10 Biggest News Stories of the Week: Toyota Prius Prime Is Secondary to Hyundai Palisade
Although the long-standing retrofuturistic look of the outgoing Toyota Prius could be characterized as charming, it’s unlikely too many car shoppers were offended by the beloved hybrid’s sleek, sexed-up exterior overhaul for 2023. Unfortunately, anytime you change something that’s been working well, you run the risk of a ripple effect that ruins something else. In one of Cars.com’s most popular news articles of the past week — a rapid-fire rundown of the things we like and don’t like about the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime, the Prius’ plug-in hybrid variant — we highlight what the redesign got right as well as our prime concerns.
Related: 10 Biggest News Stories of the Month: Kia Sportage Can’t Brake American-Made Tesla Model Y, 3, X, S
In the plus column are peppier acceleration from its 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine; surprisingly athletic handling to complement its sporty styling; natural-feeling regenerative brakes; and improved efficiency resulting in an impressive estimated fuel economy of 53/51/52 mpg city/highway/combined along with up to 44 miles of all-electric driving. Subtracting from our Prime appreciation were an awkwardly repositioned instrument panel resulting in an awkwardly repositioned steering wheel; shrunken interior dimensions that notably impact backseat headroom; and a multimedia setup that’s less than user-friendly in some ways and done better by key rivals.
For the full details on what we love and what we loathe about the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime, follow the link below to the No. 3 news story of the past week.
Popular though it was, the Prius Prime couldn’t claim the prime position on our weekly countdown of most read articles — that equation, instead, worked out in favor of our report on pricing for the 2024 Hyundai Palisade. Increasing in base price by around $500 for the new model year, the three-row mid-size SUV ranges across its six trim levels from nearly $38,000 to start up to just under $55,000 for the Calligraphy Night Edition (prices include a $1,335 destination charge, and all-wheel drive is an extra $2,000 on all but the top model). Speaking of that all-new, dark-themed trim package, the Night Edition throws shade throughout, adding black wheels, roof rails and skid plates, as well as a black grille and dark leather, to the already abundant upgrades of the “regular” Calligraphy trim.
For full pricing and equipment details for the 2024 Hyundai Palisade, follow the link below to the No. 1 news story of the week.
Beyond that, we’ve got headlines on the Chevrolet Traverse, Rivian R1T, Volkswagen Atlas and much more — so don’t stop reading till the digits double. Here are the top 10 news stories Cars.com readers couldn’t get enough of in the past week:
1. 2024 Hyundai Palisade Gets New Calligraphy Night Edition, More Standard Equipment
2. Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy
3. Is the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime a Good Plug-in Hybrid? 4 Pros and 3 Cons
4. Up Close With the 2024 Chevrolet Traverse: Catching Up and Catching a Z
5. Toyota, Lexus Recall 110,000 Vehicles Over Airbags
6. Electric Cars With the Longest Range
7. 2023 Rivian R1T Review: Not the Biggest Luxury Electric Truck, But Maybe the Best
8. 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Review: Smart Changes (Nearly) Redeem a Former Favorite
9. What Should My Tire Pressure Be?
10. 43,000 Toyota, Lexus Vehicles Recalled for Fire Risk
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