2023 Toyota Prius

Overview

The Toyota Prius hatchback turns over a new leaf this year as it enters its fifth generation. After many iterations, the Prius has finally pupated into an attractive piece of sheetmetal with a fuel-efficient powertrain hidden inside. The new car offers up to 196 horsepower, the most ever from a Prius. Toyota estimates the front-wheel-drive model will get up to 57 mpg combined, also the best number a Prius has achieved. A completely redesigned cabin welcomes a more traditional approach to the driver’s-space layout, with bigger screens and a sweetened offering of features including available heated rear seats. The new Prius has a lower roofline, a wider stance, and a lower seating position that promises to make driving it fun. To accomplish that shouldn’t be so difficult for the Prius: it just has to outpace familiar rivals such as the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid and the Toyota Corolla Hybrid. Toyota hasn’t said when the Prius will go on sale, but we expect it to enter the market in early 2023.

What’s New for 2023?

The 2023 Toyota Prius is the start of a new fifth generation with a car that’s been thoroughly updated inside and out. Every Prius now rides on the next evolution of Toyota’s TNGA-C platform, which makes it a leaner but more rigid eco-friendly compact with a wider stance and lower driving position. A new 194-hp hybrid powertrain with available all-wheel drive has been added; Toyota promises it will be at least a couple seconds quicker to 60 mph while retaining competitive fuel economy. All-wheel-drive models get 196 horsepower thanks to the added high-output magnet inside the rear motor. A 220-hp plug-in hybrid Prius Prime model is also offered, but we review that model separately.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

$27,000 (est)

XLE

$32,000 (est)

Limited

$36,000 (est)

Known for its incredible fuel economy, the Toyota Prius delivers on its green promise. Its lineup of safety equipment and extra features is as strong as its disinclination to stop for gas. Base models come with 17-inch wheels, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and a not-so-outrageous starting price.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

One powertrain commands the Toyota Prius lineup. This is a 194-hp hybrid setup that uses a 2.0-liter hybrid inline-four gasoline engine, borrowed from the Corolla Cross hybrid crossover, bolted to a continuously variable automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard. For all-wheel-drive Priuses, Toyota adds a high-output permanent magnet electric motor to the rear axle, bumping total powertrain output to 196 horsepower. While the AWD model’s extra power is virtually undetectable, this new car’s 75-hp advantage over the outgoing model should be. The last-gen AWD Prius we tested eventually showed up to 60 mph in 10.8 seconds, but Toyota promises the new powertrain should get there in 7.0 seconds. While we’ll have to wait to strap our test equipment to the new fifth-generation model to quantify it, the 2023 Prius looks to be the quickest Prius to date.

More on the Prius Hatchback

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

While fuel economy for the new Toyota Prius hasn’t been certified by the EPA yet, Toyota estimates it’s capable of 57 mpg combined, or a 1 mpg improvement over the last-generation Prius’s most efficient version, the Eco. It’s a 5-mpg improvement over other versions of the outgoing car. Historically, the difference in fuel economy between the front- and all-wheel-drive Priuses has been marginal, and we expect that to remain true with the new fifth generation. We’ll update this space with EPA info once it becomes available, as well as data from our 75-mph highway fuel economy test. For more information about the Prius’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

While the new fifth-generation Prius takes on a new shape, the interior has played it conservative, now featuring a more traditional automotive cockpit. For the first time, the Prius now has a gauge cluster directly behind the steering wheel. The new design affects the interior with a roofline that’s lower by 2.0 inches, and to influence a lower center of gravity, front passengers also sit lower than before. Base models get a faux leather steering wheel, but upgrading to the XLE or higher trim will unlock heated front seats, more cup holders for rear passengers, and rear heated seats.

The Car and Driver Difference

Infotainment and Connectivity

Both base and upper-level models get larger screens than the previous car had. A new 8.0-inch infotainment screen comes standard on LE and XLE, and Toyota has added a massive 12.3-inch touchscreen for the Limited (or as optional equipment for the XLE). This system includes “Hey Toyota” voice control and updates its infotainment over the cloud thanks to over-the-air updates. The larger screen comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability and available Wi-Fi.

How to Buy and Maintain a Car

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The Prius comes standard with driver-assistance technology that many competitors provide only via option packages and upper trim levels. For more information about its crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection Standard automatic high-beams Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Toyota matches what its competitors offer, but it provides above-average coverage when it comes to included maintenance. Likewise, its hybrid-component warranty is an industry standard.

Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles Hybrid components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles Complimentary maintenance is covered for two years or 25,000 miles

More Features and Specs