5 Things We Like About the Fifth-Gen Toyota Prius

Toyota has now sold over five million hybrids in North America and over 20 million globally. Much of that success can be credited to the venerable Prius, of course, which basically invented the segment at the turn of the 21st century.

Now, more than two decades later, this legendary nameplate begins a new chapter with the introduction of the 2023 Toyota Prius and Prius Prime, which we saw on the eve of the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show.

Without further ado, here are five things we like about the latest Prius…

1. Sportier Looks

For this new Prius, Toyota’s goal was to create a more stylish vehicle that also had emotional appeal. With a stunning silhouette that emphasizes aerodynamic flair, the car lowers the roofline by 50 mm from the prior generation for a more athletic look. The rear section is 20 mm wider, further accentuating the dynamic look. 

At the same time, the larger 19-inch wheels fitted as standard catch the eye and add a sporty touch. What’s more, designers moved the rear door handles to the C-pillars for a coupe-like appearance. And it works!

2. Increased Power

Under the hood of the 2023 Prius is a fifth-generation hybrid powertrain coupled with a larger 2.0-litre engine and a newly developed lithium-ion battery that’s smaller, lighter and packs 15 percent more energy. As a result, net system output is increased from 121 hp to 196 hp, while the 0-100 km/h time of 7.2 seconds is a 28 percent improvement compared to the outgoing Prius’ time of 10 seconds. 

When it comes to the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid, look for a bump of nearly 100 hp to 220 hp and a 0-100 km/h time of 6.8 seconds. Yeah, that’s what we call sporty.

3. Standard AWD

In Canada, a standard Electronic On-Demand AWD system has been adopted on every 2023 Prius (except the Prime variant). That’s great news for drivers, especially in winter. The system uses a motor to drive the rear wheels, enabling stable driving performance when starting off and when driving on slippery surfaces such as snow.

The decision by Toyota Canada to offer AWD as standard with the Prius was motivated by a desire to further set the original hybrid apart from the new Corolla Hybrid.

4. More EV Range

SUVs are proving way more popular than sedans these days, and many of the available plug-in hybrid models offer longer zero-emission range than the outgoing Prius Prime (40 km). Toyota’s own RAV4 Prime can drive up to 68 km on pure battery power.

However, with the new 2023 model, which boasts a larger lithium-ion battery, the company is promising an electric range increase of over 50 percent, so we can expect gas-free trips of about 60 km. Now that’s interesting. The exact rating by Natural Resources Canada has yet to be announced.

5. New Multimedia System

Last but not least, the 2023 Prius has a fully redesigned interior highlighted by Toyota’s new multimedia system, which is available with a 12.3-inch display. Optional Drive Connect gives access to cloud-based navigation and an Intelligent Assistant. Simple phrases like “Hey Toyota” awaken the system for natural voice commands to search for directions, find Points of Interest and more. Meanwhile, the standard Toyota Assistant allows drivers to control vehicle features like audio controls and cabin temperature. 

Furthermore, the multimedia system allows for dual Bluetooth phone connectivity, with support for standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Plus it will always stay fresh thanks to Over-the-Air software updates.

The new 2023 Toyota Prius and Prius Prime should arrive in Canadian dealerships sometime this winter.