So does the console gear selector, which looks a little like a joystick for a gaming system. The car has seating for five people in two rows. Additional interior features include:

• Fabric-trimmed seats with first-row seat heaters
• Tilt/telescoping steering wheel
• Digital instrumentation
• Automatic climate control
• Cruise control
• 60/40-split folding backseat
• 120-volt charging cable
• CD stereo with MP3 jack, USB connectivity and Bluetooth streaming audio
• Entune with applications for iHeartRadio and OpenTable, Pandora integration, weather information, gas prices and Bing search
• Navigation system with backup camera
• Available push-button start
• Available adaptive cruise control

Under the Hood
The Prius Plug-In uses the Hybrid Synergy Drive system of the regular Prius, which is paired with a 4.4-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack in place of the Prius’ nickel-metal-hydride battery. The battery is located under the cargo floor along with the onboard charger. Despite its additional hardware, the Prius Plug-In weighs just 123 pounds more than the regular Prius.

With a full battery, Toyota says the Prius Plug-In can travel up to 15 miles at speeds as high as 62 mph on electric-only operation. Under full acceleration, the car will revert to hybrid mode and turn on the gas engine.

The Prius Plug-In’s lithium-ion battery pack isn’t as large as the one in the fully electric Nissan Leaf, and it can be charged in a much shorter timeframe. Toyota says it takes about three hours to charge the battery using 120-volt service or 1.5 hours using a 240-volt connection. Toyota has partnered with Leviton for 240-volt home charging-station equipment and installation. Additional mechanical features include:

• 98-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder gas engine and 60-kWh electric motor
• 134 hp total system output
• Runs on regular gas

Safety
Safety features include:

• Antilock brakes
• Side-impact airbags for the front seats
• Driver’s knee airbag
• Side curtain airbags
• Electronic stability system
• Active front head restraints
• Available Safety Connect emergency communication system
• Available precollision system that can cinch the seat belts and apply the brakes when a crash is imminent