Toyota’s 2023 Prius is the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the lineup | Engadget

Toyota unveiled the latest Prius at an event on the eve of the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show, and it says the model is the most fuel-efficient entry in the lineup yet. The company has designed the 2023 Prius, which will be available in LE, XLE and Limited trim levels, with a low center of gravity, wider stance and lower driving position. Its roofline is 2 inches lower than its predecessor and it is one inch wider at the rear. Toyota was clearly aiming for a sportier and more modern look, aided by the larger wheels on the XLE and Limited variants.

Of course, the new Prius also comes with performance enhancements. It uses Toyota’s 5th generation hybrid powertrain and a new lithium-ion battery, which offers a 15% boost in power over the range’s older nickel metal battery technology. This means that the company was able to develop a smaller and lighter battery for the vehicle without compromising its performance. But since the Prius is still a hybrid and not solely dependent on electricity, Toyota has also fitted it with a larger two-liter gasoline engine.

The automaker says the front-wheel drive variants have 194 horsepower and can go from 0 to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds, faster than the 9.8 seconds of the outgoing FWD vehicles. All-wheel drive models have 196 horsepower and the ability to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7 seconds. All models have three drive modes: Eco, which improves fuel economy, and Power and Sport modes, which increase throttle response.

Other features include half a dozen USB-C ports and the Toyota Audio Multimedia system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Toyota’s Drive Connect connected service also gives owners access to a smart assistant that can follow voice commands and cloud navigation, which can download the latest available map, traffic and route information from from the cloud. And in case drivers are really struggling to find their way to their next destination, they can also use the Destination Assist feature to speak to a live agent any time of the day.

For driver assistance, the vehicle is equipped with a blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, as well as front and rear park assist with automatic braking on all variants. The Limited version has a Surround View Monitor that provides a 360-degree live view around the vehicle and a hands-free system that can help drivers parallel park or back into a parking spot.

In addition, the 2023 Prius will come with the latest version of Toyota’s Safety Sense generation, which enables a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning with steering assistance and cruise control. A new addition to the feature and to the Prius as a whole is Proactive Driver Assist which provides smooth braking when cornering or when it detects a vehicle, pedestrian or cyclist in front of the vehicle.

Toyota has yet to reveal pricing and availability for the 2023 Prius, but it promises to make another announcement with those details before the end of the year.