I love what you said about your third gen Prius aging like a fine wine. It's so true. ♥

I beg to differ. It was the 2nd gen that set the world on fire and truly introduced the hybrid technology to the world. For a while, it was the it car and had like a 6 month waiting list to get one. I know, I bought one and drove it for 19 years until I got my 2023 Prius Prime XSE Premium. Couldn't be happier.

The 3rd gen Prius is so iconic. Than new generation one, though, is a huge improvement. I like the new styling and interior. 👍 I can’t believe I’m saying this about a Prius, but “hell yeah”!

We just managed to grab a 2024 Prius Prime XSE. I am absolutely in love with it. And, regarding the volume control on right end of the center display, it makes perfect sense. The driver has volume control on the steering wheel. If the volume control were to be on the left end of the display then the passenger would have to get out of the seat to reach it. So the volume controls are convenient for both the driver and the passenger. Toyota has actually thought that one out. And by the way, I drove the new PP home from Colorado in rain and snow. I found the heated seat very good. At times, I had to drop the heat level down to keep it comfortable. I think the cooling in the seats will be great come summer, because the PP interior is only available in black. But the fact that the seats are ventilated is great. One last goodie that I was not aware of until we took delivery is the 1500 watt 120 volt inverter. At the back of the console is a two prong outlet for DVD players or such. In the trunk is a standard three prong grounded type connector. Yes the Prime is more expensive than the regular Prius. But accounting for inflation, we payed almost exactly the same price as you did for your 2012 Prius. And that was exactly MSRP. I was quoted a price when the Prime was still in build. We paid exactly the same price to the penny when we took delivery.

0:00 he called me a Prius freak…I’ll take it 😎

New prius is a class leading compact car and miles better than any rivals.👑👑

Looks good in your driveway... The old one 😉 Nothing looks better than a car that's paid off

Old prius HUD looks so futuristic haha. what a cool design

As a Canadian who lives in the far north (-40 degrees for a few weeks every winter). The heated seats on the 2024 Prius works well for me. Maybe you got a dud? Or maybe mine is the only one in the fleet that has working heated seats lol.

I really hope Toyota makes a GR Prius and at a reasonable price. It would also really help if Toyota told their dealers to stop marking things up. I would also really like to see a Prius Cross/GR Prius Cross that looks exactly like a mini Crown Sport. I know there the new CH-R, but the new CH-R's rear design is so ugly, especially compared to the Crown Sport. Or for the mid cycle refresh of the Corolla Cross, they could make it look exactly like a mini Crown Sport.

I wish that Toyota Prius will win the "2024 Car of the Year" in World Car Awards because of this best and awesome looking of the new design of the Prius.

Having put 155,000 mi. on my Gen 2 Prius in 10 years, it is still a point of pride to pull up its history on the Fuely app and see the overall mpg figure at 47.2! That's logging every single fill-up. My 2018 RX350 averages slightly less than half of that but, man, what a nice ride for my twilight years........

I have a '24 XLE and I get around 35-40 MPG in the winter, probably due to cranking the heat most of the time. I feel during the summer using the "Pulse-n-Glide" technique itll be able to achieve about 60.

I can't get over that GTR in the background 😍

Gen 5 has won these top awards: 2024 MotorTrend Car of the Year. 2024 North American Car of the Year. The Drive’s Best Car of 2023. Car and Driver's recipient of the 10 Best in 2024. Edmunds' Top Rated Car of 2024 Award. 2024 Canadian Car of the Year Award. Japan Car of the Year award for 2023-2024. Kelley Blue Book Best New Model Award 2024.

If you get the 8 inchs screen the volume knob is on the. left side, strange décision. It could have been next the the shifter...

