The Toyota Prius has been a staple in the hybrid car category for over two decades. It’s safe to say that the Prius has become more than a household name, and it’s likely the one car anyone thinks about when shopping for a hybrid.

That said, driving a Toyota Prius has come with a certain stigma over the years. Many car enthusiasts and regular drivers alike have seen the Prius as an uncool appliance that’s solely meant for fuel efficiency. However, the all-new 2023 Toyota Prius Prime can abolish those negative connotations with its edgier styling, stronger engine, and better fuel efficiency.

We have been driving the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime this week, and so far, there are a few pros and cons we picked up on.

Pro: The 2023 Toyota Prius Prime is very fuel-efficient

It should go without saying that our 2023 Toyota Prius Prime tester is extremely fuel-efficient. The EPA rates the Prius Prime at 114 MPGe and about 48 mpg in hybrid mode. During our time with the car, we averaged 57 mpg in combined driving when the 40 miles of all-electric range ran out.

Con: The Prius Prime needs to be charged to take full advantage of its fuel efficiency

The Toyota Prius Prime is a plug-in hybrid, which means it needs to be charged to take full advantage of its range benefits. Fortunately, it only takes about four hours to charge the car with a 240-volt connection completely. But if you only have access to a 110-volt connection, you’ll have to wait 11 hours.

Pro: The Toyota Prius Prime is comfortable for a small car

The Toyota Prius Prime is a five-seat car, and its impressive amount of space allows adults to fit comfortably. The front seat area is exceptionally comfortable, and we had no issues when driving the car for long periods of time.

The front seats offer plenty of bolstering and 8-way power adjustability, in addition to heating and ventilation. The dual-zone climate control activates quickly, and the system automatically turns everything (heated seats and steering wheel) on the next time you drive the car.

Con: It’s hard to see the instrument panel

Although the Prius Prime offers comfortable front seats with great adjustability, we had difficulty seeing the driver’s instrument panel. Fortunately, the speedometer was visible since it’s the most essential part of the panel, but we couldn’t see the information on the bottom of the screen when facing it head-on.

Pro: The Toyota Prius Prime is much quicker than before

For 2023, Toyota updated the Prius’ powertrain with a stronger 220-hp unit that’s able to get the car up to 60 mph from a stop in only 6.6 seconds. Compare that time to the 2022 model’s 10.6-second run, and it’s easy to see that the new model is vastly improved.

The extra power can be felt in regular driving as well. The Prius Prime can now easily pass cars and get onto the highway without feeling like it’s running out of steam.

Pro: People think the Toyota Prius actually looks cool

“’Cool Prius,’ said no one,” is a meme that’s been floating around for the past few years. It’s funny, considering most people never thought of the Toyota Prius as being a cool car. However, this new iteration looks pretty cool.

Its slanted silhouette and low-slung stature make it look sporty, although it’s still kind of slow. That’s OK, though, because we had a few curious onlookers and friends tell us that this new model looked “pretty cool.” That’s progress.

Driving the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime has many pros and not many cons

Ultimately, driving the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime no longer feels like we’re driving an appliance. Instead, the Prius Prime is a cool-looking hybrid that provides a decent amount of power while delivering outstanding fuel efficiency, like it always has.