2023 Toyota Prius Is The Best Looking Ever, And The 220 HP Prime Is The Fastest Too

The fifth-generation Toyota Prius has just been unveiled in Japan, just prior to the North American variant launching.

With the new Prius, Toyota set about overhauling its most famous of hybrid models making it significantly more dynamic, roomier, and far more visually appealing than its predecessors. It wants it to evoke enthusiasm within those that own it. Significant improvements have also been made to the plug-in hybrid powertrain.

Toyota’s changes started with the exterior where the car builds upon the monoform silhouette of its predecessors but boats a longer wheelbase, lower center of gravity, and larger 19-inch wheels as standard. The design shares similarities to Toyota’s range of new Crown models, in particular at the front end where similarly dramatic LED headlights are featured. The full-width LED light bar at the rear is also impossible to ignore.

Underpinning the new Prius is Toyota’s second-generation TNGA platform. This platform sports MacPherson struts at the front, a double wishbone setup at the rear, and is more rigid than the platform used in the outgoing model. Toyota also says the second-generation TNGA platform results in improved responsiveness when cornering and better stability for straight-line driving.

Read: Toyota Teases Third bZ EV Just After Launching bZ3 In China

Two powertrains have been announced in Japan. The first combines a 2.0-liter Dynamic Force four-cylinder engine, an electric motor, and lithium-ion batteries to deliver a combined 220 hp (164 kW). Toyota claims that this variant has 50 per cent more EV driving range than the previous model but has not yet released a specific range number.

The second powertrain employs Toyota’s Series Parallel Hybrid System available in 1.8-liter and 2.0-liter guises and producing as much as 193 hp (144 kW). This model also features the brand’s E-Four all-wheel drive system to provide better performance on low-friction road surfaces and greater stability while cornering.

A host of safety features come packaged with the 2023 Prius. This include the latest version of Toyota Safety Sense that includes a monocular camera at the front, a rear-facing camera for the Digital Inner Mirror, and an in-vehicle drive recorder. The Toyota Teammate system also comes standard and includes Advanced Park with remote function, allowing the car to be controlled remotely when pulling into and out of a parking space.

Toyota has also equipped the 2023 Prius with two 100 VAC / 1,500 W accessory power outlets. Power can be drawn in one of two modes. The first, BEV external power supply mode, uses power from the battery only while the HEV external power supply mode recharges the battery from the engine if the remaining power gets too low.

The new Prius is also equipped with a solar charging system that generates enough power for up to 1,250 km (776 miles) of driving per year. Electric power generated while the vehicle is parked is used to charge the drive battery. The system also supplies electricity for the air conditioning and other functions.

The interior is also a radical departure from previous Prius models. Taking pride of place on the dashboard is a 12.3-inch infotainment display while a digital instrument cluster is also features. The shape of the dashboard is also all-new and incorporates a warning system that will alert the driver to detected objects by flashing the ambient lights.