New 2023 Toyota Prius Offers Speed, Efficiency, and Style

Toyota’s 2023 Prius lineup is both familiar and refreshingly new in almost every way. The new Prius will be dramatically quicker, more efficient, more stylish, and have an infotainment system that many Prius owners will consider a game-changer.

The Prius line will consist of a front-wheel drive hybrid, an all-wheel drive hybrid, and the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle. For a deep dive on the Prius Prime, check out our story, but the big news is dramatic acceleration improvements and a 50% increase in all-electric range.

2023 Toyota Prius By the Numbers
57 MPG is the new industry benchmark for five-passenger hybrids. Toyota has once again raised the bar, and increased efficiency by a meaningful margin. The Prius will rival battery-electric vehicles in energy cost per mile in many important green vehicle markets.

The Prius also gets a big boost in power and performance. The outgoing Prius had 96 hp. The 2023 Prius doubles that to 194 hp by adopting a 2.0- liter engine. A sprint from 0-60 MPH took nearly ten seconds in the outgoing Prius, the new 2023 Prius will take about 7 seconds. This moves the Prius’ performance into the typical range for a mainstream vehicle.

Toyota is also moving away from the nickel metal battery to a new lithium-ion battery with a 15% boost in capacity.

Toyota Prius Infotainment Changes
One area that the Prius was in need of updating was infotainment. For 2023 Toyota will move to a new system designed in Texas featuring an available 12.3-inch screen and wireless Android Auto and Apple Car Play integration. Six USB Type-C ports are available, and Wi-Fi offers connectivity for up to five devices. Popular Apps such as Apple Music and Amazon Music can be directly integrated into the head unit. As with almost all Toyota’s, a premium JBL Audio system will be available.

New Toyota Styling
Toyota’s 2023 Prius looks decidedly sleek, particularly from the side. Toyota lowered the roofline by two inches. The new Prius is also one inch longer. We’ll let the images do the rest of the work.

All-Wheel Drive Returns
The all-wheel drive Prius continues into the new generation. Toyota says its AWD Prius features an interior permanent magnet motor (IPM). Those who live in snowy areas will find the AWD Prius a tempting alternative to a crossover.

New Prius Technology
The new Prius will feature over-the-air update capability. Google will offer a voice-activated point of interest assistance. Driver assistance includes Advanced Park, a system to parallel park for you. A new system called Proactive Driving Assist will help with steering, turning, and distance spacing. An emergency driving stop system will monitor drivers for medical emergencies and can stop the vehicle if a driver becomes unresponsive. Toyota’s pre-collision system can now recognize pedestrians, motorcycles, and bicycles. A digital rear mirror and a panoramic view monitor will be available.

Prius Colors and Trims
Colors of the new 2023 Prius include red, white, blue, and gray. Trims include LE, XLE, and Limited.

Watch Torque News for more Prius updates. Toyota promises pricing by year-end.

2023 Prius image courtesy of Toyota.

John Goreham is a long-time New England Motor Press Association member and recovering engineer. John's interest in EVs goes back to 1990 when he designed the thermal control system for an EV battery as part of an academic team. After earning his mechanical engineering degree, John completed a marketing program at Northeastern University and worked with automotive component manufacturers, in the semiconductor industry, and in biotech. In addition to Torque News, John's work has appeared in print in dozens of American news outlets and he provides reviews to many vehicle shopping sites. You can follow John on TikTok @ToknCars, on Twitter, and view his credentials at Linkedin

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