2023 Toyota Prius Review: The Glow-up You Need to See
2023 Toyota Prius review:
- 2023 Toyota Prius: $27,450 – $34,465
- Driver’s Choice Award – MotorWeek
- Pros: Sportier performance, excellent fuel economy, unmatched comfort
- Cons: Lack of personal storage space, steering wheel blocks guage cluster, limited head space
- MotorBiscuit score: 8.2 out of 10
You may not recognize the 2023 Toyota Prius after its fantastic transformation. It shed some of its awkward style to adopt a sleek, confident look that’s difficult to resist. Best of all, it has the confidence to back up its new aggressive nature with more power and increased efficiency.
The interior has entered the modern world with more upscale materials that are accented by striking blue ambient lighting. The tech is new and improved with convenience and safety in mind.
New available features such as rear heated sweets sweeten the deal. However, improvements could be made. The Prius has a bit of an awkward layout with limited head space and a lack of steering wheel adjustments. Plus, cargo space is limited.
2023 Toyota Prius: What’s new?
The 2023 Toyota Prius was completely redesigned to kick off the fifth generation. This is arguably the best the Prius has ever looked since its first debuted in 2000. It’s been around for a long time, and it’s time for a serious comeback.
Familiar rivals such as the Honda Insight and Hyundai Ioniq are no longer available, leaving the Kia Niro as the primary competitor in its sights. The Prius gained a faster acceleration and sportier design to gear up for battle.
Plus, the interior features a panoramic glass sunroof, ventilated seats, and an available 12.3-inch display. This hybrid vehicle didn’t compromise its fuel-sipping nature for its sleek new vibes either.
Which 2023 Toyota Prius trim is best?
- Toyota Prius LE – $27,450
- Toyota Prius XLE – $30,895
- Toyota Prius Limited – $34,465
While the 2023 Prius LE starts with plenty of standard power, 17-inch alloy wheels, and six USB ports, upgrading to the XLE model provides many convenience upgrades without breaking the bank.
The XLE adds keyless entry/start features, heated front seats, a wireless phone charging pad, synthetic leather upholstery, parking sensors, 19-inch wheels, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat.
But the Prius Limited does increase temptation with a heated steering wheel, ventilated seats, a power liftgate, driver’s seat memory settings, and an eight-speaker JBL audio system.
How does the 2023 Toyota Prius drive?
The 2023 Toyota Prius packs a stronger punch with a standard 2.0-liter engine and two electric motors to generate 196 hp and 139 lb-ft of torque. This is up from 121 hp over the previous generation, and the torque increased by 16%.
The Prius can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in roughly 7.1 seconds, while the outgoing model takes about 10.7 seconds to reach 60 mph. The increase in power is noticeable and satisfying with instant torque and smooth transmission shifts.
However, while the brakes are predictable, they could be a bit firmer. Switching from Eco mode to Normal or Sport provides a more responsive performance. Also, the steering is direct, but the handling could be a little more engaging.
Suspension upgrades and structural enhancements help the Prius feel more confident and composed around sharp curves. The 17.2-foot turning radius is convenient and nimble for crowded areas.
There is an EV mode, but we never had enough juice to use pure electricity. The Toyota Prius Prime is a bit sportier, with 220 hp and a 6.7 second 0 to 60 mph time.
How many mpg does the 2023 Toyota Prius get?
The 2023 Toyota Prius gets an EPA-estimated 57 mpg in the city and up to 56 mpg on the highway. We averaged about 52 mpg during our week with the Limited model after hours of road-tripping, running errands in the city, and parking for photo ops.
Also, thanks to the 11.3-gallon tank, the Prius can provide a range of up to 644 miles between fill-ups. The Prime has an electric range of 44 miles and gets about 53 mpg in the city and up to 51 mpg on the highway.
Is the Toyota Prius comfortable?
Yes, the 2023 Toyota Prius is comfortable. The front seats are well-padded and supportive for hours of comfort. They’re well-bolstered and recline pretty far for naps if needed. However, you sit pretty low so your knees may sit higher than expected.
The backseats are a little stiff but still well-padded. Plus, there’s enough room for two adults to relax and stretch out. The backrest angle is steep, and the rear seats don’t recline. Also, there aren’t air vents for rear passengers.
