The Toyota Prius has always looked, undoubtedly, like a Prius. Depending on the generation, that fact has been either a good thing or an unfortunate one. Redesigned once again, the 2023 Toyota Prius has the looks and presence to ensure that very few onlookers will have anything negative to say this time around.

The fifth-generation Toyota Prius wears a dramatic design. The prototypical hybrid now sits lower and wider than before, and its heavily swept roofline and handsome rear-quarter bodywork partner to make a beautiful silhouette. Beyond the exterior, however, Toyota has added more than a few critical updates.

First, the new Toyota Prius employs an updated battery that provides 15% more output. Paired with a larger 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, the total system horsepower now measures 194 horsepower. That results in a zero-to-sixty acceleration time of 7.2 seconds when equipped with front-wheel drive (FWD) and a 7-second sprint when equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD). These are huge improvements over the outgoing Prius, which made the same trip in 9.8 seconds with FWD.

Toyota will sell the 2023 Prius in three trim levels: LE, XLE, and Limited. The base LE trim sports 17-inch wheels, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, and six USB-C ports, and it includes blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert as key safety features. Shoppers can also option a Prius LE with parking-assist technology.

The mid-level XLE trim upgrades to 19-inch wheels, and adds a digital rear-view mirror and two extra cupholders for the backseat. Shoppers also enjoy heated front seats, rain-sensing wipers, and a wireless charger. Options for the XLE trim include an upgrade to the Prius’ 12.3-inch touchscreen, a fixed glass roof, and a digital key.

The Limited trim comes standard with the 12.3-inch touchscreen and adds an eight-speaker JBL premium audio system. The glass roof also comes standard, as does a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and the digital key. In terms of options, shoppers can add heated rear seats to the Limited trim level.

Toyota’s infotainment system boasts an intelligent assistant that wakes up with the “Hey Toyota” command. This can be used to activate navigation, control audio settings, and adjust the climate controls. Outside of the intelligent assistant, the Prius also employs standard physical controls. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard. Toyota is offering a one-month trial of its hotspot Wi-Fi tech, after which customers will need to pay for 4G connectivity.

In terms of safety, all 2023 Prius models incorporate Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS). This includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-tracing assist, road-sign recognition, and a new proactive driving assist. The latter uses the camera and radar to help steer, brake, and accelerate the Prius when necessary, conditions are met.

Pricing has yet to be announced for the 2023 Toyota Prius. We expect a slight increase, but it should remain in the general vicinity of the outgoing generation. One thing is for sure, however: drivers won’t mistake this new, sleek Prius for the older models.