My, how the discussion has changed. Where once electrification meant reduced greenhouse gasses and frugality, thanks to Tesla — and its many copiers — it’s now all about horsepower and performance. Even the once-titular head of the green movement, Toyota, and its hybrids have not escaped the change in focus. So, where once every generation of new Prius — now 24 years old and in its fifth remake — was about increasing fuel economy and reducing emissions, the upgrades to the 2023 are all about performance.
And while Prius will never try to best the Corvette in the horsepower department, 2023’s output uptick is significant. The back story is how the 20 million-plus Priuses sold worldwide since 1997 have collectively prevented 82 million tonnes of CO2 emissions entering the atmosphere, but the headline for the newly-invigorated 2023 model is that it produces 196 horsepower. Yup, we’re up to almost 200 horses from the quintessential weedy little green-mobile.
That’s the result of a new, larger 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle four handling the fossil-fuelled portion of the powertrain; when mated to the new lithium-ion battery and the Interior Permanent Magnet rear electric motor, it scoots the now larger Prius to 100 kilometres an hour in an entirely creditable 7.2 seconds. Compare that with the 10 seconds the previous FWD model required. It also, of course, means that the all fifth-gen Priuses come standard with On-Demand AWD.
2023 Toyota Prius Photo by Toyota
2023 Toyota Prius Photo by Toyota
2023 Toyota Prius Photo by Toyota
2023 Toyota Prius Photo by Toyota
2023 Toyota Prius Photo by Toyota
2023 Toyota Prius Photo by Toyota
2023 Toyota Prius Photo by Toyota
2023 Toyota Prius Photo by Toyota
As for fuel economy, there’s no official figure for the Canadian Prius. The base LE model is rated for 57 US mpg by the EPA. That would work out to 4.1 litres per 100 kilometres — an improvement compared with the 4.5 L/100 km of the current model — except that the LE trim will not be sold here in Canada. Our base model will be the XLE, and while it will also mark an improvement over the current model, it will be less significant. A good guess will be somewhere in the 4.3 or 4.4 L/100 km range. In other words, this fifth-generation Prius really is about power, not frugality.
On the other hand, the plug-in Prius Prime, while also enjoying a similarly healthy performance increase, is about the emissions; thanks to a larger 13.6-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery, Toyota claims it extends its zero-emissions battery-only driving range by some 50 per cent. So, not only does the 2.0-litre gas-fed four put out more power — 220 hp with even more electric torque — the plug-in hybrid version also accelerates to 100 kilometres an hour in an almost sports-sedan-like 6.8 seconds. The PHEV will also drive more than 60 kilometres on lithium-ion alone.
Emphasizing the point that both Priuses are sportier is a sleek roofline that has been lowered by some 50 millimetres, not to mention a hind end widened by some 25 mils. The driver’s hip point has also been lowered by 30 mm, not only to retain some of that previous headroom lost in the dramatically sloping silhouette, but to put the driver in a sportier driving position. Like I said, there are shifting priorities here.
On more pedestrian fronts, both Priuses come with Toyota’s latest Safety Sense generation, TSS 3.0. That includes Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane-Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane-Tracing Assist and Automatic High-Beams.
2023 Toyota Prius Photo by Toyota
It is worth noting the pedestrian detection system’s range has been extended to recognize motorcycles and bicycles, while Lane Departure with Steering Assist now senses 3D objects like guardrails to help it determine the lane limits. Additionally, the Emergency Driving Stop System not only monitors the driver’s inputs, such as steering operation, to determine if the person behind the wheel is being inattentive, but can now bring the vehicle to a stop if the driver doesn’t respond to alerts to take control.
The Prius now boasts no fewer than six USB Type-C ports: two in the centre stack, two more in the centre console and, finally, an additional pair for the rear-seat passengers at the back of the centre console. Both Prius and Prius Prime are available with a JBL Premium Audio system with eight speakers, but only the Prime gets Toyota’s Traffic Jam Assist package. When driving on the highway, if the sensors detect traffic is slowing, this system will assist by providing acceleration, braking, and hands-free steering control — under the active supervision of the driver, of course, and only below 40 kilometres an hour.
The price and on-sale date of the new Prius will be set before the end of 2022, while those looking for the plug-in Prime will have to wait until the second quarter of 2023.
Keyword: 2023 Toyota Prius and Prius Prime boast more power, sleek styling