2022 Toyota Prius 2.0L e-CVT FWD (197 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Toyota unveiled the 2023 Prius in November 2022 for the 2023 model year, and the car proved that it finally reached its maturity, being the first to provide decent performance.

When the Japanese automaker introduced the first generation of the Prius back in 1997, the car was appreciated for its fuel efficiency. On the other hand, nobody praised the car’s performance or the design. It was the ugly duck of the Toyota family. The following generations started to look a little bit better but were still behind other automakers in terms of styling. With the fourth generation of the Prius, the hybrid also received traction on all four corners and even a plug-in hybrid version. However, not even that couldn’t please customers willing to feel a punch in the back when they pressed the skinny pedal. With the fifth generation, Toyota finally provided a vehicle that could deliver everything its customers asked, and then some more.

Toyota’s styling center looked like it was finally financed properly, and it designed the Prius to match the look of its competitors. Its C-shaped LED headlights and front fascia looked inspired by sci-fi movies. The slim upper grille barely let some air get through it, and the carmaker’s badge was moved upward. On the lower side, in the apron, Toyota placed a broader air intake adorned with a silver trim, depending on the grade.

From its profile, the fluid lines of the bodywork led to a drag coefficient of just 0.27, which was below what some of its predecessors obtained. An ascending hood and the panoramic windshield continued the sharp front end. Unlike the previous generations, the greenhouse had a cab-rearward design, with a curved roof line and a sloped back for the tailgate. In addition, customers could order the 2023 Toyota Prius with dual moonroofs, an idea carried over from the defunct Prius V (MPV). On its sides, the car featured regular grab handles for the front doors, while those for the rear ones were concealed into the C-posts. As a result, the 2023 Prius looked like a four-door coupe. Furthermore, the automaker ditched the tea-cup-sized, 15-inch alloy wheels; the smallest ones were 17 inches (for the LE trim level) and 19 inches for the XLE and the Limited grades.

After decades of placing the multi-function display (the instrument panel) in the middle of the dashboard, closer to the windshield, Toyota moved it in front of the driver, like anyone else. It was also far more advanced and didn’t have that 1980s look with LEDs as before. A TFT display informed the one behind the wheel about essential data of the vehicle, while a landscape-oriented touchscreen sat atop the center stack. The front seats were bolstered enough to provide more confidence to their occupants about the car’s cornering abilities. In the back, Toyota placed a split-folding bench seat that expanded the generously sized trunk.

However, the most significant upgrade of the car was found under its skin. Toyota used the second generation of the TNGA-C platform that relied on McPherson struts up front and double-wishbone suspension in the back. Unlike its predecessors, the 2023 Prius had its battery pack fitted under the rear seats, which led to a lower center of gravity. Toyota offered the car with a choice of drivetrains, depending on the market. Those made for Canada had standard e-AWD systems, while the other countries got the vehicle fitted with an FWD system and had the e-AWD as an option. Power figures went up from the previous 123 PS (121 hp) to an impressive 223 PS (220 hp) for the e-AWD versions. This top-spec model could go from naught to 100 kph (0-62 mph) in 6.7 seconds, which was a far better value than the 10+ seconds that its predecessor provided.