2023 Toyota Prius

Inside, the Prius has a conventional instrument cluster, though far forward at the base of the windshield, while the driving position is a bit more raked than that of most compact sedans. Compared to the outgoing Prius, it’s simply not as visually noisy, and it can even lull you into forgetting how trend-setting the exterior is. With a rather high-set center console, a more conventional shifter than previous Prius models, and a dash that feels intentionally lowered below the surrounding beltline, it’s now remarkably ordinary, for better or worse.

All Prius versions get a 2.0-liter inline-4 running on the efficiency-savvy Atkinson cycle and making 150 hp and 139 lb-ft. Adding in the front motor making 111 hp, the combined efforts through the wizardry of Toyota’s hybrid transmission sum to 194 hp. The Prius hybrid in this generation buffers energy with a small 0.9-kwh battery pack, and all-wheel-drive versions add a 40-hp motor at the rear wheels—not connected to the fronts—that brings the total output to 196 hp. 

The plug-in hybrid Prime is offered only in front-wheel-drive form and gets the same engine, but with more powerful electric propulsion—including a 161-hp electric motor that acts as primary propulsion when you’ve charged the 13.6-kwh battery pack. 

How fast is the Toyota Prius?

Not downright quick, but it’s no longer slow. The 2023 Prius gets a more powerful gasoline engine this time around, as well as the most power ever offered in a Prius. That’s still less than 200 hp for hybrids, but it can move much faster than Prius models from previous model years. Toyota claims a 7.2-second 0-60 mph time with front-wheel drive, while it drops to 7.0 seconds with AWD, while somewhat more powerful Prime versions are the fastest in the lineup, at 6.6 seconds. 

The new powertrain gives the Prius a responsive and confident feel in most traffic situations, with regenerative braking now more smoothly coordinated in the last few feet of stops. 

A ‘B’ setting dials in just a little more regenerative braking for hilly drives, and Sport mode runs the engine noticeably more, for a quicker-responding but noisier experience. Given the Prius’ still eco-minded personality, Eco mode probably best suits this powertrain.

Ride and handling are a mixed bag. The Prius steers and maneuvers neatly and the combination of a lower ride height and not much body lean can make it feel sporty. However, at highway speeds the ride can feel busy.

Especially for taller drivers, the front-seat space brings some disappointment. The baked-in steering wheel angle and seating baseline make it challenging to establish a good driving position, and the front seats simply don’t work well in size and proportion with the more reclined position the roofline and dash layout invite.

The manual-adjusting front seats in most models of the Prius are neither skimpy nor plush; higher trim versions get 8-way power adjustable front seats that add customization if not comfort. Rear passenger space aren’t up to the standards of smaller crossovers, and taller riders in back will find a shortage of head room. 

The cargo floor remains quite low. Cargo space is 20.3 cubic feet for XLE or Limited models (23.8 cubic feet for the XLE), and seat folding results in an expanded, nearly flat area, with easy loading thanks to a low liftover height. One thing we should caution parents about is that the roofline plus lower ride height of the new Prius mean getting smaller kids in and out of child seats is going to be far more challenging—to the point where we recommend a different hybrid like Toyota’s Corolla Hybrid or Corolla Cross Hybrid for that situation. 

The Prius has made incremental improvements in cabin refinement over its generations, but the 2023 Prius feels like it missed the memo in cabin noise and vibration; it’s quite noisy. You no longer hear the engine as much coming in and out of the power mix, but after testing this model on a variety of surfaces we came to the conclusion that’s mostly because of the almost omnipresent road noise.

A system called Proactive Driving Assist—also a standard feature—suggests limited hands-free driving in some scenarios. Options include a surround-view camera system and a self-parking feature. 

The low nose of the new Prius means that most drivers get a great view forward, but rearward visibility is a different issue. With no lower rear window built into the hatch anymore, You’ll need to rely on camera views for some parking and lane changes. We’re actually surprised that a surround-view camera system with a feature called Curb View is only optional—and even then, as part of a package—on the Limited.

Which Toyota Prius should I buy?

Prices of the 2023 Prius start at $28,545 (including the mandatory delivery fee of $1,095) for the base LE model with front-wheel drive, and they range up to $36,960 for a Limited AWD version. Options like a rear camera mirror can push the top sticker price toward $40,000. Today, with the head-turning new exterior and sportier driving manners for the whole lineup, our lukewarm feelings about the upper trims’ larger infotainment system and the glass roof, and the best mileage ratings of the lineup (57 mpg city, 56 highway, 57 combined) going to the base LE, that’s the one we’d get—or, if you’re leasing, consider the plug-in hybrid Prius Prime. 

The Prius LE has 17-inch steel wheels with plastic wheel covers, manually adjustable seats, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen display. XLE models step up to 19-inch alloy wheels plus rain-sensing wipers, power adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, proximity keys, and keyless start. 

The top Prius Limited trim adds a power rear tailgate, heated and cooled front seats with memory settings, a standard glass roof and a 12.3-inch central touchscreen (both optional on the XLE). Otherwise, mid-range XLE versions step up to projector-beam headlights, 19-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, and a smart key system, with the glass roof optional.

Across the lineup all-wheel drive costs just $1,400 more, and given how it detracts only slightly from fuel economy numbers, it’s likely worth the premium. 

The plug-in hybrid Prius Prime is offered in SE, XSE, and XSE Premium models, and the set of features essentially parallels the three Prius hybrid models. 

The 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system included in top-trim versions and optional in mid-trim versions isn’t on its own worth the upsell, in our opinion. Its ultra-wide-format landscape layout makes scrolling through lists no easier—whether that be satellite radio stations or menu items—requiring you to keep your eyes on the screen for longer stretches than needed. There’s no simple way to split that screen real estate either, and it lacks a simple way to toggle back and forth between its built-in wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. 

How much is a fully loaded 2023 Toyota Prius?

If you’re talking about the hybrid, that’s the top Prius Limited, at $35,560 including the $1,095 destination fee. Adding $1,400 for AWD, then the $1,695 Limited Premium package adding heated rear seats, a digital rearview mirror, a parking assistant, and a surround-view camera system—you’re up to $38,595. 

The top Toyota Prius Prime model, the XSE Premium, starts at $40,265, and adding a solar-charging roof, heated rear seats, parking assistant, and the surround-view camera system bring the total to $42,510. 

The Prius Prime steps up to a 13.6-kwh battery pack that charges up on a 240-volt connector in about four hours with its 3.5-kw onboard charger. It goes an EPA-rated 44 miles in SE form or 39 miles for the XSE and XSE Premium versions, then comes rated at 51 mpg or 47 mpg combined, respectively, once the charge is depleted.