It’s a strange time to be a Toyota Prius.
On the one hand, no car is more synonymous with green virtue signaling than this ubiquitous diamond-shaped hybrid. But on the other hand, the Prius’ petrol-powered powertrain is a stark reminder that Toyota is reluctant to go all out with his EV after its competitors. So where will the sleek new 2023 models that are hitting dealers right now remain?
Toyota’s fifth-generation Prius certainly has a lot to like. First of all, it looks 6,000% better than its predecessor. PriusA glow-up like this is such a big deal for a car where image is everything, and should go a long way in attracting buyers who might otherwise not have considered Toyota’s previously stocky-looking hybrid. is.
The Prius also boasts more cabin and safety tech, and better road manners.Remember, the EPA fuel economy rating is 57 miles per gallon combined. to It’s also significantly cheaper than most new small electric vehicles on the market today, and doesn’t have to rely on America’s decidedly poor and unreliable public charging network.
hybrid power
As before, Toyota offers the Prius with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The former allows for maximum fuel efficiency for hybrids, while the latter includes an on-demand electric rear-wheel drive unit for four-wheel towing. Useful if you live in a rainy or snowy climate.
Regardless of model, the Prius is powered by a 2-liter 4-cylinder engine with a lithium-ion battery pack and an electric motor. The front-wheel drive variant has a total system power output of 194 hp, but the addition of AWD brings the power output to just 196 hp.
Toyota’s fifth-generation Prius certainly has a lot to like
More importantly, the new Prius is no longer a complete slug during acceleration. A combination of mechanical improvements and more sophisticated aerodynamics allows the Prius to hit 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. This is a full 2.6 seconds faster than the old model’s lethargic 9.8 seconds. This gives you more confidence and authority when merging onto the freeway or passing slow-moving semi trucks. Don’t be too wild. Remember, the Prius is all about efficiency.
With front-wheel drive, the base Prius LE is estimated to return 57mpg in city, 56mpg on the highway, and 57mpg combined. Jump into an XLE like my test car or the Hi-Zoo Limited, and those numbers drop slightly to 52mpg across the board, mostly due to the larger 19-inch wheels. (Adding a rear-wheel drive unit for AWD further reduces the expected fuel economy.) Without changing my driving style during his week of testing in Los Angeles, I routinely checked my fuel economy. is in his 50-52mpg range. In the Prius, efficiency is a no-brainer.
The Prius’ Eco Drive Mode slightly mutes throttle response and relies on battery power as much as possible, making it a great way to get around town. If you hit the gas pedal very easily in your neighborhood or in a busy city center, you can have the Prius humming on battery power alone, but not for long periods of time. It’s also worth mentioning that we’re launching a new version of the , with a more robust plug-in hybrid powertrain, allowing an all-electric range of 35 to 40 miles.
Toyota has decades of experience building hybrid drive systems, so it’s no surprise that the 2023 Prius will transition seamlessly between battery-only and engine-assisted driving. Start the Prius on a cold morning and you’ll hear (and feel) his rough-sounding 2-liter engine kick in.
In the aptly named normal driving mode, the Prius can do its thing without additional eco-assist. If you’re feeling down, there’s a sports setting. No one buys a Prius for challenging driving dynamics.
The new Prius is no longer a complete slug under acceleration
That said, the new Prius isn’t a complete dud to drive.The ride is comfortable and corners smooth, but the steering is predictably light and numb. Regenerative stopping power complements mechanical braking nicely, and standard Proactive Driving Assist uses the Prius’ radar and cameras to automatically turn the car on when it senses you’re approaching another vehicle or curve. It’s like a half-step to Adaptive Cruise Control, which is also standard equipment, along with great features like Lane-Keep Assist and Forward Collision Warning with Pedestrian Detection.
internal scoop
Under the hood, Toyota’s multimedia system is housed in the base Prius LE’s 8-inch touchscreen, but stepping up to the XLE offers a 12.3-inch screen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. You can choose. (Big screens are standard on the Prius Limited.) The overall interface is very user-friendly and easy to navigate, though it’s a bit odd that the volume knob is on the right side, away from the driver. The climate control buttons and toggles are neatly placed underneath, making for a pretty handsome dashboard design. Well, mostly.
What is worrisome about the interior of the Prius is the placement of the digital gauge cluster. The 7-inch display is positioned far ahead of the driver, close to the windshield, with the top of the wheel below the base of the screen. This is an unusual design choice.Most cars display gauges finished handle.
Depending on how tall you are, or how tall your torso is, the wheels may cut out some of the information you see on the gauge, but there’s a lot of small information scattered about on this 7-inch display, so it doesn’t really matter. is not. Icons are displayed and there is no discernible separation between different panels. The steering wheel itself is also chunky and unattractive, but I have to praise Toyota at least for its smaller diameter. Cruise’n USA arcade console.
Nobody buys a Prius for challenging driving dynamics
Front-seat headroom and legroom are generous, and an optional glass roof gives the Prius cabin an airy feel. But the steeply sloping roofline squeezes rear headroom and makes getting in and out of the Prius’ rear seats a little more difficult.
When Prii flocks inevitably begin service as rideshare vehicles, I think many unwitting texting passengers are going to bump their heads.
reasonable deal
Including the mandatory $1,095 destination fee, you can ride the 2023 Toyota Prius for just $28,545. XLE starts at $31,990, Limited starts at $35,560, and all-wheel drive is a $1,400 add-on. With options like the aforementioned 12.3-inch screen ($735), fixed glass roof ($1,000), and flashy Supersonic Red paint ($495), my Prius XLE FWD is a perfectly reasonable $34,095. It will be released.
The Chevrolet Volt EV and Volt EUV siblings are the only all-electric vehicles cheaper than the base 2023 Prius, but available federal and local tax rebates are sure to offset the price of the more expensive EVs.
Toyota continues to fiddle with its future EV plans, with some reports claiming the company will stick to its policy, while others say the automaker will quickly develop new electric products. I’m here.
Whether or not you agree with Toyota’s decision so far, until it’s easier and more accessible for the general public to quickly and reliably charge an EV, the Prius is a great hybrid, easy and efficient. No need to dispute the fact that you don’t need to charge the . extra hassle.
Photo by Steven Ewing of The Verge
