A new Prius that is more visually mature and dapper

There was a time when the Toyota Prius was the object par excellence of the affirmation of a sensitivity to environmental issues. Several stars had adopted it, praising the immense energy efficiency of the compact which has democratized the hybrid in its primary form. Certainly, since the advent of all-electric, one of the pioneers of this genre attracts less attention. However, that doesn’t stop Toyota from wanting to make it more attractive.

The Japanese giant held the first world presentation of the fifth generation of the legendary model last week due to its cultural and technical impact. While maintaining a profile placing the passenger compartment at the forefront, this new Prius adopts a new stylistic stance. Smoother and stockier, it has thin C-shaped optics. The roof line is 50 mm lower while the vehicle is 20 mm wider, which supports its different proportions.

More powerful mechanics

The standard Prius will receive a 2L four-cylinder – a slight gain of 0.2 L in volume – whose power is increased to 196 hp, a very significant increase of 72 hp. It will be offered here only with all-wheel drive. No word on fuel consumption, yet.

The plug-in variant, still called Prius Prime, sees its maximum power figured at 220 hp, almost 100 hp more than the one it replaces. Toyota does not advance a precise figure on its autonomy for the moment, but specifies that it will be 50% greater than the current Prius Prime. That would put it around 60km in a segment where essentially there is no more competition.

The fifth Toyota Prius of the name will be launched in Japan in the spring and then distributed in other markets, including North America. We will know by the end of the year when it will arrive on Canadian soil.