Nice review Kirk! I made a similar journey, moving from a 2014 Prius (plug in) to a 2023 Prime XSE Premium (Prime is a no-brainer in Canada with the incentives - if you can find one). I agree with pretty much everything you said, but a couple comments to share… 1) heated seats, I agree they are not as strong, but generally adequate. I actually find the ventilated seats near useless, lol. Granted, I got the car at the end of August and only had a few warm days to test it on before it cooled off, maybe I will change my mind on a summer road trip. 🙂 2) I understand your comment about the “old glove”, as I felt that way about my 2014 after driving it for 7 years. In some ways, I miss that, just an ultra-practical car. The more I drive the 2023, the more I like it, probably for the same familiarity feeling which is building up (I still have less than 8K KM (5K miles) after almost 6 months, since I work from home). 3) I do miss some of the storage areas which were given up compared to the old car. No dual glove box, the under-bridge storage is gone (aside from the “hidden compartment”), and the console box is fairly small. No seat back pocket on the driver side. 🙄. Also, my 2014 Plug In had a nice narrow under floor storage behind the PHEV battery near the back, which was perfect storage for a jug of washer fluid, the charge cable (which easily double-folded for perfect length to drop in stow away), plus space for other various tools. That space is gone on the new design, and the charge cable is wound in circular shape to stow in the styrofoam. Slower and less convenient to stow, for sure, but maybe I will figure out the trick. I also now stow my washer fluid in the left cubby behind the lip of the cargo floor, supported by a plastic case for some “traction aids” which is used for getting out of snow (hey, I’m Canadian 😉), and it is a perfect fit. Anyway, this comment is long enough… enjoy the car!

Man so much better looking than the gen 4 Prius. Way better car overall. The fuel efficiency might have topped out with the gen 4 but it was way to ugly.😅 It now is the perfect balance between fun and fuel efficiency. A bit less space than before but if you need capacity in your car, the Prius was never an option. Great review and comparison overall Kirk. Thanks! 👏

If you’re dealing with less than a gallon fill-up, it just seems to me that it’s easy to show a discrepancy in that. Even the ambient temperature while re-fueling can make a difference.

This really put things in perspective for me, I'm still driving my 2006 gen2 prius (48.7 mpg) and was considering an upgrade. I think hundyai elantra hybrid out competes the new prius in terms of economy, and is cheaper.

Your Gen 3 is a trim level 4 model, I have a Gen 3 (2010) trim level 2 but with the enhanced sound & navigation (I have the CD too, it is very cool). I agree that the Gen 3 is nice looking. The lines are very clean. Also, there is quit a bit of storage under the rug in the back (spare tire too). If/when my car dies (or I can't wait any longer) I plan on getting a PHEV and the Prius Prime is high on my list (I wish they offered an AWD version). I love my car's range, great mileage (even at high speed), storage capacity, reliability, ... all good, but I hate it's blind on the sides.

I’ve been driving my 2006 Prius for almost 18 years, it’s just as you say, it feels like a catcher’s glove. At the LA auto show I sat in the new Prius and to me it feels much smaller. Seats are so low it was hard to get in and out, roof and super raked windshield felt claustrophobic. And the steering wheel definitely blocked the dash. Plus in the Prime the cargo size is definitely compromised (plus I hated the required red interior trim on the Prime). So I think it’s time for me to skip hybrid and go for full BEV. 🚀

Great comparison! Need some tunes during the timelapse.

Love my Gen 3....❤❤❤

Love the dash, steering wheel, and infotainment situation on the new model. Not such a huge fan of the rear window. The digital rearview mirror chaps my ass a little. Good review!

Yay I needed this

Great video! I have never been a big Prius fan and wouldn't want the oversized 19 inch wheels as they zap efficiency, but there is no denying that they are now better looking. How much degradation of the battery would a 2012 have on average since they don't use lithium batteries? I would like to know if the fuel efficiency has really been worsened or is something else going on.

The new Prius is nice. I have a fusion hybrid 13 how would you compare it to the 12 Prius.

Bring the new Prius to Aus. Cmon Toyota Australia! Plug in is all we need

I have a gen3 PriusV that I put 210k miles in and my old work car was a regular gen3 (it now has 327k miles) that is now being driven by my girlfriend’s daughter. My current work car is a gen4 that I’ve put 227k miles on and now my new personal car is a ‘24 AWD LE. So between work and personal driving I basically live in Priuses and know them quite well. The gen5 Prius DOES get better mileage than the gen3 or 4. But, it is also much easier to get bad mileage in it thanks to the temptation to put those extra 60 ponies to good use. I have also raced autocross in all (today was my first in the new one) of the cars I mentioned above and can tell you the difference is night and day in the new car!

