What is this?
The fifth iteration of a car that has been used several times in recent decades as the point of a joke. However, the laughter is now over, because the new Toyota Prius suddenly shows off a body so handsome that it earned the title of World Car Design of the Year 2024. In addition, it has an extremely capable chassis and Toyota increases the power to well above 200 hp, without sacrificing efficiency! And yet… maybe you shouldn't buy it.
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Wait, what?!
Yep, you read that right. Although we are very charmed by the new Prius, we recommend that you do not buy it. You can read why further in the test. Let us first tell you why we are a complete fan of the fifth generation Prius, starting with its appearance. Because admit it: we have never been closer to a Lamborghini hatchback. Who would have thought that in order to grow the Prius from wimp to sleek boy, designers just had to push the cabin back a bit?
Of course, Toyota's hammerhead LED signature helps a lot, as does that sturdy crease line that runs from the bottom of the front door across the flank. The standard rims are 19 inches, which is different from the 13-inch wheels you could get on the original model. In short, the Prius has grown from a goat to a full-blooded wolf.
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There was once a time when the interior of the Prius could rival that of a Fiat Multipla. In this new generation, on the other hand, you seem to be in a fighter jet. Right in front of you you get a high-quality 7-inch instrument cluster, the steering wheel has been flattened and on the center tunnel there is a gear lever that radiates more testosterone than that small lever you get in a Porsche 911 nowadays.
Speaking of that 911, the seating comfort in this Prius is also of a high level. Both front and back. So if you feared that the coupe roof would have an impact on the seating space in the back: fear not! Unfortunately we can't say the same about the suitcase. It is noticeably small at 284 liters due to the sloping roof. Even a Volkswagen Polo does better. Ouch.
Golf GTI power
Although that is not the reason why we advise you against buying this Prius. No, we find that reason at the front because when you say Prius, you of course say hybrid. This is no different with this fifth generation. Only… Europe won't get that hybrid. No, we have to make do with the plug-in hybrid here. A small prefix with major consequences, because suddenly you are looking at a Prius with a lot of power. 223 hp? Until recently you got it in a VW Golf GTI!
Together with the torque of 208 Nm (+ electric power) and a 13.6 kWh battery, you can sprint to 100 in 6.8 seconds. Even that is at the level of a hot hatch from a few years ago. So the Prius has become a damn spicy plug-in hybrid. Only… hasn't the shelf life of a plug-in hybrid passed?
Driving pleasure… in a Prius?!
To make our point even more painful, Toyota decided to make the fifth Prius also nice to steer. The underlying TNGA platform blesses the Prius with a healthy balance between sportiness and comfort. The rear axle willingly follows the sharp front axle and shows a playful character. If you had told us ten years ago that the Prius would one day drive like this, we would have asked you to leave the website.
Okay, the CVT automatic transmission is still the Achilles heel of the experience and sending all the power to the front provides the necessary dash of wheelspin, but drive this Prius at 8/10th and even the most hardcore DRIVR will be convinced. In addition, it is also adequately economical for a PHEV. You can travel at least 60 kilometers with the 13.6 kWh battery and if you also run the petrol engine, you will achieve a consumption of 13.7 kWh/100 km and 1.6 l/100 km.
Model 3 or Corolla Station?
Do you still not understand what we have against this Prius? Well, then you will finally find your salvation in this paragraph: Toyota asks 48,870 euros for this plug-in. Who with any sense is still willing to spend that kind of money on a Toyota plug-in? The business customer no longer enjoys the full tax benefit and the private individual can buy a lot of other conveniences for that money. For 48,000 euros you can also buy a Tesla Model 3 or a Polestar 2… Or, for private customers, a full option Corolla Hybrid station wagon with more than 10,000 euros left in the bank account.
The only reason that you should not buy this Prius PHEV is because they in Japan must understand that we crave the Prius Hybrid and preferably with a significantly lower price tag. In North America, for example, it starts at the equivalent of 25,000 euros! Why don't we just get that Prius hybrid in Europe? Without a doubt, the strict European emission standards have something to do with this. Toyota can – less than other brands – rely on the success of 100% electric models and the associated C02 emissions of 0 grams per kilometer. So every gram they can save is taken into account.
Conclusion
The new Toyota Prius plug-in drives better than ever, looks extremely slick and combines the interior of a fighter plane. Yet we must make a statement in Western Europe: give us the classic hybrid, Toyota! So that private customers can also taste the best oriental recipe in years.