We found the climate control system to be effective and robust. However, the ventilated seats don’t get very cold. Also, the Prius suffers from intrusive wind and road noise at higher speeds. You can also hear the occasional whirl of electric components, but the system sounds futuristic.
How is the 2023 Toyota Prius interior?
The 2023 Toyota Prius interior is simple, attractive, and elegant, with soft-touch covered surfaces, a faux leather steering wheel, and brushed metal accents. The blue ambient lighting helps spice things up.
The layout is well-planned, with everything you need placed within reach. The controls are clearly labeled, but some folks may want more physical controls. Also, the steering wheel blocks the digital guage cluster unless you lower it into your lap.
We’re fans of the massive windshield and excellent visibility that the Prius offers, but the rear window is a bit tight. The front doors have wide openings for easy access, but the rear doors have smaller openings.
While the panoramic sunroof provides tons of natural light and allows rear passengers to look up at nature, it doesn’t open.
Does the 2023 Toyota Prius have good tech?
Yes, the 2023 Toyota Prius is loaded with advanced and intuitive tech. While an 8.0-inch infotainment screen is standard, you can upgrade to the 12.3-inch unit. It has an excellent resolution with attractive graphics.
The 360-degree camera and parking sensors are beneficial. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and the wireless phone charging pad is in a secure space. While USB-C ports are abundant, we still need USB-A ports for our older charging cables.
Also, the voice recognition software recognizes voices extremely well for instant results. The digital guage cluster is attractive and easy to customize. It provides your energy efficiency, miles until empty, driving mode, and navigation directions.
How much cargo space does the 2023 Toyota Prius have?
The 2023 Toyota Prius features 20.3 cubic feet of cargo space in the trunk area and up to 23.8 cubes overall. The cargo hold provides more space than expected, with a few storage bins under the floor.
However, space for personal items is lacking due to a small center console, tight door packets, limited seat pockets, and a tight glove box.
There is a helpful tray in front of the cup holders, but that’s about it. The cupholders on the sides of the door can hold water bottles, but it’s a tight squeeze.
How safe is the 2023 Toyota Prius?
According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), the 2023 Toyota Prius is extremely safe. It’s a Top Safety Pick+ and earned ‘Good’ ratings in almost every crash test. That’s the highest score possible.
It only earned three ‘Acceptable’ ratings and didn’t receive any lower scores. The safety features received a ‘Superior’ score for avoiding collisions during the day at speeds of 12. 25. And 37 mph.
At night, the Prius issued a warning 2.0 seconds before impact and reduced its speed by 34 mpg during the 37 mpg test. The 2023 Prius earned great ratings for its child seat anchors. They’re easy to find and attach without being easily confused with other equipment.
Standard safety features include:
- Forward collision warning
- Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane-keeping assistance
- Lane departure warning
- Blind spot warning
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Automatic high beams
How reliable is the 2023 Toyota Prius?
The 2023 Toyota Prius earned a reliability score of 75 out of 100 from J.D.Power. This is an average rating. Anything between 70 and 80 is average, while scores between 81 and 90 are above average.
You can expect the average Prius model to last between 200,000 to 250,000 miles. However, it’s not uncommon for some models to surpass 300,000 miles. If you drive an average of 15,000 miles annually, then you could get between 15 to 20 years of service on the road.
The average yearly cost to maintain the Prius is about $408. This is less than the average annual maintenance cost of $650 for other new vehicles.
The limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles, while the powertrain warranty is effective for five years or 60,000 miles. Hybrid components are protected for eight years or 100,000 miles, and you get two years of 25,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.
MotorBiscuit gives the 2023 Toyota Prius a score of 8.2 out of 10
The experts at MotorBiscuit have awarded the 2023 Toyota Prius with a score of 8.2 out of 10. Almost every aspect of the Prius is new and improved. It looks better, has more muscle, gained modern tech, and is comfortable.
It provides an excellent fuel economy and can be sporty or relaxing based on your mood. However, interior space is limited due to a lack of headspace and adjustment controls. Also, it’s a bit loud at highway speeds.
Overall, the 2023 Prius is a well-rounded bargain with plenty of standard goodies. But it could still use some refinement and better cargo organization. We hope to see how the Prius Prime compares.
