Innovation is nothing new to Toyota Prius.
Debuting in the US in 2000, the Prius was the world’s first mass-produced hybrid car. For the next two decades, it would continue to redefine hybrids again and again, offering drivers unprecedented gas mileage, endurance, and safety.
And this year, the Prius continues that tradition with an all-new redesign and improved performance.
The 2023 Toyota Prius has two models — the Prius and Prius Prime. The Prius uses a gas-electric hybrid system that yields top-notch gas mileage, while the Prius Prime leans more on electricity with a larger battery and plug-in charging system.
Both models immediately differ from their predecessors, boasting a sporty exterior and modern interior. But the changes aren’t just cosmetic — they also translate to the vehicles’ improved gas mileage, horsepower, and safety systems.
Let’s take a look at what makes the 2023 Toyota Prius and Prius Prime tick:
Fine-tuned fuel efficiency and performance
Hybrids are supposed to be efficient. But the 2023 Toyota Prius and Prius Prime exceed expectations, offering Toyota’s best fuel economy to date — with added horsepower, too.
The key is the Prius’ 5th generation hybrid powertrain. It pairs a four-cylinder 2.0L gas engine with an electric motor charging a lithium-ion battery. The 2023 Toyota Prius provides up to 57 combined miles per gallon and a maximum of 194 horsepower using the larger engine and a tweaked hybrid system that uses magnets to increase output. That’s about 63% more horsepower than the 2022 model!
Meanwhile, the Prius Prime also upgraded its battery, which can power the vehicle electrically for nearly 40 miles. It also has a maximum horsepower of 220 and a 0-60 time of 6.6 seconds.
The powertrain isn’t the only improved technology beneath the hood. An updated Electronic On-Demand All Wheel Drive system is also available on the 2023 Toyota Prius. Vehicle sensors help the system decide how to split torque between the front and rear wheels, resulting in enhanced acceleration, stability, and efficiency. And a separate electric motor controls the back wheels, providing 50% greater torque than the last system.
All 2023 Toyota Prius models come in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
Like past models, the 2023 Prius has other driving modes:
- Normal, which optimizes fuel economy and vehicle acceleration
- Eco, which prioritizes fuel economy
- Sport, which prioritizes performance and acceleration
- EV, which allows the vehicle to run on just electricity for a short distance
A newly-styled exterior and interior
At first glance, it might be hard to tell that the 2023 Toyota Prius and Prius Prime aren’t sports cars.
Toyota designers in Japan smoothed out the original Prius’ silhouette, lowering the roofline and flaring the rear. The body now hangs low to the ground, held up by available 19-inch wheels. Attractive front grille shutters catch air for cooling and aerodynamic performance, and underbody panels reduce drag and road noise. The low center of gravity, wide stance, and aerodynamics work together to create a comfortable and agile driving experience.
The 2023 Toyota Prius has a sleek, sporty silhouette.
The makeover applies inside of the vehicles, too. The interior cabin glows with ambient lighting, outfitted with seats designed to disperse weight and reduce sitting pressure. Heating and cooling are available on both the front and rear seats and drivers will benefit from a new multi-information display. This display shows performance statistics on top of the wheel instead of below it so you can keep your eyes on the road.
Unique to the Prius Prime is an available fixed glass roof. This roof can also be equipped with solar panels, which help recharge the vehicle’s battery and power other systems, like air conditioning. But you’d never know the panels are there — the electrodes melt into the roof seamlessly.
The 2023 Toyota Prius and Prius Prime aren’t lacking in multimedia, either. The vehicle comes with an 8-inch or 12.3-inch easy-to-reach touchscreen. You can connect your phone using Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay®, and Android Auto™ — or you can use the screen as a portal to Toyota’s wide range of Connected Technologies.
These services come with an additional fee, but many 2023 Toyota Prius and Prius Prime grades come with a one-year trial of Remote Connect, which lets you control your vehicle from afar. And every 2023 Toyota Prius and Prius Prime comes with a three-month trial for a SiriusXM® Platinum Plan and a one-month trial of Wi-Fi Connect, which now lets users link Apple Music® and Amazon Music subscriptions to the vehicle for onboard control.
A new generation of safety
Just like the Prius’ name is forever linked to hybrids, Toyota prides itself on being linked to safety — and that attitude shines through in the newest Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0).
Standard on the 2023 Toyota Prius and Prius Prime, TSS is a suite of six safety technologies designed to help prevent accidents. TSS 3.0 improves nearly all of the systems in some way, from expanding the capabilities of the cameras and sensors to introducing entirely new components.
“The hybrid reborn”: That’s the 2023 Toyota Prius’ motto and part of that transformation is its improved safety for you and your passengers.
For example, the new Emergency Driving Stop System monitors the driver’s attention and brings the vehicle to a safe stop if it senses the driver is inactive for a prolonged period of time. Proactive Driving Assist, also new, helps smooth braking into curves and supports distance control between your vehicle and other vehicles or pedestrians.
But the 2023 Toyota Prius and Prius Prime have other systems that support safety, too. The Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert are standard on all grades. So is Safe Exit Assist, which detects vehicles and bicyclists approaching and alerts occupants about to exit the vehicle. Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automatic Braking is available on the lowest grade and standard on the others.
Prius also offers Panoramic View Monitor and Advanced Park, a hands-free system that helps you parallel park or back into a parking space, are both available on the highest grade. Additionally, Traffic Jam Assist is a new hands-free system that helps drivers steer, accelerate, and brake during stop-and-go traffic under 25 miles per hour.
A hybrid of style and function
The 2023 Toyota Prius and Prius Prime mark a new chapter in the vehicle’s two-decade history. With elevated style, fuel economy, and safety, the Prius has never looked better. Visit your local Toyota dealership to check out the 2023 Toyota Prius and Prius Prime this year!