‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ Cars Show Larry David’s Real Enthusiasm for EVs
HBO’s beloved comedy series written and starring Larry David, “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” has come to an end this week. The show had a 24-year run. Throughout the series, you’ll witness Larry David’s very real fandom of eco-friendly cars. Here are the five hybrid and electric cars that Larry owned in “Curb Your Enthusiasm”:
- Toyota Prius
- Ford Escape Hybrid
- BMW i3
- Audi e-tron Sportback
- BMW iX
The Toyota Prius is the main “Curb Your Enthusiasm” car
Fans of the show will obviously associate Larry with his iconic Toyota Prius. While Larry starts season one driving a silver 1998 Lexus GS 400, he switches to a Toyota Prius by the second season.
The Prius is a compact hybrid sedan that’s been around since its debut in 1997. Back in 2000, the original price would have been in the $20,000 range.
In the show, Larry is seen in various models years of a Toyota Prius more than any of the other cars listed above. What’s more, the real Larry David also drove a Prius for some time.
In fact, in a true “Curb” moment, the real Larry was filmed with his actual Prius after accidentally trapping himself in a Santa Monica parking garage. TMZ released the video back in 2012. A line of cars had to wait for Larry to figure out how to properly insert his ticket into the kiosk and pay the garage fee.
Ford Escape Hybrid
In season five, Larry drives a Ford Escape Hybrid while mentioning at least one Toyota Prius (one he sells to his agent on the show, Jeff). By season six, though, Larry is back to a new Prius.
The Escape Hybrid debuted in 2005 as the world’s first hybrid SUV. In 2005, the Escape HEV ran from $27,000 for the front-wheel-drive option to almost $29,000 for the AWD version. It was the only domestic vehicle Larry owned on the show.
BMW i3
For seasons nine and 10, Larry tools around in a brand-new BMW i3. There’s even a scene folded into an episode where Larry explains why he purchased the i3 and not the i8. In 2017, the i3 base trim started at $43,395. The Range Extender bumped retail asking to $48K but increased the battery life by up to 100 miles.
Around the same time, the real Larry David was spotted driving an i3, and since the show is a parody of real life, it makes sense to include the model in the show. The i3 is known for its quirky, boxy styling.
Audi e-tron Sportback
Larry enters season 11 of “Curb” with an unexpectedly swanky new Audi e-tron SUV. The 2022 Audi e-tron Sportback, a sleeker version of the base e-tron, would have started in the $70,000 area. As a full EV, the SUV has a relatively low range compared to luxury options now. The 2022 would have a little over 200 miles of range.
BMW iX
In the 12th and final season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” Larry touts a dark blue BMW iX. This was the most luxurious model the character drove as a primary vehicle on the show. The 2023 BMW iX started at over $87,000. As BMW’s first fully electric SUV, it touts more than 600 hp and almost 300 miles of range.
Where’s Tesla in the “Curb Your Enthusiasm” cars?
Ironically, we never see Larry with the iconic eco-symbol of the West Coast, the Tesla Model S. He does drive one for a scene in season one. However, it’s Ted Danson’s Tesla. Larry is actually issued a ticket for honking at a cop in front of him who failed to notice the traffic light turning green. The officer gives Larry a ticket for the car having an “aggressive horn.”
As the curtain closed, we can say with confidence that Tesla was never really included in the “Curb Your Enthusiasm” cars.
While the show ceaselessly emphasizes Larry David’s compulsively abrasive personality traits, now that it’s over, the 76-year-old writer/producer will be leaning into his “eco-friendly” side. In January, Larry issued a statement wherein he expressed relief at leaving his character’s grating persona with the show’s last act.
“As ‘Curb’ comes to an end, I will now have the opportunity to finally shed this ‘Larry David’ persona and become the person God intended me to be — the thoughtful, kind, caring, considerate human being I was until I got derailed by portraying this malignant character.”
Post-production, Larry David himself continues with his passion for EVs; this spring, he was spotted getting out of a Lucid.
