Undoubtedly, the Toyota Prius has been one of the most popular hybrids of all time. And for its fifth generation, it undergoes a massive transformation. Though exact details related to the US-spec model are still under wraps, there's much to be excited about based on what Toyota has shared so far. The new Prius looks a lot cooler than before, gets a more powerful hybrid powertrain, and comes with a redesigned interior loaded with the latest tech.
Toyota even promises better driving dynamics for the new generation of the Prius thanks to its updated TNGA platform. Expect the new version of this car to start reaching US dealerships sometime next year. Let's take a closer look at some of the details of the 2023 Toyota Prius and see why you might want to start saving up for it already.
The Toyota Prius Gets A Lot Sleeker For 2023
The iconic wedge shape of the Prius still remains, but in 2023, it evolves into a more elegant design. It dumps the aggressive lines of the previous generation for a simple and clean look. The car now holds a much sleeker profile due to the lowering of its overall height by 50mm. Though the overall length has been reduced by 46mm, the new Prius now comes with a 50mm longer wheelbase.
The Prius has always been the go-to choice for anyone who is looking for a practical everyday hybrid. However, it also becomes a desirable choice with design updates for its new generation, such as the hammerhead-shaped front with sharp headlights and 3D rear lighting element. If this is not enough, the latest version also comes with 19-inch wheels which look stunning with their dual-tone layout.
The New Prius Gets A Modern Interior With Plenty Of Technology
The Prius' cabin also sees big changes for 2023. The awkward-shaped layout is replaced by a refreshed design that's simple and clean. A horizontal 12.3-inch floating touchscreen sits in the middle, with physical controls for air-conditioning placed beneath it. The steering wheel comes from the BZ4X EV with a 7-inch digital driver's display behind it. The color scheme for the new Prius cabin is all-black, with a single red panel that runs across the length of the dashboard.
The 2023 Prius' feature list also includes a panoramic moonroof, a digital inside rear-view mirror, and two 1,500 W accessory power outlets. It also gets an in-vehicle driver recorder with a clean setup that doesn't give the appearance of wires and cameras being retrofitted. The plug-in hybrid models come with Toyota's second-generation solar charging system. It is now more efficient and can generate power equal to driving 777 miles.
2023 Prius Gets More Powerful But Remains Efficient
The new version of this hybrid liftback also comes with significant updates in its powertrain. It drops the old 1.8-liter engine for a new 2.0-liter unit. In its plug-in hybrid version, power goes up to 220 horsepower, and Toyota promises that the Prius can now sprint from 0 to 62 MPH in 6.7 seconds. EV-only driving range also shoots up by 50 percent compared to the previous model. For 2023, the PHEV places its batteries under the rear seats instead of the boot. This arrangement lowers the car's center of gravity and improves its luggage capacity.
The standard hybrid version of the 2023 Prius also uses the new 2.0-liter unit. But here, the total system output is 190 horsepower. This figure is a massive bump compared to the previous version's 121 horsepower. Toyota says that the fuel economy remains unchanged despite the increase in performance figures, and the Prius will continue to be the most efficient vehicle in its class. However, these numbers are for the Japan-spec model, and there is a possibility that the US version might have different specs.
The new Prius uses the second generation of Toyota's TNGA architecture. It allows for a lower center of gravity and larger-diameter tires, leading to better driving dynamics than the previous version. The platform also uses more reinforcements, giving it extra rigidity and ensuring a quieter ride.
More Safety Features With Advanced Driver Assistance
The 2023 Prius comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense, a suite of advanced driver assistance and safety features. It includes systems such as radar-guided cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure alert with lane centering, automatic high beams, and road sign recognition. This system has more capability for this generation as it can detect more objects.
The new version of this hybrid liftback also comes with Toyota's first illuminated warning system. It works in sync with the Safety Sense features and uses the ambient lights inside the cabin to warn the driver of any objects before the audible warning. The new-gen model also gets Toyota's Advanced Park system with remote function. It allows automatic parking with a remote feature that you can access through a smartphone app.
Source: Toyota