The vehicle is a technological showcase on the inside, too. If you want, you can have an 11.6-inch touchscreen that dominates the center stack Tesla-style. You'll also have the usual raft of circa-2016 options, including a heads-up display, Qi wireless charging for smartphones, pedestrian detection, lane departure warnings and radar-based cruise control.

The Prius Prime should arrive in the fall, but Toyota isn't discussing the price yet. That may be the true deciding factor here -- if the Prime is too expensive next to the competition (or even regular Prius models), it may deter buyers who'd otherwise be sold. If it's at least on par, though, it could reel in a lot of commuters eager to cut fuel costs without the shorter ranges that come with all-electric cars.