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We all know that the 2023 Prius is efficient. It’s also a lot better looking, and driving, than any previous Toyota Prius. However, beginning in 2019 Toyota integrated one cool feature that makes it a standout: all wheel drive. But, this isn’t just any all-wheel drive system. What makes the Prius’ all-wheel drive system special?

Does a Prius have all-wheel drive?

The Prius saw a complete redesign for 2023. To our eyes, the new styling sets this car apart from the competition and doubles down on the futuristic styling of a futuristic car. But, it kept the clever all-wheel drive system that the car first got in 2019. While most all-wheel-drive cars and trucks use a complicated system of driveshafts and transfer cases to route power from the engine to all the wheels, Toyota doesn’t.

Instead of overcomplicating all-wheel drive Toyota simply adds an electric motor to the rear axle to power the rear wheels. A computer recognizes when the rear wheels are slipping and simply adds power to the rear tires when you need it, not all the time. It’s great when you’re in inclement weather and adds an extra piece of mind. But, the all-wheel drive Prius also gets a boost in power: the base Prius has 194 horsepower, while the extra motor in the all-wheel drive version makes 196 horsepower, according to MotorWeek.

Toyota pioneered this system on its AWD Sienna minivan and it uses it in the RAV4 Prime. As a bonus in all of these Toyota all-wheel drive vehicles, you get a flat floor in the back. Without a driveshaft to take up room under the car, it allowed Toyota to better package the interior.

How many miles per gallon does a 2023 Prius get?

The 2023 Toyota Prius Prime has 4 modern conveniences you can't miss.
2023 Toyota Prius Prime XSE | Toyota

The all-wheel drive adds some weight to the 2023 Prius, with an extra battery and motor in the back. The base car gets 57 mpg city, and 56 mpg on the highway. The all-wheel drive version gets 52 mpg city and 52 mpg on the highway. But, as we mentioned, it does make more power. That means that the front-wheel drive version can hit 60 miles per hour in 7.2 seconds, while with all-wheel drive, the Prius can make the sprint in 7.0 seconds, per Toyota.

Which Prius models are all-wheel drive?

2023 Toyota Prius Dashboard with 12.0 inch screen
2023 Toyota Prius | Toyota

The 2023 Prius comes in base LE, mid-level XLE and top-of-the-line Limited trims. You can order each with all-wheel drive, and it’s a $1,400 option. That means the LE starts at $28,850 with all-wheel drive, while the XLE starts at $32,295 and the Limited starts at $35,865. The Prius Prime plug-in hybrid is a different model.

Of course you can add tons of options to the new 2023 Prius, too, including $1,735 glass roof, a giant 12.3-inch screen for $735, and more. Catalytic converter thieves target Prius’ emissions systems, so Toyota now offers a $140 CatShield. It doesn’t protect against cats, but deters thieves from stealing your catalytic converter.

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Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.