2023 Toyota Prius Review

For its fifth generation, the Toyota Prius has gone through a truly remarkable transformation. Eco geek is out; eco chic is in. The 2023 Prius gets a complete redesign with a sleek new shape and an overhauled interior. There's also a more robust hybrid powertrain that offers considerable gains in performance yet still gets similar fuel economy to previous models.

A universal gripe about older Prius models has been their lackluster acceleration. Last year's fourth-generation Prius, for example, produced a meager 121 system horsepower between the engine and motor. The new Prius produces up to 196 hp and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in around 7 seconds. That's considerably quicker than the 10.7 seconds needed by the last Prius we tested and should make accelerating quickly on highway entrances a considerably easier task.

Crucially, the new Prius maintains its fuel frugality with a manufacturer-estimated 49-57 mpg in combined city/highway driving, depending on the model. And if that's not enough, the plug-in hybrid Prius Prime is also new, with more electric range than before.

While the Prius' new exterior design gets a lot of attention, the best part of the transformation is inside the cabin where there is a new tech suite and more modern aesthetic. Standard is an 8-inch touchscreen, while top trims get the larger 12.3-inch display. Along with the new infotainment is a host of available convenience features such as heated and ventilated front seats, ambient lighting and a panoramic glass roof. The Prius is also still a hatchback and has a respectably roomy cargo area.

Overall, we highly recommend the Prius to anyone shopping for a fuel-efficient car, especially because two of its core competitors, the Honda Honda Insight and Hyundai Ioniq, have been discontinued. Presently, it's the Kia Niro that best rivals the Prius, as it's also available in hybrid and plug-in hybrid form.

The 2023 Toyota Prius hatchback comes in three trim level options: LE, XLE and Limited. Each has a hybrid system that combines a 2.0-liter engine and electric motors to produce a total of 194 horsepower. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive (AWD) is optional for all three trims. With AWD, power increases slightly to 196 hp. Feature highlights for each trim include: