All-new 2023 Toyota Prius makes hybrids cool again

The Toyota Prius has always been a left-field sort of car, especially with styling that has morphed from blob-like to edgy.

But Toyota really went to town with the all-new 2023 Prius hybrid-electric vehicle, which launched in Japan on Nov. 16, 2022, by making it look like a very sleek fish.

In fact, the Japanese carmaker admitted to this by saying that the new Prius features a “hammerhead-shark-like design” that includes well-integrated headlights and a prominent lower grill.

The side profile is also a dramatic change from the previous model, especially with the addition of 19-inch wheels. 

It now has a beautifully sculpted body with a strong, upward character line at the bottom of the doors and a hidden rear door handle.

Finally, the Prius’ rear end is much shorter than the previous model and features taillights set inside dramatic black trim with edges that point downward. 

The back may be futuristic, but it is actually reminiscent of the AE101 Toyota Corolla five-door hatchback from the 1990s.

0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds

There’s also big news under the Prius’ sleek hood, which promises substantially better performance than the previous model.

Two variants will be available – a standard hybrid (HEV) and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV).

The Prius PHEV gets a 2.0-liter inline-4 gasoline engine connected to an electric motor for a combined output of 223 PS. 

Toyota claims a 0 to 100 km/h time of just 6.7 seconds and a 50-percent longer range in pure-electric mode. It also has a solar charging system that can generate enough power for up to 1,250 kilometers a year of driving.

Meanwhile, the HEV variant also gets a 2.0-liter inline-4 hybrid unit, but with 193 PS. It also has an E-Four system, which Toyota said uses a high-output motor to improve performance on slippery surfaces.

The whole car sits on the second generation of the Toyota New Global Architecture platform, variants of which are used on fully electric models like the Toyota bZ3 sedan and the Toyota bZ4X and Lexus RZ crossovers.

The 2023 Prius gets additional reinforcements compared to the old model, along with MacPherson front suspension and double-wishbone rear suspension. 

Ambient lighting

The all-new Prius also gets a cleaner interior that incorporates neat lighting accents.

The lights accentuate what Toyota calls “island architecture” that includes a clean and simple dashboard with a large, central infotainment touchscreen and a small digital gauge cluster mounted higher up.

The instrument panel also features Toyota's first illuminated warning system. This is linked to the Toyota Safety Sense active safety system and alerts the driver to detected objects through flashing lights.

Toyota said the Prius HEV will be launched before the end of 2022, while the Prius PHEV will launch as early as March 2023.

Do you think the 2023 Toyota Prius looks a lot cooler now?