After a long teaser program, the handsome 2023 Toyota Prius has been revealed ahead of 2023 sales in North America, Europe and selected Asian markets – but not Australia or New Zealand, unfortunately. That’s correct, the latest generation of Toyota’s iconic hybrid car will not be sold locally with the reasoning unknown, but likely to do with that Toyota sells hybrid versions of almost all of its current range like the Corolla, Camry, Yaris, RAV4, Corolla Cross and C-HR.
According to Toyota, “The Prius has evolved under the “Hybrid Reborn” concept into an exhilarating package with stylish designs that users will fall in love with at first sight and captivating driving performance. Toyota’s aim was to create a car that owners will continue to love and drive.”
“The new Prius inherits the unique monoform silhouette of the original and employs a wide and low stance with large-diameter tires to create stylish designs that appeal to the senses. With the fifth-generation hybrid system and second-generation TNGA platform, the new Prius delivers comfortable driving performance that makes users want to keep driving” it said.
Undoubtedly, the biggest change to the 2023 Toyota Prius is its styling, which has become far sportier, sleeker (with a drag co-efficiency of just 0.218) and arguably much more attractive than the previous generation of the car. The interior has become far more stylish as well, and is available with far more equipment, like a 12.3-inch central touchscreen.
Using a new version of the company’s ‘TNGA’ platform, the 2023 Toyota Prius measures 4,524mm long, 1,782mm wide and 1,420mm tall. It rides on a 2,750mm wheelbase and that makes it 46mm shorter, 22mm wider, 50mm lower and with a 50mm longer wheelbase than the outgoing car. While boot sizing is yet to be revealed, the battery has moved to underneath the rear seats for greater boot space, and for a lower centre of gravity, according to the company.
Under the bonnet of the 2023 Toyota Prius are a few different hybrid drivetrain options: the entry-level option is the same 103kW 1.8-litre hybrid that’s used in the Corolla, while buyers will also be able to upgrade to a 144kW 2.0-litre hybrid that’s used in the Corolla Cross. Toyota’s ‘e-Four’ all-wheel drive system will be optional on both units, depending on market.
Finally, the Prius will also offer a plug-in hybrid drivetrain once again, this time using the 2.0-litre hybrid system with multiple electric motors and a larger 13.6kWh battery for a total of 164kW of power. The Prius plug-in hybrid can hit 100km/h in just 6.7 seconds – only slightly slower than the GR86 sports car – while maintaining the same level of efficiency as the previous-generation Prius. Yet because of the larger battery, the PHEV can travel double the last one on electric power alone: around 100km.
Available features for the 2023 Toyota Prius will include cloth or synthetic leather upholstery with heated and cooled front seats, all-LED lighting, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, LED ambient lighting, USB-C ports and even solar panels on the roof for the plug-in hybrid for greater efficiency.
The 2023 Toyota Prius will go on sale in overseas markets in 2023. Stay tuned to DiscoverAuto for the latest automotive news and reviews.
i was thinking of buying one of these, but alas im in australia so it looks like another brand will get my hard earned money instead, well done toyota