2023 Toyota Prius Hatchback

　　

2023 Toyota Prius Review

byClint SimoneSenior Reviews Editor

　　Clint Simone has worked in the automotive industry since 2015. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Before joining zzdcar as a senior reviews editor, Clint contributed to Motor1.com and InsideEVs, evaluating mostly electric cars. Clint loves hot hatchbacks more than any other type of vehicle but secretly enjoys driving big trucks when he gets the chance. He would never admit to that.

　　, rating written byClint SimoneSenior Reviews Editor

　　Brian Wong has worked in the automotive industry since 2010, writing over 1,000 car-related articles and testing and reviewing hundreds of vehicles over the course of career. Brian is a senior reviews editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Cars.com, Motor Authority and Green Car Reports. Brian has also been featured on MotorWeek as an expert for several car comparisons. He loves convertibles (the smaller the better) and hates paying for parking, so Los Angeles is both the right and wrong city for him.

　　For its fifth generation, the Toyota Prius has gone through a truly remarkable transformation. Eco geek is out; eco chic is in. The 2023 Prius gets a complete redesign with a sleek new shape and an overhauled interior. There's also a more robust hybrid powertrain that offers considerable gains in performance yet still gets similar fuel economy to previous models.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Toyota Prius LE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$68/mo  for Prius LE

　　Prius LE

　　LE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $27,450 MSRPLE 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $28,850 MSRPXLE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) (Most Popular) - $30,895 MSRPXLE 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $32,295 MSRPLimited 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $34,465 MSRPLimited 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $35,865 MSRP

　　vs

　　$165/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　A universal gripe about older Prius models has been their lackluster acceleration. Last year's fourth-generation Prius, for example, produced a meager 121 system horsepower between the engine and motor. The new Prius produces up to 196 hp and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in around 7 seconds. That's considerably quicker than the 10.7 seconds needed by the last Prius we tested and should make accelerating quickly on highway entrances a considerably easier task.

　　Crucially, the new Prius maintains its fuel frugality with a manufacturer-estimated 49-57 mpg in combined city/highway driving, depending on the model. And if that's not enough, the plug-in hybrid Prius Prime is also new, with more electric range than before.

　　While the Prius' new exterior design gets a lot of attention, the best part of the transformation is inside the cabin where there is a new tech suite and more modern aesthetic. Standard is an 8-inch touchscreen, while top trims get the larger 12.3-inch display. Along with the new infotainment is a host of available convenience features such as heated and ventilated front seats, ambient lighting and a panoramic glass roof. The Prius is also still a hatchback and has a respectably roomy cargo area.

　　Overall, we highly recommend the Prius to anyone shopping for a fuel-efficient car, especially because two of its core competitors, the Honda Honda Insight and Hyundai Ioniq, have been discontinued. Presently, it's the Kia Niro that best rivals the Prius, as it's also available in hybrid and plug-in hybrid form.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.1

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the Prius drive? The new Prius' big boost in power isn't really noticeable in everyday city driving; the car is smooth and able to smartly accelerate from a stoplight, just like older models. But the extra horsepower is a boon for merging onto a highway or climbing a long grade, which are now a lot less stressful to do. At zzdcar' test track, our test front-wheel-drive Prius accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 7.7 seconds, a big gain over the prior generation's 10.7-second sprint.

　　Structural updates and new suspension components in several areas have also improved the Prius composure on the road. The steering is numb, but it feels precise and tracks straight with no effort.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Prius? The Prius' front seats offer enough support to be comfortable for longer stints. The rear seats are also comfortable, though they don't recline. We like how the Prius rides smoothly over bumps and broken pavement. However, excessive tire, wind and engine noise under acceleration holds the Prius back from being a fully relaxing car to drive.

　　There's only a single climate zone, and the latest Prius has lost some of its finer climate controls that previous models had, such as the ability to shut off the fans to all seats but the driver to enhance efficiency. Every Prius trim except the base LE has heated front seats, and the top Limited trim comes with ventilated front seats and optional heated rear seats.

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