First Drive: 2023 Toyota Prius

Whereas there are definitely some causes to reward the Toyota Prius, beginning with the hatchback’s industry-leading gasoline financial system, few would seemingly checklist “fun-to-drive” amongst its deserves. Nor does it are inclined to rank excessive by way of design.

Not till now, anyway.

Toyota is simply on the brink of roll out a brand new model of the acquainted hybrid, and the fifth-generation Prius takes a decidedly completely different route. Sure, it’s nonetheless set to ship benchmark mileage. However, in keeping with Chief Engineer Satoki Oya, gasoline financial system wasn’t even one of many high three objectives for the 2023 makeover. On the high of the checklist: design and efficiency.

And, after spending a day behind the wheel of the 2023 Toyota Prius, I can say that the Japanese automaker delivered fairly handsomely.

Overview

Making its debut almost 1 / 4 century in the past, the unique Toyota Prius was the world’s first mass-marketed gas-electric hybrid, introducing a expertise that has change into more and more commonplace as we speak. In actual fact, Toyota now affords hybrid drive on most of its mannequin traces with some, like the brand new Crown sedan, solely coming with a gas-electric driveline.

The unique Prius was a sedan. Nevertheless it migrated to a hatchback structure by the point it reached U.S. shores a couple of years later. The hybrid shortly clicked with American motorists — at one level changing into the best-selling nameplate of any sort in California. However demand has slackened lately. Elevated competitors has clearly been an element, however the fourth-generation mannequin wasn’t effectively acquired, with the awkward design being lambasted by reviewers.

The fifth-generation Prius will get a ground-up makeover. Now based mostly on Toyota’s TNGA platform, it’s an inch longer and an inch wider than the outgoing hybrid — however about 2 inches decrease. And it adopts a decidedly extra fashionable look that has generated a much more constructive buzz for the reason that 2023 mannequin made its debut on the LA Auto Present in November.

It additionally helps to have a way more gutsy powertrain, with the up to date hybrid delivering as a lot as 77% extra horsepower, relying upon the mannequin. On the similar time, the 2023 Prius stays a mileage champ, now providing as much as 57 mpg, relying upon the trim bundle.

Add an assortment of high-tech options and Toyota is betting the 2023 Prius will reverse the nameplate’s current gross sales slide.

Exterior

Longer, wider and decrease, the 2023 Toyota Prius is a dramatically completely different car, a minimum of from a design perspective. With its decidedly shorter entrance and rear overhangs, it adopts a much more dynamic and sporty look than the fourth-generation hybrid. And Toyota designers have deserted a number of the goofier relics discovered on the outgoing mannequin, beginning with the jug-eared taillights.

Total, the brand new Prius will get a delicate, coupe-like slope to the entrance finish, windshield and roofline, although it retains its five-passenger hatchback structure.

Slit-style lamps stretch throughout the nostril, then hook alongside the entrance fenders earlier than boomeranging again in entrance of the hood. The aforementioned jug-eared taillamps have been changed by a crossbar mirroring the entrance headlights — and searching very like what Toyota developed for its Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell car.

Inside

There’s a clear and uncluttered look to the inside of the brand new Prius. And it does transfer away — although not completely — from the usage of the exhausting plastic surfaces that gave the outgoing hybrid a little bit of an affordable look.

The brand new cabin design seems to have been strongly influenced by Toyota’s new battery-electric car, the bZ4X. That begins with a high-mounted 7-inch digital gauge cluster, with a big touchscreen infotainment system sitting on the high of the middle console. The hatchback does retain extra standard controls for some car capabilities, equivalent to quantity and local weather settings.

The dual-screen structure is visually interesting however does have its drawbacks. The digital gauge cluster, particularly, has been positioned up excessive, apparently to obviate any want for an extra head-up show. Personally, I discovered it straightforward to learn, minimizing the necessity to look right down to test car pace, for one factor. However I are inclined to place the steering wheel low and out of the way in which. My co-driver most popular to have the steering wheel raised excessive and, in that place, it might probably reduce off a part of the digital show.

The decrease roofline of the brand new Prius does create a slight compromise to rear-seat headroom. And the steep rake of the brand new hatch considerably limits rear visibility — though, from the skin, it seems to make use of a big piece of glass.

The added width and size of the brand new mannequin does yield extra shoulder and legroom. And the brand new Prius adopts bigger, extra supportive seats which are simpler on the again and butt throughout lengthy drives.

Powertrain

There will likely be two variations of the Toyota hybrid, the Prius and the Prius+. The latter, a makeover of the prevailing plug-in hybrid, gained’t attain showrooms till the center of the 2023 mannequin 12 months. Initially, Toyota will get issues going with a standard hybrid model, and it’ll ship not solely higher mileage but in addition considerably improved efficiency.  

The present 1.8-liter gasoline engine has been changed with a brand new 2.0-liter inline-4. As earlier than, the interior combustion powerplant has been paired with twin electrical motors. However they’ve additionally been upgraded, permitting the mixed output to climb from 121 to 193 horsepower, a 60% enchancment over the outgoing fourth-generation Prius. And there’s been no sacrifice in gasoline financial system, the 2023 hybrid delivering as a lot as 57 mpg, relying upon the trim bundle, a 1 mpg enchancment.

As with the gen-4 Prius, the 2023 mannequin will likely be obtainable in both front-wheel drive or, for a $1,400 value bump, all-wheel drive. And the brand new AWD system will function in any respect speeds. With the outdated mannequin, it was solely practical at launch and low-speed operation.

