2023 Toyota Prius review: Not ready for an electric car? This may be the perfect alternative

I never thought I’d call the 2023 Toyota Prius “awesome,” but here we are.

For the past two decades and four generations, the Toyota Prius has been, quite frankly, a dorkmobile. It’s certainly gained a reputation as being synonymous with hybrids thanks to its excellent fuel economy, but it’s always lacked the ability to get out of its own way and brought styling choices that range from cute to bizarre. However, this new Prius is Completely Different animal. The fifth-generation model offers a completely new and much better look, a (mostly) well-executed interior, And You can still get up to 57 mpg.

The news keeps getting better as you check off the important parts of your shopping list. The 2023 Toyota Prius, even in standard hybrid form, gets a whopping 121 horsepower to 194 (or 196 for all-wheel-drive models). Unlike the older cars, this WX60 actually offers some decent controls, providing precise steering and an actually communicative ride while maintaining comfort on longer journeys.

Then there is the price. At $35,560, this Limited model (in Advanced Silver, at least) is about as reasonable as you can get for a new car right now, considering the fact that the more efficient LE starts the range at $28,545. No matter how you slice it, the new Prius is a much more interesting proposition than its predecessors, offering great fuel economy without all the downsides.

However, the 2023 Toyota Prius does not appear to be without any competition.

Aside from the rise of electric vehicle options — more on that later — the market is filled with affordable hybrids. Not only is there the upcoming Hyundai Elantra Hybrid and Honda Civic Hybrid, but there’s Toyota’s own Corolla Hybrid that’s more affordable. So, is this car the best possible choice?

Trust me, you will Feel the difference, even if you don’t buy Prime

Before we even dive into what the 2023 Toyota Prius looks like, let’s cover how it drives. Why do you care? Because — and again, I never thought I’d see the day — this model actually has some decent grunt. Now, it’s not a sports car and Toyota never intended it to be, but you can still get a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine paired with a meatier electric motor. You still get a continuously variable transmission here, but the way it handles the available power is impressively smooth and makes passing maneuvers nice, collected and predictable.

That 194 horsepower drops the 0-60 time to a perfectly reasonable 7-second range, all while managing well over 50 miles per gallon. Remember, the old car took an astonishing 11 seconds to reach highway speeds… all while irritating motorists stuck behind it.

Although this isn’t a huge economic improvement over the outgoing model, it gets about the same range (up to 644 miles on the tank, according to EPA numbers). And The worthwhile performance continues to amaze me. If you still want a little more progress, you can opt for the pricier Prius Prime. This brings power to 220 hp, and Tommy reviewed this model on TFLEV.

Aside from finally getting enough power to get out of its own way, the 2023 Toyota Prius also offers bigger brakes and a party-friendly ride. Dare I say it, this new model handles remarkably well. There’s no worrying body roll or horrific understeer if it feels a little lively, while brake feel, especially the way Toyota handles the brakes mixed with the regenerative system and actual friction brakes, feels fairly natural, as you’d expect in any other Gazette. car.

The design compromises practicality a bit

I’m not alone in saying this, but the 2023 Toyota Prius is truly night and day when it comes to design, inside and out. Especially when I’m spending my own money, I don’t do that Wants To go out and think, “Oh, why did I buy this car?”, every time I commute in the morning. Many people turned their heads as I drove, while the Prius gave me plenty of interesting tidbits to ponder as I effortlessly covered hundreds of miles.

From the driver’s seat, it took some effort to find anything worth complaining about. One problem is with the instrument cluster: depending on how you set the steering wheel, you can cut out some of the lower parts of the screen and the information it displays, such as the range to be emptied. Speaking of the steering wheel, although it’s the perfect size, you can’t adjust it up to any meaningful extent if you’re a taller driver. So, you have an annoying choice: cut off parts of the screen or move the steering wheel down until it reaches your knees.

This is a relatively minor complaint, besides the lack of space for taller passengers.

This is a result of the low roofline, as is the lack of rear seat space (or lack thereof), once rear passengers discover where the handles/buttons to open the doors are hidden. The 2023 Toyota Prius’s cargo capacity also diminishes to 20.3 cubic feet in this Limited model. The XLE gets the same rating, while the base LE fares slightly better at 23.8 cubic feet. However, they’re all worse than the outgoing car, which can hold up to 27.4 cubic feet of stuff when needed. Thanks again to the roofline, the new Prius is a hit in the rear visibility department as well.

However, the 2023 Toyota Prius is absolutely worth your time, and may help bridge the gap toward a full electric vehicle.

Overall, the new Prius is still a star in my book. I’m not quite ready to move to a full electric car just yet, but I appreciate the efficiency and low purchase and running costs on offer here until that changes. I love taking road trips, and getting over 50mpg in a stylish package, it’s actually good for ticking all the boxes for a rugged companion.

The only downside, at least compared to the last generation, is cargo and rear passenger space. It’s still better than the Corolla, not to mention this car looks more refined.

You may still want to give the Prius a hard pass because of its reputation, but it’s worth considering. With a new look, modern technology, including a 12.3-inch infotainment screen that’s standard on Limited models and optional on XLE models, and fuel economy that will come in handy when gas prices inevitably rise again, it could just be a winner all around. .