The Toyota Prius is one of the original hybrids, and survived decades of ridicule to become a desirable small car. Rivals include the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Hyundai Elantra.
2027 Toyota Prius Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2027 Toyota Prius
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2027 Toyota Prius
The current generation of the Toyota Prius dates back to the 2023 model year. This sleek-looking subcompact car is one of the most affordable hybrids on sale, as well as one of the most efficient. For 2027 there’s just one update—a new exterior color called Inked. The Prius Plug-In Hybrid is a distinct model that we review separately.
Design
The Toyota Prius looks more like a ‘90s sport compact hatchback than any other current car, which is to say it’s come a long way since its origins as a dowdy sedan. The Prius doesn’t blend in, then, but it’s distinctive in a good way. It comes standard with 17-inch wheels, and 19-inch wheels are optional. The Nightshade trim features exclusive 19-inch black-finished wheels and blacked-out exterior trim.
Powertrain
The Toyota Prius features a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, an electric motor, a continuously variable transmission (CVT), and front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). It’s rated for 194 horsepower with FWD and 196 hp with AWD. The Prius isn’t especially quick, but it has a low center of gravity and stays planted even during spirited driving. FWD models are rated as high as 57 mpg combined and AWD models up to 54 mpg combined, though the exact figure varies by trim level.
Interior
The Toyota Prius accommodates five, although it’s not exactly spacious in the back. In that sense, it really does feel like a throwback to ‘80s and ‘90s hatchbacks. Cloth upholstery comes standard, though all but the base trim get heated front seats and synthetic leather upholstery. The Nightshade model gets blacked-out trim and black upholstery with gray stitching, and the top Limited adds ventilated front seats. The Prius can take on 23.8 cubic feet of cargo behind the second row of the LE trim, though higher trim levels have a slightly smaller cargo capacity.
Technology
The Prius comes standard with a 7-inch digital instrument display, an 8-inch touchscreen display, a six-speaker stereo, and wireless integration for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A 12.3-inch touchscreen and an eight-speaker JBL stereo are available. The system is generally intuitive and easy to use, and has convenient physical controls for audio and climate control functions.