Whereas last figures might be revised, the 2023 Toyota Prius+ is predicted to ship a full 77% enhance in output, going from 134 to 220 hp. The automaker says it is going to launch from 0 to 60 in simply 6.7 seconds, a full four-second enchancment in comparison with the outgoing plug-in hybrid.

The brand new “Plus” plug-in additionally will get improved gasoline financial system, whereas boosting by 50% its vary in all-electric mode, to as a lot as 24 miles.

Security and Expertise

The 2023 Toyota Prius updates to the newest Toyota Security Sense 3.0 suite of superior driver help techniques. These embrace as normal expertise blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert and ahead collision warning with emergency auto-braking. There are a handful of techniques which are added on greater trim packages — or supplied as choices on base and mid-level variations of the hybrid. These embrace entrance cross-traffic alert and lane-change help.

With Toyota officers billing the fifith-generation Prius as a “high-tech marvel,” you’ll be able to anticipate loads of different options, together with an electronically operated curve management system to assist a driver keep of their lane throughout aggressive maneuvers.

However a lot of that high-tech gear may be discovered contained in the cabin, beginning with twin digital shows. That features the brand new, high-mounted LCD gauge cluster, in addition to the newest Toyota infotainment show. Within the base mannequin, that’s an 8-inch touchscreen. The mid-range XLE hybrid may be upgraded to a 12.3-inch show, which is normal on the high-line Prius Restricted.

With the bigger display you’ll additionally get a brand new Amazon Alexa-style voice assistant that, just by saying, “Hey, Toyota,” will allow you to subject instructions in plain English. And the system can function a variety of car capabilities whereas additionally answering questions, such because the climate forecast.

There’s Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, in addition to Sirius/XM radio. Relying upon trim bundle there’s wi-fi smartphone charging. And one of many new options, dubbed Digital Key, permits you to depend on a smartphone app to not solely get into your Prius however run it, leaving the important thing fob at residence. Add the newest suite of superior driver help applied sciences.

Driving Impressions

Right here’s the place the brand new Prius actually began to shine.

The outgoing hybrid — like the entire Prius fashions earlier than it — had one core project: maximizing mileage. Until you bought a thrill watching the moment gasoline financial system gauge, it actually wasn’t a fun-to-drive car. Till now, anyway.

Together with my co-driver, I spent the higher a part of a day flogging the 2023 Toyota Prius round San Diego, a lot of that journey spent out within the rolling foothills east of the outdated Navy city. With sharp S-turns, sudden elevation modifications and different surprises, it’s a fast method to get a really feel for a brand new mannequin. And the Prius delivered in methods I didn’t anticipate.

With an up to date suspension and a newly lowered middle of gravity it proved surprisingly nimble, capable of deal with corners easily and predictably, with far much less physique roll than the outgoing mannequin. And it delivered considerably extra street really feel by way of the steering wheel, as effectively.

And the upgraded drivetrain added to the enjoyable. The outdated Prius was something however thrilling. It appeared like the correct pedal was designed to withstand fast inputs. Acceleration was sluggish, at finest. Not so, the 2023 Prius. Now, let me be clear: that is no sports activities automotive. Nevertheless it proved way more conscious of calls for for energy, permitting me to stomp on the throttle popping out of a nook and pointing the nostril proper the place I needed to go.

Throughout my day in San Diego I caught with the Restricted model of the brand new Prius. However I had the chance to modify between the front- and all-wheel-drive fashions. There was surprisingly little distinction between the 2 on dry pavement — although the AWD system did appear to assist retain management a bit higher on tight corners. Kudos to Toyota for switching to an all-speed system, moderately than the low-speed all-wheel-drive of the gen-4 hybrid.

The automaker expects about 30% of patrons will go for the AWD possibility. I’d be stunned if it wasn’t a bit greater, particularly in cooler components of the nation.

Wrap Up

Whereas I’ve lengthy revered the expertise in early variations of the Prius, it was by no means a product I had a want to personal. And the outgoing mannequin, with its cartoon-like design, simply appeared the reply to a query nobody was asking.

A number of years in the past, in a dialog with a senior Toyota official, it appeared like there was a very good probability the automaker would possibly abandon the Prius badge, a minimum of within the U.S. market. Two different variations of the hybrid, the larger V and compact C, have been dropped as gross sales began tumbling. And, with hybrid packages obtainable for thus many different Toyota packages, it begged the query of whether or not there was nonetheless a necessity for a Prius.

Internally, the reply turned out to be “sure.” And, after driving the 2023 Toyota Prius, I’ve to say it was the correct alternative. It’s a much more fascinating bundle than, say, the Corolla hybrid, although the brand new Prius will face some critical competitors from merchandise like the newest Hyundai Elantra Hybrid.

Nonetheless, the 2023 Toyota Prius ought to do fairly effectively. It  is engaging, enjoyable to drive and nonetheless a frontrunner in relation to gasoline financial system. In as we speak’s extremely aggressive market I don’t anticipate it to achieve its former peaks in relation to gross sales however Toyota has clearly taken the correct steps to reverse the lengthy slide.

Pricing for the 2023 mannequin begins at $27,450 for the bottom LE with front-wheel drive, and jumps to $35,865 for the all-wheel drive Restricted bundle. (Add one other $1,095 in supply charges.)

2023 Toyota Prius ­— Incessantly Requested Questions