Way back in time there were some race cars built by a guy named Max Balchowsky named Old Yeller and Ol' Yaller (they were yellow), a movie about a dog (Old Yeller), and then in 1970 a song, Big Yellow Taxi, by Joni Mitchell. None of them had anything to do with the 2026 Toyota Prius Nightshade Plug-in Hybrid. But c'mon, look at it. (Yeah, my mind is a strange place.)
Toyota calls this color "Karashi" which is the color of a Japanese mustard (a spicy hot condiment). My wife said that this Prius was the first car I've driven in a long time she had no trouble finding in a parking lot.
But enough of all that, let's talk Prius! Prius is the granddaddy of hybrids arriving on our shores in 2000. A lot has changed since then. Just about every automaker has a hybrid now; heck Toyota has 19 different hybrids.
What makes a plug-in hybrid different is, well you can plug it in. You do not rely solely on regeneration to recharge the battery. The Prius plug-in has only a range of 44 miles for electric use, and while this may not sound great it is enough to toodle around town in EV mode. Toyota says that it would take eleven hours to recharge a depleted battery using a 120V outlet; so drive it during the day, plug it in to a dedicated GFI 15A outlet and it will have a full charge in the morning.
The two means of motivation - gasoline engine and electric motor - provide a total of 220 hp. The Prius Nightshade weighs a tad over 3,500 lbs. so it has darn good acceleration. Not that should be a deciding factor for a hybrid.
Economy of operation is where it's at and the Prius Plug-in does not disappoint. USEPA rates it at 50 mpg city, and 48 combined. The Miles Per Gallon equivalent (MPGe) is 114, and the estimated total driving range is 550 miles.
Although it isn't a traditional gear shift (PRNDL), I'll take it. My iPhone wouldn't charge in the wireless station; in some cars my phone case interferes.
The front seats are typical Toyota seats, rather plain looking but comfortable.
The rear seat is typical of most cars today - rated for three but better for two.
I like heads-up displays, and although this instrument cluster is not technically heads-up, it serves the same purpose. The pertinent information is within your line of sight.
There is a maximum of 26.7 cu. ft. of storage when the rear seats are folded down, making the Prius a versatile yard sale hauler.
I put a fair number of miles on the 2026 Prius, probably evenly split between highway and around town. I never plugged it in because I hate sitting in parking lots. I never ran the battery dead though. There is regen charging which always kept some some juice on tap.
Styling is not really my thing. I know what I like and what I don't. I tend to like cars that don't stand out, and are not odd. Prius has always been on the odd spectrum but it didn't turn me off.
I have the greatest respect for Toyota. It took a giant leap of faith to introduce the original Prius. I prefer hybrids over pure EVs. If you are in the market for a hybrid, and maybe the bulk of your driving is around town, you should check out the 2026 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid.
A base 2026 Toyota Prius SE Plug-in Hybrid starts at $33,775. A Nightshade Edition starts at $37,795. Prices are from toyota.com as of 10/3/2025. Due to the uncertainty of the tariffs please check either the website or your local dealer.
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