The Toyota Prius has rightfully been described as being as dull as dishwater. Yes, it has always delivered exceptional fuel economy, but the driving experience came up well short of engaging. This all changes with the fifth-generation model. In a nutshell, it gets more of everything, not the least of which is a very welcome infusion of style.
The irony is the original plan was to make another “taxi,” but, mercifully, that never happened. The resulting car not only stole the L.A. Auto Show, it caused a serious stir at Solana Beach when taking photos. Surprisingly, the interest came from all around, from previous owners to the young and curious.
The biggest change, looks aside, is found in the hybrid powertrain. The old 1.8-litre four-cylinder has gone in favour of a larger 2.0L unit. This ups the engine’s contribution to 150 horsepower and 139 pound-feet of torque, which is a 60-per-cent boost. The electric side has also been totally reworked — the motor generator now twists out 111 hp and 152 lb-ft of torque. Finally, the rear electric motor adds another 40 hp, which is up from a measly seven. The final element is an all-new lithium-ion battery.
2023 Toyota Prius AWD Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Toyota Prius AWD Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Toyota Prius AWD Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Toyota Prius AWD Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Toyota Prius AWD Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Toyota Prius AWD Photo by Graeme Fletcher
For Canada, the Prius has two big pluses. First, the rear motor not only adds an all-wheel-drive (AWD) extension, it now works across the entire speed range. The previous setup ceased to function at 70 km/h. Second, unlike the U.S., Canada will only get the Prius AWD.
And so to the numbers. The net system output is now 196 horsepower, which is a massive improvement over the previous model’s 121 hp. Toyota does not give a torque number, but the new Prius has more bite off the line, so it has to be up significantly as well. The injection of power chops the run to 100 km/h from the old car’s 10 seconds; to a respectable 7.2 seconds, and it does so without sacrificing fuel economy.
On the drive route, the Prius AWD returned 4.4 L/100 km, which was 0.4 L/100 km better than the official number. What surprised is it returned this level of efficiency without being driven with an eye to economy.
There are four driving modes — Eco, Normal, Sport and Custom. Forget Eco, as it blunts everything to the point where it feels like the old Prius. Normal proved to be the best overall mode, even when attacking a series of switchbacks. It’s crisp and responsive, yet efficient. Sport mode does sharpen things, but it also increases the engine’s rpm. This is done to keep it on cam and ready to react whenever the driver nails the gas. However, its use also increases the fuel consumption.
Another pleasant surprise came in the form of the manner in which the Prius now handles. The new platform is stiffer, so it gives the front strut and multilink rear suspensions a solid base. The ride is noticeably firmer, but not uncomfortably so. It still manages to absorb road irregularities in stride, but it does a much better job of controlling unwanted body roll. Even when pushed, it does not feel like it is going to flash its underpinnings mid-corner.
Likewise, the steering has a more refined feel that turns off-centre in a crisp, linear manner, and the brake pedal is not as mushy under foot. In the end, the Prius is, dare I say, sneaking up on dynamic. No, it will not be mistaken for a sports car, but for a hybrid that returns stellar fuel economy, it is a truly entertaining drive. That’s something you couldn’t say about the four previous generations!
2023 Toyota Prius AWD Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Toyota Prius AWD Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Toyota Prius AWD Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Toyota Prius AWD Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Toyota Prius AWD Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Toyota Prius AWD Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Toyota Prius AWD Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Toyota Prius AWD Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Toyota Prius AWD Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Toyota Prius AWD Photo by Graeme Fletcher
Inside, the cabin takes equally large strides forward. The materials are classy, the seating is comfortable and the technology is bang-on. In the U.S., Prius will be offered with an attractive ivory upholstery option; here in Canada, it comes one way, and that’s basic black. The saving grace is the mood lighting helps to break up the monotony. Likewise, the new digital instrumentation and multimedia screens provide eye-candy and better functionality.
The instrumentation has been moved away from the driver and now stands proud atop the crash pad. In spite of the lack of a binnacle, it does not wash out in bright sunlight and it delivers all of the information in a clear, concise manner. This includes bringing up a turn-by-turn pictogram when an instruction nears. Sadly, this aspect only works with the native navigation system, and not Apple CarPlay mapping.
As for the infotainment system, the base Prius XLE arrives with an eight-inch multimedia screen; the top Limited model gets a much better 12.3-inch screen. This format gives everything more breathing space, so it is easier to pick off a function when hooning through a corner. It also works with a solid eight-speaker JBL sound system. Finally, the voice command system is way smarter. Simply say, “Hey, Toyota, turn on the wipers,” and that’s exactly what happens.
2023 Toyota Prius AWD Photo by Graeme Fletcher
For the rear riders, the 50-mm stretch in the wheelbase brings more space. There’s now ample headroom and lots of legroom to go along with 575 litres of cargo space. Now, that is smaller than the outgoing model, but the area is nicely squared off. Toyota do not give a seats-down number, but visually it more than doubles, and the load floor is flat.
The latest fifth-gen Prius takes major steps forward in all areas. It’s so much better looking, it has solid handling and rewarding power, yet it retains its green mandate and solid fuel economy. Keep in mind this is the just regular hybrid, and that we still have to wait for the Prius Prime — it not only gets 220 hp, it earns a 50-per-cent longer electric-only driving range than the previous model.
The 2023 Toyota Prius is set to hit Canadian roads early 2023. The XLE AWD is priced at $36,490, with the top Limited AWD commanding $42,990. The Prius Prime should launch in the third quarter of 2023.
Graeme Fletcher
A mechanic by trade, I have been acting crash test dummy (aka Road Tester) for 37-years, 21 of those with Post Media. In the beginning cars ranged from dreadful to very good. Today, the spectrum, with very few exceptions, ranges from good to excellent. Hopefully, by the time full autonomy has infiltrated the morning commute my driving gloves will be well and truly hung up!
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Keyword: First Drive: 2023 Toyota Prius AWD