Compare the2022 Audi A7VS 2022 Toyota Prius Prime

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi A7 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Toyota Prius Prime doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

The A7’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the A7 and Prius Prime have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The A7 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Prius Prime’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Audi A7 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The A7 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The A7 has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the A7 Prestige helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The A7 offers an optional Top and Corner View Cameras to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Prius Prime only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the A7 and the Prius Prime have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The Audi A7 weighs 957 to 1408 pounds more than the Toyota Prius Prime. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the A7 its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 73 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Prius Prime last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Pick” for 2019.

Warranty

The A7 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Prius Prime’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The A7’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Prius Prime’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Engine

The A7’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 214 more horsepower (335 vs. 121) and 263 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 106) than the Prius Prime’s 1.8 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The A7 55 TFSI e’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 241 more horsepower (362 vs. 121) and 263 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 106) than the Prius Prime’s 1.8 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Audi A7 55 TFSI is faster than the Toyota Prius Prime:

	A7	Prius Prime
Zero to 30 MPH	1.5 sec	3.3 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	4.4 sec	10.2 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	11.5 sec	30.7 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	5.4 sec	10.2 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	2.8 sec	4.7 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	3.6 sec	7 sec
Quarter Mile	13.1 sec	17.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	106 MPH	79 MPH
Top Speed	129 MPH	115 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The A7 55 TFSI e’s maximum driving range in pure electric mode is 26 miles, 1 mile further than the Prius Prime’s 25-mile range.

Both the A7 and the Prius Prime have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. All A7s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The A7 Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 2.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Prius Prime (13.7 vs. 11.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The A7’s standard fuel tank has 7.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Prius Prime (19.3 vs. 11.4 gallons).

The A7 has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

The A7’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the A7’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Prius Prime:

	A7	A7 55 TFSI e	Prius Prime
Front Rotors	13.3 inches	14.8 inches	10 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13 inches	10.2 inches

The A7’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Prius Prime are solid, not vented.

The A7 stops much shorter than the Prius Prime:

	A7	Prius Prime
70 to 0 MPH	157 feet	184 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	116 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the A7 has larger tires than the Prius Prime (255/40R20 vs. 195/65R15).

The A7’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Prius Prime’s standard 65 series tires. The A7 55 TFSI Prestige’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Prius Prime’s 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the A7 has standard 20-inch wheels. Only 15-inch wheels are available on the Prius Prime. The A7 55 TFSI Prestige offers optional 21-inch wheels.

The A7 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Prius Prime; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The A7 offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Prius Prime’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the A7’s wheelbase is 8.9 inches longer than on the Prius Prime (115.2 inches vs. 106.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the A7 is 4.8 inches wider in the front and 3.8 inches wider in the rear than on the Prius Prime.

The A7’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (53.9% to 46.1%) than the Prius Prime’s (55.5% to 44.5%). This gives the A7 more stable handling and braking.

The A7 55 TFSI Prestige handles at .93 G’s, while the Prius Prime Limited pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The A7 55 TFSI Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.5 seconds quicker than the Prius Prime XLE (26 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the A7 55 TFSI Prestige is quieter than the Prius Prime Limited (69 vs. 71 dB).

Passenger Space

The A7 has 3.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Prius Prime (95 vs. 91.5).

The A7 has 3 inches more front shoulder room, 3.6 inches more rear legroom and 2.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Prius Prime.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the A7’s rear seats recline. The Prius Prime’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The A7 has a much larger trunk than the Prius Prime with its rear seat up (24.9 vs. 19.8 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the A7. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the A7’s power liftgate can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Towing

The A7 has a 3500 lbs. towing capacity. The Prius Prime has no towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The A7 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Prius Prime uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the A7 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Prius Prime. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the A7, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat (memory seat optional for the front passenger), steering wheel position, outside mirror angle and climate settings. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer a memory system.

The A7’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The A7’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Prius Prime’s parking brake has to released manually.

The power windows standard on both the A7 and the Prius Prime have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the A7 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Prius Prime prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The A7’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Prius Prime LE/XLE’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The A7 Premium Plus/Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The A7 has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Prius Prime has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the XLE/Limited.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the A7 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the A7 is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Prius Prime’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The A7’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Prius Prime offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the A7 and the Prius Prime have standard heated front seats. The A7 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Prius Prime.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the A7 keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The A7 Prestige offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Prius Prime.

The A7’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the A7 and the Prius Prime offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the A7 has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.