Making a grand entrance at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show is Toyota’s all-new 2023 Prius and Prius Prime in their North American debut. For twenty-two years the Prius has reigned as the most reliable hybrid sedan and the fact that over 20 million units have been sold globally means that more than 82 million tons of CO2 emissions have been prevented from entering the atmosphere. The 2023 Prius and Prius Prime will be the most fuel-efficient versions to date, giving drivers access to two of the most fuel efficient vehicles available.

Two Highly Efficient Sedans

The 2023 Prius will be able to achieve a manufacturer estimated fuel economy of 57 miles per gallon (mpg) combined (LE trim, Front Wheel Drive). In keeping with Toyota’s commitment and varied approach to achieving carbon neutrality, the 2023 Prius is a part of Toyota’s lineup that will eventually become “beyond zero”, which is to say the Prius is destined to become a zero emission vehicle. The 2023 Prius and Prius Prime will be the first vehicles to wear the new “Beyond Zero” badge to symbolize Toyota’s global effort to reach carbon neutrality in all areas, including manufacturing and products.

Both of these sedans are built for purpose, and the new hybrid system was designed to perfect the driving performance and the fuel economy through increases to the output of both battery and engine. In keeping with these changes, the handling and acceleration have also been enhanced, giving drivers a clean, responsive feel that is entirely unique to these electrified vehicles.

For the 2023 Prius, you will find the 5th generation hybrid powertrain that is paired with a bigger 2.0 liter (L) engine as well as a lithium-ion battery that has been newly developed and is located under the rear seat. The battery pack provides an impressive 15 percent increase in output in comparison to the nickel metal battery from the previous generation. The All-Wheel Drive (AWD) versions of the Prius feature an Electronic On-Demand AWD system that uses a motor to power the rear wheels, giving drivers stability when navigating roads with slippery surfaces.

In the 2023 Prius Prime, the larger lithium-ion battery increases the EV range by a whopping 50% compared to the range of the previous generation, which was 25 miles.

A Little Something Extra for the Prius Prime

One of the main focuses for the Prius Prime was to give it something a little extra to set it apart from the Prius, and those extras came in the form of performance, tech, safety, and presence. The Prius Prime is available in three different premium trims (SE, XSE, and XSE Premium) and is built on the TNGA-C platform, second generation. What this means is that the Prius Prime has a lower center of gravity, reduced weight, and increased rigidity compared to the previous version, giving it a sporty, aggressive driving feel without compromising any comfort.

The sportiness of the new Prius Prime comes with some brand new tech in the form of a solar roof. This is an on-board charging feature that utilizes solar panels mounted on the roof to recharge the battery while the car is parked. These solar panels also channel additional power to other functions while driving, such as the air conditioning.

Beneath the Prius Prime’s hood is the 5th generation hybrid powertrain paired to a 2.0L engine and the brand new lithium ion battery. The electric range of the Prius Prime is zero emission and the horsepower has nearly been doubled over the previous generation (220 hp). In addition, the Prius Prime has a zero to 60 time of 6.6 seconds.<?p>

The New Face of Old Reliability

Both the Prius and Prius Prime have long been the figurehead of the PHEV market in North America, and these newest iterations of the most reliable hybrid cars show huge advancements in every area. With zero emission electric ranges, combined with their incredible fuel economy and seamless blend of useful tech, safety, and comfort, both of these cars stand poised to take the North American hybrid market by storm.

For more information about the 2023 Toyota Prius and Prius Prime, please contact us here at Westbury Toyota. We would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.