2023 Toyota Prius First Look: Ugly Duckling No Extra?

What’s underneath the Prius’ hood?

Like its predecessors, the Prius’ powertrain pairs a four-cylinder engine with an electrical motor (the Prius Prime includes a plug-in element and is roofed individually). The engine grows in displacement from 1.8 to 2.0 liters, however much more notable is that the nickel hydride battery pack is lastly changed by a extra superior lithium-ion unit. Which means extra vitality density and a smaller, lighter pack.

In sensible phrases, these enhancements imply that the 2023 Toyota Prius will get an enormous bump in energy. Final 12 months’s fourth-generation Prius produced a complete of 121 system horsepower between the engine and motor, whereas the brand new one makes a wholesome 194 hp in front-wheel-drive guise. Go for all-wheel drive and output climbs to 196 hp. Toyota says the FWD Prius can speed up from zero to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds, with the AWD model clocking in at 7.0 seconds flat. That is a darn sight faster than the ten.7-second time managed by the present mannequin.

Amazingly, the newfound efficiency would not come on the expense of gasoline economic system. Toyota estimates the entry-level LE mannequin will obtain 57 mpg within the EPA’s mixed cycle — a 1 mpg bump from at the moment’s base L Eco trim. Increased trim ranges with bigger wheels will possible have a bit decrease mpg.

How’s the Prius’ inside?

It is clear from the pictures that Toyota provided that a variety of consideration has been paid to the cabin. Befitting the Prius’ historically wallet-friendly price ticket, there appears to be loads of laborious plastics all through however the total design is extra standard than in generations previous.

Which means there is no extra funky centrally mounted gauge cluster. As an alternative, the brand new Prius includes a low sprint with a touchscreen perched on high. Under the display is a row of bodily HVAC buttons — a welcome inclusion as extra producers transfer to touchscreen-only controls. The digital instrument cluster is now situated in entrance of the motive force in a extra pure line of sight. Toyota die-hards would possibly, in truth, acknowledge the steering wheel/IP combo as ripped straight from the all-electric bZ4X.

How’s the Prius’ tech?

The 2023 mannequin severely steps up the Prius’ tech cred — a mandatory step because the present Prius’ touchscreen interface is severely dated. Two sizes are supplied: a regular 8-inch display and a 12.3-inch unit that’s non-obligatory on the XLE and customary on Restricted fashions. The UI needs to be equivalent to that on the bZ4X, in addition to the brand new Tundra pickup and Sequoia SUV. And in that case, the interface is way snappier, intuitive and enticing than that on the outgoing mannequin and can go a good distance in making the 2023 Prius really feel actually fashionable. To that finish, the Prius will function wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as customary tools. Elective upgrades embrace a Wi-Fi hotspot, an eight-speaker JBL audio system, and creature comforts like heated and ventilated seats and a panoramic roof.

Each 2023 Prius comes with the Toyota Security Sense 3.0 suite of driving aids, which incorporates pre-collision warning and braking, lane departure alert and adaptive cruise management. Additionally customary is a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic warning. Entrance and rear parking sensors with automated braking can be found on the LE and are included while you improve to the XLE. Rounding out the listing of driving aids are a hands-free parking system and 360-degree parking digital camera, each of that are non-obligatory on the top-dog Restricted.