Hi Kirk, thanks for tis comparison. I had a Prius gen4 before but now I have a Camry 2020 hybrid. I would like to know how the noise of the new Prius compares to a 2020 Camry?

I think that the mileage calculations are off because the fuel pumps are not so accurate for small amounts (less than a gallon). It's like trying to measure out a dose of medicine with a soup ladle. My understanding is that the new Prius (with the 17" wheels) gets about the same mileage as the old one, but has way more power.

I've done 80mph in EV mode in my Rav 4 Ltd Hybrid ..FOR 18 MILES 😊

Doing the same kind of driving in my 23Rav4 Ltd Hybrid I'm at 45mpg after 8000 miles

Hi Kirk, what do you mean by single pane vs dual pane? What is the advantage of dual pane?

Surprising rear seat head room. 38:13

I also had a 2012 but trim 5. The tech package was amazing and ahead of its time. However that hard plastic used to bang my right knee when taking sharp turns. I did spend the extra money to get the TRD parts to make it more nimble. It was a great car. RIP.

I had a 2013 Prius "C" and then got a 2017 Prius II in 2017. I get a whopping 60-65 MPG with the 2017 simply by traveling the speed limit and using cruise control whenever possible (in "eco" mode). I also tend to let it coast down big hills as long as nobody is behind me. I never really did measure the 2013 Prius "C"'s MPG, don't recall what it averaged. I plan on getting a 2024 Prius XLE. It will be interesting to see if it can beat that 60-65 MPG range my 2017 easily obtains.

I keep my 2023 Prius Prime XSE Premium in Eco mode, and in EV mode. When I head for work in the morning the motor may come on at first just to warm up a bit, but it usually shuts off before I get to the freeway on-ramp. Metering lights in the morning, so I get to accelerate from zero to freeway on battery only, it is not a problem, much better than my old Corolla was. I can get it all the way up to 80 mph without the motor kicking in, it kicks in at 84. I set the cruise control at 82 and rest my foot. The lane keeping is fun but I would not trust it more than 10 yards, it makes choices that can get me into trouble. When traffic bogs down I just chill and go with it. I rarely hit the brake, but I will goose the throttle as needed. I can get all the way to work, 25 miles, on battery and still have about 40% left. I just got my third tank of gas, and it was a sucky 80mpg. Last week I had charging issues that turned out to be a bad extension cord triggering the temperature sensor on the charger. I expect to be back up to about 100mpg on the next tank.

Kirk, I would like the modern suspension and powertrain bolted to the 3rd or 4th Generation body. Something really weird is going on with the back seat. Reviewers as short as 5'6" have drawn attention to the lack of rear headroom 7:33 yet you seem to fit. 🤔🤔 At the end of the day, a new Prius V or Corolla wagon with this drivetrain would remove all concerns.

About the MPG my 2022 is EPA rated at 51 but I routinely get well above 60 mpg.

Yeah I have a 2012 prius, 8 years now no major issues just regular maintenance, I will be shopping for the 4th gen 2020-2022 next year I want the bigger cargo area Prius have never been beauty queens or silent cabins I had a 2004 Lexus rx 330 before it was a great car for 12 years but it enjoyed eating brake pads and rotors far too often, glad to have something lower maintenance that I don’t care about as much

People complain about Toyota racking on screens. 3rd gen is very well integrated. Even has a cd player behind it.

Those dogs are huge $$$ to feed. Huge 19 inch wheels also look great until you hit a pothole or curb. Replacing 15 inch tires is a lot cheaper. People will wait til the last second to change their tires and risk hydroplaning. Higher insurance rate? Brand new prius has less mpg too because of those rims. You would think the new battery would be more efficient. Change the rims and get better mpg.

My heated seats felt fine in my 2024 XLE.

