2018 Toyota Prius 1.8L CVT (98 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The fourth generation of the Prius, known as the XW50, was unveiled in September 2015 in Las Vegas, and by 2018 it had already went through a second facelift.

Toyota refreshed the Prius for the 2019 model year, and improved the car in many areas, starting from the exterior, interior, and going to the drivetrain as well. The automaker understood that offering one of the best hybrids in its class was not enough to dominate the market. As a result, the refreshed version tried to impress its customers with a sportier look and feel, while the gasoline-electric powerplant was highly appreciated by customers.

While the first three generations of the Prius didn’t look to have an evolved design, the fourth generation came with a look that made it easy to distinguish. It featured unusually-looking headlights. The refreshed version, on the other hand, ditched those and installed ones that didn’t look like they were inspired by cartoons and featured LEDs. They had a shape that looked like boomerangs, with swept-back outer sides. In addition, the automaker placed a set of fog lamps in the lower grille that adorned the car’s front apron. At the same time, the upper slim grille area was interrupted by the blue-contoured Toyota badge.

With the fourth generation of the Prius, Toyota tried to make it look sportier. As a result, the design team created an ascending beltline that started from the car’s headlights and went all the way up to the back of the vehicle, above the LED taillights. Another significant change was for the uninspiring name of the grades, which didn’t use the One, Two, Three, and Four, plus the Touring system. They were now labeled from L Eco to the Limited, going through LE, LE AWD-e, XLE, and XLE AWD-e. These were riding on up to 17-inch alloy wheels, depending on the trim level. At the back, the tailgate was new, and part of the taillights were housed.

Inside, there was a new Toyota Entune infotainment system fitted with an 11.5-inch touchscreen installed on the center dash, below the center vents, and flanked by buttons and turning knobs. Underneath it, the automaker placed the gear selector in an unusual position with a short horizontal stick. The center console now housed an induction charging tray for mobile phones. Another significant upgrade was for the multi-information color display from the dashboard, which had a higher resolution than before.

Under the hood, Toyota kept the same 1.8-liter naturally aspirated engine that produced 98 PS (97 hp) and paired it with an electric motor for front-wheel drive versions. The AWD ones featured an additional motor for the rear axle and kicked in only when needed, being electronically controlled by the car’s onboard computer.