The fifth-gen 2023 Prius is not here to play around — with super-sleek and dynamic design, Toyota’s hybrid might finally capture the attention of younger buyers.
Unlike with all previous generations, the 2023 Prius wasn’t eagerly anticipated. With EVs becoming the norm, Toyota’s pioneering hybrid car has somewhat faded into oblivion, and sales plummeted. But the world’s biggest automaker wasn’t ready to kill the legend, even though most of its vehicles today have hybrid powertrains. And for the first time in Prius history, we are happy this happened.
Sharp, elegant, and sophisticated — the 2023 Prius is quite the stunner. The flowing roofline, necessary for better aerodynamics, always had the potential of creating a great-looking car, but Toyota didn’t nail it — until now. The designers used a few tricks to make it look sportier, like moving the highest point of the roof further back, creating a sloped windscreen that connects perfectly with the hood, and making the 2023 Prius 2 inches lower and 1 inch wider.
Moreover, the front fascia features sharp-looking hammerhead shark-like headlights, while the rear end features a cool-looking LED light bar. The whole body is also heavily sculpted but still looks like it was made from one piece of metal. It’s a feature of some of the best-designed cars ever and a testament to the lengths the designers went to make the 2023 Prius look better.
But it’s not just the looks — the 2023 Prius also got way more powerful. Instead of the super-slow 1.8-liter hybrid powertrain, the new model is now only available with a 2.0-liter engine in a regular hybrid and PHEV (plug-in) configuration.
The non-plug-in model produces 194 hp on the front-wheel-drive model, enough for a 0-60 mph time of 7.2 seconds. But Toyota also offers a 196-hp all-wheel-drive model with a small electric motor in the rear, which shortens the 0-60 time to 7.0 seconds.
However, the real star of the show is the PHEV model. The 220-hp plug-in hybrid Prius Prime hits 60 mph in 6.6 seconds and provides a 50% higher EV-only range. In other words, we are looking at around 40 miles of EV-only range (EPA), which should cover most people’s daily needs.
And unlike other hybrids, the 2023 Prius Prime should remain economical after it depletes the battery, returning just shy of the 57-mpg rating of the regular hybrid (due to more weight). For the performance you get, that seems an extraordinary figure. And if you want a longer range, Toyota offers a solar roof that can charge the battery and power accessories. According to the company, it can add 700+ miles of range annually.
Toyota offers three trims for the 2023 Prius and Prius Prime; the hybrid model is available in LE, XLE, and Limited Designation, while the Prime goes with SE, XSE, and XSE Premium.
The 2023 Prius also received significant updates inside. The cabin looks much more modern but also more minimalistic. There is now a digital instrument cluster in front of the driver, while in the middle sits a huge 12.3-inch infotainment with Toyota’s latest (and excellent) software. The entry-level trim gets an 8-inch screen, though, which looks a bit out of place on the elegant dashboard. Regardless of the trim, the Prius has physical climate controls, which is welcome in this day and age.
Other features include an 8-speaker JBL premium audio system, a digital rearview mirror, and a powered liftgate. Like most EVs today, the 2023 Prius has a 1,500W accessory outlet. The feature comes together with a neat attachment for the rear window to guide the cable and power external devices when you go on camping. It uses juice from the battery but can also utilize the engine if the cells are depleted.
All 2023 Prius trims get the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 system as standard, which includes a host of driver assistance systems.
Pricing and release dates are yet to arrive — Toyota promises to release them later this year for the hybrid and early next year for the Prime. The Japanese automaker will need to be smart with the prices, mainly as it now competes with EVs. Thus, we expect it to start around $30,000 and go up to $45,000 for the range-topping Prime with a solar roof.
Gallery: 2023 Toyota Prius
Toyota’s press release: Prius, Prius Prime
