2024 Toyota Prius vs 2023 BMW 7 Series

The 2023 BMW 7 Series marked a significant shift in design for the luxury sedan, introducing a bold new front-end styling with an oversized beveled grille and split lighting elements. The thin LED accent lights gave the car a focused squint, while the actual headlights were recessed to improve aerodynamics. Although initially jarring, the design grew on observers over time. The car offered two distinct style themes: the standard M Sport with chrome accents and the M Sport Professional with a more aggressive blacked-out look. The profile maintained the classic 7 Series silhouette, while the rear end featured distinctive horizontal taillights. Inside, the 7 Series boasted a modern, minimalistic interior with high-quality materials, a broad horizontal layout, and a futuristic curved glass housing for the instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The leather seat upholstery added visual interest, and the optional Rear Executive Lounge Seating package elevated the rear seat experience to a business-class level.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Prius retained its familiar wedge-shaped profile but introduced more appealing styling with aerodynamically optimized bodywork. The Prius XLE and Limited trims stood out with attractive 19-inch aluminum wheels. Inside, the Prius maintained its quirky charm, though the instrumentation moved to a more traditional position in front of the driver. However, the digital panel's placement close to the windshield sometimes obscured visibility. The interior featured hard plastics, leading to a flimsy feel, but the Prius remained durable. The 2024 model continued with the same trim levels and pricing as the previous year, with the XLE test vehicle showcasing options like a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a glass roof. Despite its quirks, the Prius offered a comfortable driving experience with a focus on efficiency and practicality.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series offered two initial powertrains. The base 740i featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, producing 375 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. It accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds. The 760i xDrive, with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, delivered 536 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, reaching 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. The V8-powered 760i xDrive impressed with its quick and fluid acceleration, offering a sporty yet comfortable ride. The handling was sportier than the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, with a slightly stiffer ride quality. The air suspension firmed up in Sport mode for sharper cornering, making it an excellent choice for performance-oriented drivers.

The 2024 Toyota Prius, following its redesign, boasted improved power and acceleration. The hybrid system combined a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an 83-kilowatt electric motor, producing 194 horsepower with front-wheel drive and 196 horsepower with all-wheel drive. The Prius accelerated to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds with FWD and seven seconds with AWD. The Prius LE achieved impressive fuel economy ratings of 57 mpg combined, while the XLE and Limited trims offered 52 mpg. The Prius Prime plug-in hybrid variant provided 40 to 45 miles of electric driving. Despite some dynamic compromises, the Prius delivered a more enjoyable driving experience with enhanced handling and acceleration. However, the steering felt artificial, and the CVT could be noisy during hard acceleration.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series featured power-operated doors, though they could be frustrating to use. The front seats offered ample comfort and adjustability, with standard heating and ventilation. The rear seats were spacious, accommodating tall passengers with ease. The lounge seating option added a reclining passenger-side rear seat with massage functions. A 31.3-inch rear entertainment screen folded down from the panoramic sunroof, though its central placement could cause neck strain. The trunk provided 13.7 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly larger than competitors. Interior storage was adequate, with a wireless charging pad, cupholders, and small door pockets.

The 2024 Toyota Prius's interior felt snug, with a dramatic windshield and small windows contributing to a sense of claustrophobia. The driver's seat was comfortable, but the 7-inch digital display was too small and cluttered. The rear seats were cramped but comfortable for two passengers. Storage space was adequate, with a wireless smartphone charging slot. The Prius offered 20.3 cubic feet of cargo space in the XLE and Limited trims, with compartmentalized storage under the trunk load floor. An optional digital rearview mirror provided a panoramic view when the cargo hold was packed.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series came equipped with iDrive 8, BMW's latest infotainment system. It could be operated via touchscreen, central dial, or voice commands. While basic functions were easy to use, the system's complexity increased with deeper menu navigation. Voice controls helped mitigate this, but they interrupted audio playback. The standard 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound System provided excellent audio quality. The optional theater screen had inconsistent touchscreen inputs, requiring a remote control for easier navigation. Overall, iDrive 8 felt bloated and less intuitive compared to previous versions.

The 2024 Toyota Prius featured the Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with an 8-inch or 12.3-inch touchscreen display. It offered Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Various connected services plans were available, with trial subscriptions of different lengths. The Limited trim included an eight-speaker JBL premium sound system, though it lacked satisfaction for audiophiles. The Prius Limited also offered a 360-degree surround-view camera system and semi-autonomous parking assistance.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS. Standard safety features included frontal collision warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and more. The optional Driving Assistance Professional package added a hands-free automated driving system for highways. The adaptive cruise control and highway driving assistant performed smoothly, reducing driver fatigue on long trips. BMW planned to introduce a level 3 automated driving system in German and Chinese markets, with potential availability in the U.S.

The 2024 Toyota Prius came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and more. Proactive Driving Assist provided subtle steering and braking assistance. The Prius's adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance worked well, though it occasionally braked too hard in heavy traffic. The Prius earned high safety ratings, with NHTSA awarding five stars in most assessments and IIHS naming it a Top Safety Pick+.