2023 Toyota Prius teased, will it come to Australia?

UPDATE, November 2022: New-gen Prius unveiled

Toyota has revealed its new-generation Prius hybrid, revealing what is surely the most stylish iteration yet of what has historically been an awkwardly styled line of cars. Alas, this is also the first generation of Prius that won't come to Australia. Get all the details at the link below.

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New Toyota Prius teasers go official

Andy Hunt

Toyota has confirmed its next-generation 2023 Prius will be revealed on November 16, just a couple days before the start of the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The announcement was accompanied by new teaser images, showing the shape of the LED running lights in the headlight cluster, along with the overall profile of the hybrid's sleek new shape.

The new image shows a little more than the initial silhouette provided, and reveals some sculpting around the headlights that differs slightly from the previous-generation Prius.

Extra lighting in the picture reveals more detail toward the rear of the car, showing a high tail and shallow-angled line over the c-pillar area that's reminiscent of the (dearly?) departed model. This could hint that the letterbox-style view out the rear window will remain on the new model.

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From the front, the design looks wider than before – creating a lower appearance, like the current Corolla rather than the narrow look of the previous Prius, although the creases in the bonnet are typical for the hybrid.

Toyota has historically prioritised the reduction of drag on its Prius models to maximise fuel efficiency, possibly – as some would suggest – at the expense of style, but it would appear the Aichi-based maker is seeking to refresh the pioneering hybrid with a more conventional yet exciting look.

It remains to be seen whether the new styling will help the Prius shirk all the labels it has picked up over the generations, but a Prius that doesn't look like it was styled solely by a wind tunnel should be a welcome change.

Will the new Prius come to Australia?

Mike Stevens

Toyota, even more than most brands, is famous in the media for never commenting on future models and launch plans – leaving us, for now at least, to speculate on whether this new model will be offered here.

The 'current' fourth-generation Prius was retired in May, and the company offered no word at the time if it would consider future versions of the Prius.

If Toyota continues to use the Prius brand as a future-focused platform for alternative energies, shifting perhaps to a version of full-electric power somehow different to the BZ4x SUV already in the Toyota line-up – or, perhaps more likely, becoming a hydrogen FCEV-focused range to either accompany or replace the Mirai – it could still have a place in Australia as a flagbearer for the further greening of the Toyota brand.

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Of course, Toyota already offered a plug-in hybrid 'Prime' version of the Prius that never came to Australia – and even now, Lexus remains the only brand in the group with PHEV technology – so Toyota may still choose to focus on its broad new hybrid range rather than spend any more time and marketing on the Prius.

There is some hope, though. In 2021, before the current Prius was retired, Toyota Australia sales boss Sean Hanley told Wheels:

"Yes, we are rationalising the Prius line-up...but have no intention of dropping the [Prius] nameplate.

“There's a lot of history in Prius for us. It was the launch of hybrid [technology], and it has proved to be one of the greatest investments we ever made, in my opinion, moving towards [our] Beyond Zero [range of pure electric vehicles]. Prius started the journey for us.

“Clearly, we're now expanding our range [of hybrid vehicles]...Prius will still play a role, but a different role going forward.”

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The Prius Prime plug-in hybrid EV, not offered in Australia

You'd think that sounds positive, but Hanley was quick to confirm that none of the above represents a commitment to the next generation.

“We haven't really got any commentary around when that may or may not be for the next-generation Prius,” added the company’s product planning and development general manager, Rod Ferguson.

“Just to reinforce that, globally, Prius has a role. It will evolve. It will take on a different mission. But we haven't got any announcements around the timing of the change of model for Prius.”

Right.

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November 11: Is this the new Prius?

The Toyota Prius departed Australia in May this year without a clear replacement, but an image posted to Twitter by the Japanese carmaker suggests a new one mightn’t be far away.

The picture in question (below) shows only a sharp C-shaped LED headlight with script on the body reading “Hybrid Reborn”.

Another odd detail is the red reflector on the front right wheelarch. Side reflectors aren’t required in Japan, but have often taken a form like this in the United States, where ‘side markers’ are mandatory (and Prius is popular).

Toyota has not said the vehicle in question is the new Prius, but hints include another image that shows the new silhouette. To us, the sloping sedan fastback shape looks near identical to the old Prius.

Launched in 1997, the Prius was the first mass-market petrol-electric hybrid to make a real impact. 25 years later, could a new Prius challenge perceptions again?

It may seem like an odd choice in a world transitioning to BEVs, but there is still demand for hybrid vehicles. The new car could also build on the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid.

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Toyota has created a landing page for the new car, underneath it reads “2022.11.16”, suggesting the new vehicle will be revealed next Wednesday in Japan.

Whether this is indeed a new Prius, and if it will come to Australia, remains to be seen.