Bob Carter, Toyota Division Group vice president says the 2012 Prius Plug-in returns 95 MPGe in electric only mode and 50 MPG in hybrid mode. Toyota’s previously announced numbers were 49MPGe in electric-only mode and 49MPG in hybrid mode. Carter announced the revised figures at the Toyota Prius C launch.
95 MPGe puts the Prius Plug-in just higher than the Chevy Volt’s 94 MPGe electric-only rating. Both the Toyota Prius Plug-in and the Chevy Volt are still beat by the 112MPGe of the Mitsubishi i, but they are also larger vehicles than the Mitsubishi i.
The 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in offers 15 miles of electric-only driving at speeds up to 62 MPH. Since the Prius Plug-in has an Electric Advanced Partial Zero-Emissions Vehicle status, it qualifies for carpool lane access in California.
The starting price of the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid is $32,769. The Chevy Volt starts at $39,995. The Volt does qualify for the full $7500 federal tax credit while the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid only qualifies for a $2500 tax credit.
