2023 Toyota Prius

Price as tested: $34,494

2.0 Liter 4 Cylinder w/electric hybrid assist

196 combined HP / 250 combined TQ

MPG as observed: 56 (!)

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Guy who did stuff: Yousef Alvi

The folks over at Toyota had gone done it. They gone done it real good!

Now, please excuse my country speak but it was the best way to describe my feelings toward this brand new 2023 Toyota Prius.

So what did Toyota do to the Prius for it misfire all of my synapses?

They made me and people like me…sincerely and without hesitation…like it

For 26 years, the Prius was the butt of many o’jokes thrown over from the Enthusiast realm. It was the personification of everything we tend to dread and loathe rolled into one package.

• Lackluster and dreary performance? Check.

• Looks only a mother could love? Check.

• Disconnected and vague suspension and steering? Check and Check!

• Smug, oblivious and left lane hogging 42 mph drivers? Huge Check.

Did those prior generations actually deserve our mutual hatred? In all honesty…no they did not. They were spectacularly engineered vehicles made for the masses and the masses loved them. Nevermind the aforementioned check marks above, the Prius was the ‘everyman’ vehicle.

So coming into this review, I was still a bit jaded over the Prius nameplate. Here was an extremely well engineered vehicle for the masses but at the same time a vehicle that caused an allergic reaction within my gasoline fueled heart.

BUT

The first time my eyes set upon at the svelte sheetmetal of the 2023 Prius, I exclaimed:

This thing looks stunning! From every angle. Front, side, rear, roof and underneath…there is not a bad line or square inch to this new 2023 Toyota Prius!

A freakin’ Prius.

It’s not all external beauty though, the interior is bright, airy, spacious, eerily quiet and comfortable! There is plenty of room for 4 full size adults, plenty of cargo space and it’s screwed together so tight that it will make a a Marine’s bed look tousled.

Oh and other surprising thing: it has one of the forward looking visibility for sale today. Seriously, the front view is nothing short of panoramic and this is going to be sacrilege to say…it’s view reminds me of the glorious forward visibility of the first generation NSX! The side view is also graced with large windows and thin pillars and the rear view is unencumbered by the hatch. Sharp right hand turns are a breeze with a quarter window that placed precisely where an apex/curb is placed on the road…allowing you to drive confidently around anything. It’s shockingly how well you can see out of this thing.

So how does it actually drive? It’s very, very good.

The powertrain makes a buttery 196 HP and 250 TQ, which helps push the 2023 Prius to 60 in 7.1 seconds. That may not sound like a lot but let me remind you that is faster than the Honda Civic, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and a slew of other small to midsize sedans (with base engines). Oh and let me remind you that the last generation Prius did the jaunt to 60 in 11 seconds! So, needless to say., 7.1 seconds is huge upgrade.

That aforementioned drivetrain itself, is mechanical perfection. Toyota’s synergy drive is in it’s 26th year of production and those years were spent with constant development and tinkering. This latest generation seamlessly pairs the electric motor to the ICE engine in holy vehicular matrimony. Nary a shudder, jiggle or lurch when toggling between electrons and gas, nor any hesitation when putting your foot down. It’s just goes!

I know I keep using the word ‘surprising’ but damnit…this new Prius is so shockingly good that nearly everything is surprising! Now one of the most surprising aspect to the new Prius is the handling. Yes, this Prius is borderline fun to toss into a corner! No, it’s not as tossable as a Civic nor does it have the steering feel of a Mazda3 but the grip the chassis delivers is shocking. The only thing that is really holding it back is the Eco tires, slap on a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S and I dare you not to smile behind the wheel.

So what do I think of the 2023 Toyota Prius? It’s so good at everything…it gives one pause to say the following question: