Opinions were divided when the first Toyota Prius saw the light of day nearly 25 years ago. Some praised the pioneering hybrid drive, others wondered what a car like this was doing on the streets. All in all, the performance data of the combined drive, consisting of a 58 hp (43 kW) petrol engine and a 40 hp (30 kW) electric motor, were not great, the temperament was heavy and some people could not believe their eyes. And as for the design: It couldn’t be more boring.
But Hollywood stars loved the hybrid pioneer so much that many Porsches and Lamborghinis lost their spot in Beverly Hills garages. Only in recent years his star has sunk. Perhaps because of its rugged design, or because hybrid drives have long been found in more powerful and more attractive models. But despite all the apocalyptic prophecies, Toyota has now pulled the fabric from the fifth generation. Visually, it destroys all the prejudices attached to its predecessors like cookie dough in your hand.
boredom is over
Toyota’s designers and developers are finally hearing their boss Akio Toyoda’s motto for the Prius, too. “No more boring cars,” Toyota CEO has said for years, in other words: No more boring cars! After the coupé Supra, the rebellious small car GR Yaris, and the new GR86, the Prius is also getting cool, thanks to its hammer-head design. Stylish front with V-shaped LED headlights, a narrow radiator slit and wide rear: It looks more like a model from US electric car maker Lucid.
Driving is also great compared to the meager 122 hp of the previous model: in the future, the system output of the two-liter petrol engine and electric motor will be 223 hp (164 kW). The combustion engine delivers 148 hp (111 kW) and the electric motor delivers 160 hp (120 kW). However, the pure hybrid theory also has an end – there is now a plug-in hybrid for charging at the outlet. The Prius now manages around 80 kilometers entirely on electricity. This is ensured by a new 13.6 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery under the rear seat. Optionally, solar panels on the roof can also provide a few watts of electricity.
Starting in the summer of 2023
With a new length of 4.60 meters, the fifth Prius is 4.6 centimeters shorter than its predecessor. However, the wheelbase has grown by five centimeters. This reduces protrusions and thus provides more agile handling, but also creates more interior space. The interior is also more modern than before: a 7-inch display for the instruments and a large touchscreen above the center console. The Prius plug-in hybrid will be in dealerships from summer 2023. Prices are not yet known.