I'd trust the fuel consumption monitoring on a newer car vs gas pump fueling discrepancies.

Glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks the 4th gen was a waste. When I bought my 2010 3rd gen in 2009, I thought it was beautiful, and my views have not changed throughout the years. 5th gen is great looking and a fantastic heir to the line, but I'll still go with the 3rd gen for its much roomier interior and for nostalgic reasons.

Have a 2012 and always drive it in Power mode and still routinely get 49 mpg. Power mode is the only way to drive the car IMO. In Portland Oregon and deal with plenty of hills

5:40 Two Danes??? Wow 😮 Had one myself, passed last year at 11 years old sadly but they are a great breed now about that GTR, that blue is popping!!

The new Prius is now mainstream acceptable, but won’t work for Taxi drivers (rear head room is lower and cargo space is smaller). The old Prius being Taxi capable was like a billboard for Toyota Prius as well as being versatile like a Swiss Army knife. The 2nd gen Prius used a 1.8L engine that was prone to head gasket problems. Can anyone tell me if the new Prius prime is a Series Hybrid?

There was available a Prius Advance?

The stuff in the 3rd gen is cool Burner seats Flip-cd player Coolest energy flow chart Hologram for steering wheel buttons Etc. The new Prius is certainly more refined

How is the headroom getting in and out?. I am at 6 foot. Do you have to duck to keep from hitting your head on the new Prius, what about the old prius? How do the AC’s compare, is the new one more robust? (I think the new Prius has a sound adjustment so you can move the sound to be more in the back.) The old Prius did not have seat position memory…

Volume wheel being all the way on the right is for the passenger. You can control volume using the steering wheel

Mine is 2012 Technology. Still running everyday.

Is the seat heater defective? Pretty crazy that they would manufacturer heated seats that barely work. Supposedly the steering wheel heater is great.

You have a HUD on your 2012?? That’s pretty impressive for 2012

I thought you had sold your 2012 Kirk?

Happy with my Prime SE 2024

Nice GTR

Things that can impact : - The internal mileage calculator is suppose be accurate (so closer to 60). - Heavier (?) - The 2.0L (?) - Driven harder (average speed)? - bigger wheels (and wider wheels). - Loads of extra electric stuff probably won't help. Not making excuses, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's a combination of all those. I would say, a 1.8L with the 17'' wheels would probably get closer to the old girl.

I actually sat in the new one a few hours ago and my head does touch the ceiling (I’m 6’3”) compared to my 2017 where I have like an inch to spare. My golf bag also did not fit transversely as it does in mine. Very good looking car just not versatile anymore. My 2017 has just under 99k miles, so I will probably drive it for another 100k and maybe upgrade to a next gen Rav4

My dreamcars!

Buddy of mine’s wife has a white 2012 Prius 3 I think

Perhaps heated seats would feel better in colder climate. Hope so. i’m in North East USA.

I would run another test or two on the new one to confirm if it really has lower MPG. Gen 3 MPG is good, I once got high 50's in a mostly city driving uber shift with a gen 3 with 280k miles on it and an old crappy hybrid battery.

I've thought about trading in my paid off '22 Corolla hatchback for a new Prius XLE AWD. Still prefer not having car payments however.

Both models have that "concept" car look...

Marathon video eh?

Why is the wiper on the new Prius like that?

It’s the thin tires that eat your mpg. Mine get about the same.

I always mocked the Prius and thought it was an ugly, dorky looking thing. Now the new Prius is totally awesome and I’d love to own one. I think it is the perfect alternative to an EV. I wish I knew this new generation was out before I bought my Mazda Cx-30 but I think a new Prius is a few thousand beyond my budget. I’ll have to wait to find a used one.

tire wheel size is maybe the diferent MPG result

Maybe the difference in mpg comes from the the new prius not having been broken in...

Cool

in my opinion, you shoulda compared the 5th with the 4th, coz the 3rd wasn't exactly the best gen, especially in the first years

3rd gen Prius around 6% optimistic. Never got that close dash numbers vs real like you. Something wrong.

Tires is a big factor in fuel mileage.

