The Toyota Prius is a car that has been around for a long time. A very long time. The first ever generation of the Prius emerged as the XW10 in 1997, and since then it has evolved heavily over the years and almost become a “classic hybrid”. Whenever people utter the words hybrid car, the chances are that many of us think of the Prius. And now, ahead of the 2023 model year, Toyota has unveiled an all-new Prius.

This is a Prius unlike any other we have seen before. The new 2023 Prius features some heavily redesigned styling, all-wheel drive and a highly impressive combine MPG figure of 57 mpg. The new styling though is where this car has truly stood out, and it has sent gearheads and traditional car enthusiasts into an absolute frenzy. People who may well have otherwise thought the Prius was a bit drab and dull are suddenly finding themselves utterly in love with the new Toyota model and keen to find out just what it is like for themselves. It seems Toyota has developed a winner.

What Makes The New 2023 Prius So Good

Toyota has revealed the European and US versions of the car, and both of them look absolutely spectacular. Gone is the old Prius shape and in comes a new, sleeker and more elegant design, one that is also longer than the previous iteration of the Toyota hybrid. There is a short drop down to the tailgate while the front end upwards is long and graceful, while the fascia is heavily redesigned with some split headlights and a thin, sleek grille. The air dam below that is actually pretty small and slender as well.

At the heart of the new Prius is a larger 2.0-liter engine, with a newly developed lithium-ion battery pack that offers a 15% increase in the power output for the Prius. The power all goes to the front wheels with the combined total power output of the car some 194 hp. However, an all-wheel drive system is also offered for the Prius with a high-output interior permanent magnet motor driving the rear wheels. The 2.0-liter hybrid powertrain in that version has 196 hp and a 0-60 time of just 7.0 seconds versus the 7.2 seconds of the standard Prius model.

Gearheads Are Going Crazy For The New Prius

Judging by Toyota USA’s latest Instagram post, the Prius is proving itself to be a big hit with those in the United States. The Instagram post includes a few fantastic images of the car from all angles, including a shot of the interior which pleasingly shows plenty of button controls. Several Instagram users have commented on how good the design is, with user @popnboners saying “Coming from someone who drove nothing but Tacomas, 4Runners and Tundras since I was 16 I wouldn’t mind driving that as a commuter car.”

There were plenty of positive comments about the styling of the car. One of the best comments was by @mgn_grand who said “Why does a Prius look fire?” while another said that it was “time to trade in my 2015”. Scouring the comments of the Instagram post, it is incredibly hard to find anyone who does not approve of the styling of the new Prius. Most people seemed surprised that the Prius could ever look so good! One criticism that has been long levelled at the model for a while is simply how average it has looked compared to other hybrids and EVs on the market.

Where Else The Prius Stands Out Among The Hybrid Crowd

There are three trim levels available with the 2023 Prius. The regular hybrid model gets LE, XLE and Limited designations. When it comes to the plug-in hybrid version of the Prius, that version gets the SE, XSE, and XSE Premium iterations of the Toyota model. Both of the top trims get the Toyota 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen and an eight-speaker JBL premium audio system, as well as heated and ventilate front seats. With winter fast approaching, we imagine those heated seats will get plenty of usage!

A Huge Step Forward For The Veteran Prius

It is remarkable to think about just how long the Prius has been a part of the Toyota range. And it was easy to see why some people were not quite so happy with the design of the car. But what Toyota has done is come up with a striking new design that offers something a little bit different over the previous model. The fact it seems to be appealing to some hardcore gearheads is very encouraging for Toyota, as a new edition of the Prius could become a core part of the brand's future lineup. Pricing and an on-sale date for the car will come later this year.

Sources: Toyota USA, Toyota USA Instagram Page