All-new Toyota Prius breaks cover – EQ Mag
Fifth-gen Prius gets strong hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrain options, all-new design and more safety tech.
Toyota has released the first set of images and details of the all-new fifth-generation Prius. The new Prius gets three powertrain options – a plug-in hybrid set-up, which will initially be the only powertrain option for Europe, and two full-hybrids that will be available in other markets like Japan and North America.
- New Prius gets 220hp plug-in hybrid for Europe
- Two strong hybrid options for Japan and other markets
- Comes with an optional solar panel
New Toyota Prius: looks familiar yet fresh
The new Prius, thanks to its stylish design, now has an even more coupe-like appearance. Its design is in line with Toyota’s newer models and has styling cues from the new bZ full-EV range and also some design elements from the recently unveiled Crown. The full-width LED light bar at the rear is also impossible to ignore. It’s lower, wider and has a longer wheelbase than the current Prius. The overall length is shorter, though. The new Prius’ interior is inspired by the bZ4X EV SUV and has dedicated floating screens for infotainment and instrumentation. The dashboard now incorporates a warning system that will flash the ambient lights to alert the driver when objects are detected close to the car.
New Toyota Prius: 220hp PHEV only for Europe
Toyota will sell the Prius only as a plug-in Hybrid in the European market. The powertrain includes a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with a total output of 220 horsepower. This is a 99hp improvement over the outgoing model’s electrically assisted 1.8-litre engine that churns out 121hp.
The new European-spec Prius gets a 13.6kWa battery, which is located underneath the rear seats. Toyota has announced that the model has 50 percent more full-EV range than its predecessor, which could be around 90km as opposed to around 60km earlier. Toyota will also offer the Prius plug-in with an optional solar roof panel.
New Toyota Prius: 1.8, 2.0 strong hybrids for other markets
Additionally, Toyota will sell the Prius with not one but two strong hybrid options in markets like Japan and North America. These will include a 1.8-litre and a 2.0-litre petrol engine mated to a strong-hybrid powertrain. Power output will be as high as 194hp and both models will feature Toyota’s E-Four AWD tech.
New Toyota Prius: Gets Toyota Safety Sense bundle
The new Prius gets the latest-gen Toyota Safety Sense bundle that includes a monocular camera at the front, a rear-facing camera for the Digital Inner Mirror, and an in-vehicle drive recorder. It also gets the Toyota Teammate system that includes Advanced Park with a remote function, allowing the vehicle to be controlled remotely when pulling into and out of a parking space.
New Toyota Prius: Will it come to India?
Toyota has intermittently sold the Prius in earlier generations in the Indian market, but due to its high price, it did not find many buyers. There is no news of the new Prius coming to India anytime soon, however, Toyota has shifted focus towards strong-hybrid powertrains in India. The brand currently sells strong-hybrid models like the Camry hybrid sedan and the Hyryder hybrid SUV and will also introduce the new Innova Hycross in India on November 25 equipped with a strong hybrid powertrain.