3rd gen is a gem. Great headroom. Iconic rear double glass rear hatch for more visibility. Doesn't feel claustrophobic. Plenty of repair DIY info on this model. only concern is the headgasket. Feel like that car can be passed down and still be relevant

New prius with 19 inch rims have worse fuel economy than the 2012 one, you should have compared the regular new prius with 15 inch rims, that one is the base model is rated at 57mpg

Kirk: You can't tell me you don't bump your head getting in and out of the new Prius. My wife and I went to the Houston Auto Show 2 weeks ago and got a chance to sit in one. We are both 5.5 feet short. We both almost bumped our heads getting in as it did scrape my hair of which I have little of. So come clean with it now.

Yeah I always liked the 2nd gen best. Though I think the speedo area was best in 4th gen. New speedo sucks!

That was really helpful, I had 3 issues with the new gen Prius, one of which was a dealbreaker: 1) At least in my preferred driving position, the left side and rake of the A pillar made it a big blind spot, also of course the rear view. 2) Also in my preferred driving position, I kind of had to dart my head around to get a full view of the instrument cluster, though I imagine I could get used to that in time. 3) 2.5K dealer markup which is stupid and at least for now killed any interest in it.

After getting the 2024 Prius Prime I sold our 2014 series 2 for 40% of what we paid for it. It was a great car, it never had ANY repairs other than routine maintenance. With advancing age, we are much more comfortable with all the safety features. Oh, and we already have a house. 😊

Bro heated seats in Florida? lol you don’t need to ever turn it on 🤭

GEN3 is nicer but I wish It had better head gasket and EGR. GEN5 is nice but not $35k nice.

Bummer about the heated and ventilated seats on the new one

4th Gen was peak Prius in terms of efficiency and passenger room.

good comparison, but still gave up Toyota brand unless they fix greediest dealer thing. It seems elantra hybrid does alot better MPG according to Kirk's two hybrid video reviews. Elantra hybrid is like 63 MPG, and Prius is 48.4 MPG in Kirk real test drive.

No car beats second Gen 2 Prius.

I will keep my 2022! Hate low profile tires but love the wheels, lower seats harder to get out, don’t like the new dash at all. Love the hatch back all models but the newest model does have the lower glass…digital rear view mirror should be standard.

i dont have a problem with the 3rd gen looks, its the 4th gen that is the ugliest thing thats come out of toyota

Hah, the first Kirk video I ever watched was that red 4th gen vs the old red 3rd gen you still have 😀

New prius prices are freaking crazy 36000$ for fully loaded is too much

2nd gen is the best. Cast iron block. Non electronic water pump. Cmon Kirk

Toyota Australia's infinite stupidity is not bringing Gen 5 here. A crazy first since 1997

Love this comparison so much! I totally agree that 3rd Gen is the best looking - I had the 2010 Prius IV w after market 17 inch wheels, got it used w the mods for $36K adjusted at $50,304.84 in todays dollar 🤣 would buy it again! Would love to test drive this 5th Gen, even though I'm in the market for a new Prius. Just love them, hope Toyota keeps making them!

As a 3rd gen owner I was at Toyota showroom for a small checkup. Right away I tried to see if they have the new Prius because I love the gen 3 and I think the latest one is like the modernization of gen 3. I was very excited to see it in real life, walk around smiling like "This is cool"....but just when I went to sit at the lounge 5 mins later I started to think in a different way. Despite it is new, the boot seems smaller and I think it is because of the lower ceiling. And more and more I look at it, the angle of the wedge front is so low that starts to look funny to me, especially in relation with the width. I think the car would look much better if it is wider. Then I just think I am happy to stay with my 3rd gen, which I think it looks the most JDM and modern classic for the Prius line. And I love the dash of 3rd gen. It's like I'm in the spaceship from the 80s.

I just couldn’t get past the interior cabin space, loved the drivetrain and sexy exterior. But in the end, I had to pass on it as I couldn’t see high placed red lights at some intersections with my tall torso.🤷🏽‍♂️

2nd and 3rd generations were the BEST!