‘Who Lifts a Prius?’: Driver Lifts His Prius. Then He Realizes It Might Be Bad For the Car

To some drivers, a vehicle’s standard equipment are just a starting point for modifications. Some modifications are good; some are bad. Others are just plain weird.

A Toyota Prius driver has people wondering which category his modification falls under.

In a recent post, the man shows off a lifted Prius. Now some are musing that the owner may have created a practical off-road sedan. That or they’ve ruined a perfectly acceptable commuter vehicle renowned for dependability and fuel efficiency.

TikTok creator Chris (@chrishasdeals) published a video in which he speaks to the owner of the modified hybrid.

Inspecting the Lifted Prius

The beginning of the clip shows an older black Toyota Prius that’s been lifted higher off the ground than it was manufactured. There’s noticeable cosmetic damage to some of the car’s exterior panels. These include a large gap in front and the sides of its front bumpers jutting out at an awkward angle.

After a quick external survey of the car, the video cuts to the man stepping inside, greeting the Franken-hybrid’s driver.

Commenters were intrigued by the fact that someone thought it would be a good idea to lift a Toyota Prius. They offered varying opinions on the car mod.

“Lowkey lifted Prius looks better,” one person wrote.

A second disagreed, “Okay that rig would be so hard if it wasn’t a Prius.”

What Happens When You Lift a Prius?

Most who responded to Chris’ video said that it was the first time they’ve seen a lifted Prius. But they’re not unprecedented.

Multiple companies specialize in lifting the popular hybrid vehicle.

Offroadium published a piece on a 5th-generation Prius that had a lift kit installed courtesy of Prius Offroad. The ride was tricked out with 1.5-inch front lift spacers and 2-inch rear lift springs.

In photos shared to Offroadium’s website, the white sedan can be seen with thick, rugged looking tires. Moreover, because newer Priuses come with an all-wheel-drive option, these newer models should be better at wild treks than earlier hybrid offerings from the JDM brand.

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As far as performance goes, Offroadium says the lift kits allow the more recently released AWD Priuses to have driving dynamics tantamount to modern crossovers.

But are there any downsides to installing a lift kit on a Prius? According to Anderson Design & Fabrication (ADF), who also praised Prius Offroad, there doesn’t seem to be any. ADF writes that drivers have actually reported better fuel efficiency after installing a lift kit.

“These gains range from 0.5 to 3mpg and are attributable to various factors,” the company adds. The mileage increases are due to “maintaining momentum over obstacles due to increased clearance, thereby conserving energy.”

Of course, lift kits must be installed and calibrated correctly. If done properly, a Prius’ aerodynamics may be improved and its “undercarriage turbulence” reduced, which ultimately results in “smoother airflow and improved mileage,” per ADF.

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Motor1 has reached out to Toyota and Chris via email for further comment. We’ll update this if either responds.

Warning: The below video contains explicit language.

 

 

 

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