The 2022 Toyota Prius has the design presence of an alien life form, with an interior ambiance that never lets you forget that weight is the enemy, as every unnecessary gram of weight has been eliminated. It’s as if the vehicle was engineered of balsa wood and crepe paper. It has always been such, and with good reason.
According to the Toyota Prius’ chief engineer, the car was considered little more than a commodity car by Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda, a car built to a price to minimize CO2 emissions, not maximize thrills. The result was a fairly joyless car to drive, unless you get your kicks from maximizing fuel economy. Certainly, the Prius was no speed demon, requiring 9.8 seconds to reach 60 mph.
But that’s all changed for 2023, as the car’s mission has changed within the Toyota lineup. No longer a unique offering, as most Toyota models offer a hybrid variant, Toyota’s designers created a car that looked sporty as well as aerodynamic, and challenged engineers to create a driving experience that matched the new car’s looks. The result is a vehicle that Toyota management hopes has enough emotional appeal to lure buyers with its design, more powerful driveline and newfound handling finesse.
