2023 Toyota Prius unveiled, Australia ruled out

The fifth-generation 2023 Toyota Prius hybrid liftback has been revealed – but an Australian launch is off-limits following its retirement from the local market in May.

It rides on a revised version of the TNGA platform that first debuted on the fourth-generation Prius revealed in 2015, with a brand-new look and improved electrified powertrains.

With hybrid engines now available across most of the Toyota line-up, the Japanese brand is repositioning the Prius as its most eco-friendly internal combustion offering.

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Under the bonnet, the Prius features two conventional hybrid engines and a plug-in hybrid system, with front-wheel drive.

An updated version of the current 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric powertrain is found in the entry-level version. It has a total system output of 103kW – up 13kW over the outgoing model, and in line with the recently-updated Corolla hatch and sedan.

Toyota global design boss Simon Humphries said the new Prius would be "the most efficient hybrid model in its class”, but the marque has yet to detail its efficiency.

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A step up from the standard 1.8-litre mill is the more powerful 2.0-litre hybrid system shared with the Corolla Cross small SUV. It produces 144kW, with front- and all-wheel drive options expected.

It has a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of approximately 7.5 seconds, making it the fastest Prius hybrid ever.

However, the plug-in hybrid Prius will continue into the next generation, with a newly-developed 2.0-litre petrol engine, a 13.6kWh lithium-ion battery pack and electric motors for 164kW in total.

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This replaces the 1.8-litre plug-in hybrid found in today’s Prius Prime. It will continue to offer a solar roof option.

As Drive reports, the new Prius has a claimed 0-100km/h time of 6.7 seconds, while its electric-only range has increased by up to 50 per cent, which allows for up to 70 kilometres of zero-emissions driving.

Toyota says moving the battery pack from under the boot floor to under the rear seats has improved the vehicle’s centre of gravity and luggage space, while its aerodynamics have improved with a lower drag coefficient.

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With a design inspired by Toyota’s BZ electric vehicle family and the flagship Crown, the look of the new Prius is more laid-back than the outgoing model, with a smoother body and ‘hidden’ rear door handles similar to the C-HR small SUV.

It will offer LED headlights, a full-width LED rear light bar and alloy wheels up to 19-inches – up two inches from the outgoing Prius.

Inside, it features a 12.3-inch touchscreen running Toyota’s latest infotainment system, with support for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, connected satellite navigation and over-the-air software updates.

In a Prius first, the central instrument cluster has been replaced by a more-conventional 7-inch full-digital unit similar to the BZ4x electric SUV's display.

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Other available features include LED ambient interior lighting, USB-C ports, a panoramic sunroof, automatic parking, a built-in dashcam, a digital rear-view mirror, and an interior power socket to power home appliances from the vehicle’s battery.

The brand’s latest suite of driver assistance technology is available, with autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot alert, rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise control.

The 2023 Toyota Prius hybrid will arrive in Japan before the end of 2022, while the plug-in hybrid is expected in mid-2023.

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In addition, it will debut at the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show later this week for the North American market.

"Toyota Australia has no plans to introduce the new Prius to the Australian market," said a spokesperson for Toyota's local arm.

"Over the past few years, we have substantially increased our hybrid offering with vehicles suited to Australian market conditions including Yaris, Yaris Cross, Corolla, C-HR and recently Corolla Cross."