No pricing data available at this time. Our Opinion - 2025 Toyota Prius Review The Prius used to be the punchline of jokes about people who hug trees and failed studies, but it has grown into a swan-shaped car that is surprisingly fun to drive. It is still the leader in fuel efficiency, as shown by its excellent EPA estimated fuel economy scores. The attractive 2023 Prius has either a 194-hp front-wheel-drive or 196-hp all-wheel-drive engine, which both make acceleration quick instead of slow. What are the scores for gas mileage? The most gas they can get together is 57 mpg. We also look at the Toyota Prius PHEV, which used to be called the Prius Prime and has a bit more power. It can go 40 to 45 miles on electricity alone. There are a lot of nice features, and the Prius’s interior is more traditional now that some of the more odd features from the previous generation model have been taken out, like the gauge cluster in the middle. In conclusion, there aren’t many concessions that need to be made when buying a Prius today. What's New? The Nightshade Edition has 19-inch wheels painted black, badges on the outside, front door handles, door sills, an antenna, and gray-stitched leather. The color is Midnight Black Metallic or Wind Chill Pearl (white), and it has splash lights that shine the Prius logo on the ground. The Prius doesn’t change in any other way for 2025. Pros and Cons Pros The best efficiency in its class. Dynamics for driving that are satisfying. Design that looks good. Cons Less room for freight than the last one. Noise in the cabin. The strange way the gauge cluster is lined up. Engine, Transmission, and Performance The Prius’s 2.0-liter inline-four gasoline engine is based on the hybrid crossover Corolla. It is paired with an automatic transmission that changes gears constantly and has two electric motors. These cars come basic with 194 horsepower and front-wheel drive. A permanent-magnet electric motor is added to the rear axle of all-wheel-drive Priuses by Toyota to boost the engine output to 196 horsepower. This means that the Prius can now get around problems and have fun. The bigger front and rear brakes on the new Prius make it stop faster than the old one—171 feet instead of 194 feet in an earlier test. Safety The Prius comes with driver-assistance technology as normal, but many of its competitors only offer it as an add-on or on higher-end models. The following are important safety features: Most automatic emergency brakes can tell who is on the road. Automatic highlights come as standard. Normal lane-keeping assistance and lane departure warning. Internal and External Cargo Capacity The fifth-generation Prius’s cabin was safe, with a more standard dashboard that took on a new, dare we say, sexy shape. The Prius is the first car to have a set of gauges in front of the steering wheel, facing the driver. To get to it, you have to lower the wheel just a bit to see the readings clearly. The sleek outer design lowers the roofline by two inches, which makes the back seat less roomy for people’s heads. Fuel Economy and Actual MPG The EPA says that the base Prius LE with front-wheel drive will get 57 mpg in the city and 56 mpg on the highway. With all-wheel drive, those numbers drop to 53 mpg in the city and 54 mpg on the highway. The XLE and Limited models may not work as well because their tires and wheels are bigger and heavier. For front-wheel drive models, the EPA says these cars get 52 mpg in the city and 50 mpg on the highway. All-wheel drive models get 49 mpg in the city and 50 mpg on the highway. At 75 mph on the highway, our test showed that the front-drive Prius Limited got 49 mpg. Infotainment and Connectivity Toyota uses a huge 12.3-inch tablet on the Limited (or as an option for the XLE), but the LE and XLE models already have an 8.0-inch infotainment screen. The “Hey Toyota” speech command works with this system, and the infotainment system can be updated over the air through the cloud. All types come with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Wi-Fi that can be used. Range, Charging, and Battery Life Based on our tests of a front-drive Limited model, the new Prius can reach 60 mph in 7.1 seconds, compared to 10.5 seconds for the old version. That’s faster than the Elantra and Camry hybrids. Price and How to Choose The LE is a great choice for people who want to save money and gas because the base models come with 17-inch wheels, blind-spot tracking, rear cross-traffic alert, and a fair price. It also uses less gas, which is an added benefit. We do understand, though, if you want to move up in the lineup. Each trim level offers great value and more useful options for your money. The XLE was our choice because it had nice 19-inch wheels and lots of nice features, like a wireless phone charger, fake leather seats and steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, heated front seats and steering wheel, and more.
