Redesigned 2023 Toyota Prius Trades Practicality for Style

Toyota has made a better car but a worse Prius

Keith Barry, Consumer Reports Senior Autos Reporter.

By Keith Barry
Senior Autos Reporter

Updated October 3, 2023

2023 Toyota Prius

Update: Since this first drive was originally published in January, 2023, we finished testing the Toyota Prius (and we’re testing a Prius Prime). Read the complete Toyota Prius road test.

We’ve always had a big, soft spot for the Toyota Prius at Consumer Reports. It’s never been flashy or sporty, and it’s no longer as energy-efficient as most pure EVs. But for the past two decades, generation after generation came with two promises—practical transportation and impressive fuel efficiency—and the car solidly delivered on both.

That laser focus on pragmatism seems to have shifted for 2023. In addition to a new look and optional 19-inch wheels, Toyota gave the Prius a smaller and lighter lithium-ion battery, an upgraded electric motor, and up to 75 more horsepower overall—updates that chip away at criticisms that the Prius is a slow, dowdy punchline. But after our time spent in a well-equipped Limited model we rented from Toyota, we fear that the design-led loss of cabin space and focus on performance takes away from some of the attributes that have made the Prius such a special vehicle.

When we asked Toyota about the changes, representatives told us that styling took priority, and the word “aggressive” got a lot of use when describing the car’s new look. There’s just one problem: There are already enough aggressive-looking gas-powered cars, hybrids, and EVs out there for anyone who wants one. The Prius always went against that grain, and Prius drivers perennially picked their goofy little hatchback because they wanted function before form: a cavernous interior, a small footprint, and crazy-good fuel economy.

We’ll get a better sense of whether enough of the outgoing charms remain when we buy our own 2023 model—in a less-fancy XLE trim—as soon as it goes on sale. We suspect that our fuel-economy and cargo-room tests will tell a lot of the story. Until then, we’ve collected insights from our test team based on a Prius Limited AWD rented from Toyota.

If you’re a Consumer Reports member, our initial expert assessment of the 2023 Toyota Prius is available to you below. We since purchased our own, logged 2,000 initial break-in miles, and put it through more than 50 tests at the CR Auto Test Center, including those that evaluate acceleration, braking, fuel economy, handling, car-seat fit, and controls. CR members have access to the full road-test results.

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What we drove: 2023 Toyota Prius Hybrid AWD Limited
Powertrain: 196-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine; electronic continuously variable transmission (e-CVT); all-wheel drive
MSRP: $35,865
Major options: Limited Premium Package including digital rear-view mirror and heated rear seats ($1,635)
Destination fee: $1,095
Total cost: $38,595

2023 Toyota Prius Limited interior — The interior of the 2023 Toyota Prius is relatively straightforward, with physical buttons complementing the touchscreen.

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Keith Barry

Keith Barry has been an auto reporter at Consumer Reports since 2018. He focuses on safety, technology, and the environmental impact of cars. Previously, he led home and appliance coverage at Reviewed; reported on cars for USA Today, Wired, and Car & Driver; and wrote for other publications as well. Keith earned a master’s degree in public health from Tufts University. Follow him on BlueSky @itskeithbarry.bsky.social.