2023 Toyota Prius vs 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The 2023 Toyota Prius underwent a significant transformation, shedding its previous utilitarian image for a more stylish and modern appearance. This redesign was a response to increasing competition from electric vehicles and other hybrids, prompting Toyota to create a car that was both efficient and visually appealing. The new Prius featured a sleek exterior with a blend of curves and edges, giving it a futuristic look while maintaining a broad appeal. The wheels were pushed further into the corners, enhancing both handling and the car's athletic stance. Inside, the Prius offered a solid and well-crafted cabin, with high-quality materials and a more traditional instrument panel setup. Although the interior design prioritized function over form, it remained a comfortable space for occupants.

In contrast, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class embraced a more classic and luxurious design, moving away from the cold and technical aesthetics of many modern vehicles. The E-Class showcased elegant proportions with a long hood and short deck, complemented by softly rounded forms and bold detailing. Distinctive features included a star-map grille texture, star-shaped taillight illumination, and a chrome sweep defining the roofline. The E-Class was available in E 350 4Matic and E 450 4Matic models, with prices starting at $62,300. The interior of the E-Class was a blend of luxury and technology, featuring high-quality materials like Tonka Brown Nappa leather and a Superscreen triple-display glass panel. The car's design combined classic luxury with modern high-tech elements, creating a plush and sophisticated environment.

The 2023 Toyota Prius featured a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, an upgrade from the previous 1.8-liter unit. This engine, combined with a more powerful electric motor and lithium-ion battery, delivered 194 horsepower in front-wheel-drive models and 196 horsepower in all-wheel-drive models. This was a significant improvement over the previous model's 121 horsepower. The Prius felt more athletic and responsive, with a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 7.1 seconds, down from 10.5 seconds in the older version. While road and wind noise were generally well-isolated, the engine's droning became noticeable during hard acceleration. The revised suspension and longer wheelbase contributed to agile handling, making the Prius a comfortable and engaging daily driver.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class offered two engine options. The E 350 4Matic came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds. For more power, the E 450 4Matic featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with 375 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, reaching 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds. Both models used a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard 4Matic all-wheel drive. The E-Class also included a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, enhancing fuel economy and performance. Despite its power, the E 350's fuel economy fell short of expectations, achieving 23.8 mpg compared to the EPA's 27 mpg estimate. The E-Class excelled in comfort and ride quality, especially with the optional Airmatic Package, which provided a smooth and composed driving experience.

The 2023 Toyota Prius, despite its larger exterior, had a slightly smaller interior compared to its predecessor. Headroom decreased in both front and rear seats, but legroom improved, accommodating taller passengers comfortably. The optional fixed glass roof on the XLE trim enhanced the cabin's openness, though it didn't open for airflow. Cargo space was reduced to 20 cubic feet on XLE and Limited models and 24 cubic feet on the LE. The cabin featured practical touches like multiple cupholders, a wireless smartphone charging pocket, and USB-C ports in both front and rear seats. The cargo area included small underfloor storage cubbies and a flexible cargo cover for added convenience.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class offered a comfortable interior with supportive front seats available in various materials, including MB-Tex artificial leather, genuine leather, and premium Nappa leather. The seats were heated and power-operated, with optional ventilation and a heated steering wheel. The rear seats provided good leg support and a tall riding position, though entering and exiting could be challenging due to intrusive rear wheel wells. Practical storage solutions included sizable door pockets, a hidden center console bin, and a roomy bin under the split-top center armrest. The trunk offered 19.1 cubic feet of cargo space, accommodating full-size suitcases, and the 40/20/40-split folding rear seat expanded capacity as needed.

The 2023 Toyota Prius came equipped with an 8-inch color touchscreen infotainment system on the base LE and mid-grade XLE models, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The XLE offered an optional 12.3-inch touchscreen for $735, standard on the Limited trim. The larger screen was responsive and intuitive, though the navigation system required a $160 annual subscription to Toyota's Drive Connect system. All models included a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, which was somewhat cluttered. The Prius featured six USB-C charge ports, wireless smartphone charging on XLE and Limited trims, and an AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot with a subscription. Additional subscription-based connectivity bundles included Remote Connect, Safety Connect, and Drive Connect, offering various features like remote vehicle access and cloud navigation.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class showcased the third-generation Mercedes Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system, featuring a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 14.4-inch infotainment touchscreen. The digital instrumentation offered four themes, and an optional head-up display provided additional information. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a navigation system with augmented video technology. The MBUX system allowed for personalized experiences with up to 800 vehicle settings and programmable routines. Online music and video streaming, a Vivaldi web browser, and a 17-speaker Burmester 4D surround-sound system were available. The Superscreen Package added a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the passenger and a video camera for conference calls. The MBUX digital voice assistant was responsive and conversational, though it occasionally activated without prompting.

The 2023 Toyota Prius featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, a suite of active safety features including adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-departure alerts, lane-tracing assist, and Proactive Driving Assist. These features were standard on all Prius models. The Proactive Driving Assist system impressed with its minimal intrusion, resembling regenerative braking in EVs. Other safety features included stability control, traction control, eight airbags, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alerts. The Limited trim offered an optional Advanced Park feature for hands-free automatic parallel parking. As of now, the 2023 Prius had not been crash-tested by IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class came with numerous safety features, with the Driver Assistance Package offering 15 additional technologies for $1,950. This package included upgraded Pre-Safe features, Active Emergency Stop Assist, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping, lane-centering, and lane-change systems. The ADAS performed well during testing, though the lane-centering assist allowed a wider driving line on curves. The Automatic Lane Change function worked effectively but required caution in heavy traffic. Active Speed Limit Assist and Route-based Speed Adaptation systems could be liabilities in fast-flowing traffic but were easily disabled. Overall, the ADAS was practical for daily driving, with the lane-keeping assist system proving particularly effective.