Toyota Unveils 2023 Prius, Prius Prime and bZ Concept SUV at Los Angeles Auto Show
The most fuel-efficient Prius ever, a new EV SUV concept, and a Prius Prime with increased electric range headline Los Angeles Auto Show.
The 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show was held at the LA Convention Center. With all of the Toyota Motor Corporation product reveals it may as well have been held in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. Toyota chose the auto show to unveil the bZ compact SUV concept, the 2023 Prius and Prius Prime. These may not be the sexiest vehicles in the Toyota portfolio, but they are among the most important. They are vehicles that will lead the way for Toyota as they pursue a zero emissions future. The Prius has been with us for 22 years now. The Prius Prime for a dozen years and the bZ is just a concept at this point but points to where Toyota is headed. If you get excited about low emissions and high mileage, then you are going to want to pay close attention to what Toyota is rolling out.
Weather you like it or not California has long been a state with tight emission controls. It makes sense for Toyota to roll out their newest and most efficient vehicles there. And Toyota has some history there. The first Prius plug-in concept, which is now known as the Prius Prime, was revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show back in 2009. Let’s take a closer look at what Toyota revealed at the 2022 edition of the show.
bZ Compact SUV Concept
We start with the bZ Compact SUV Concept. “We’ve only just begun to scratch the surface of the Beyond Zero moniker,” said Toyota group vice president and general manager David Christ. “With an aerodynamic design coupled with intuitive tech features never before seen in a Toyota model, the bZ Concept showcases another possible vision of the very near future with our battery electric vehicles.” The bZ concept is a clean sheet design and it shows what could be an expansion under the “Toyota bZ” brand umbrella. Even thought the design is new you certainly see some of the Toyota bZ4X design elements.
Being a concept, the look is futuristic but not outrageously so. The shape is aerodynamic, and the wheels are pushed out at the corners. On the inside the car looks a bit more like a concept with minimalist design and a steering yoke. There is in-car personal agent named “Yui” that connects the driver and passengers with the vehicle. It is also quite eco-friendly in there. The seats are made from plant-based and recycled materials. It is a concept, but we can easily see a version of this making it to production some time in the near future.
2023 Toyota Prius
In 2001 the Prius was a groundbreaking vehicle. It was the world’s first production hybrid car. A concept that is now ubiquitous in the auto industry. The 2023 may not be the moonshot that the first car was, but there are some big changes coming to the newest Prius that future owners are sure to appreciate. One of the main reasons someone buys a Prius is the incredible fuel mileage. And the 2023 Prius will be the most fuel-efficient Prius ever. Toyota estimates that it will achieve an EPA rating of 57 combined mpg. The 2022 model currently carries a 52 combined mpg rating. While fuel consumption is a key feature of the Prius that is not the only update for 2023. Not by a long shot.
A Sporty Prius?
Let’s be clear this is not a Supra. However, even people that care about fuel economy can appreciate a sporty and nimble car. The 2023 Prius is built on the second-generation TNGA-C platform. It has a lower center of gravity, reduced weight, and increased rigidity compared to the previous generation. That gives the new Prius a lower stance and driving position that contributes to a nimbler feeling car. It is also more powerful and quicker. The new fifth generation hybrid powertrain is combined with a larger 2.0L engine. The result is for the front-wheel drive (FWD) models a total of 194 horsepower. This gives it a 0 to 60 time of 7.2 seconds. A massive improvement over the 9.8 second time the old FWD model could manage. The all-wheel drive (AWD) models get a total of 196 horsepower and a 7.0 second 0 to 60 time.
Prius Grades
The 2023 Toyota Prius will be available in three grades: LE, XLE, and Limited. All grades will be offered in six different colors. Wind Chill Pearl, Cutting Edge, Guardian Gray, Black, Supersonic Red, or Reservoir Blue are your choices. The Prius experience starts with the LE grade. Standard features include items such as 17-inch alloy wheels, 8-inch multimedia touchscreen, 6 USB-c ports, SofTex leather steering wheel, Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert. Front and rear parking assist with automatic braking is optional.
Stepping up to the XLE. Moving to the middle grade gets you some nice upgrades. The wheels are now 19-inch alloys. Both front seats are heated, and the driver’s seat is an 8-way power unit. Digital auto dimming rear-view mirror and Home Link is standard. Rain sensing wipers, Smart Key, and Qi wireless charger. Front and rear parking assist with automatic braking is standard on this trim. You can also option up a 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen, a fixed glass roof, and a Digital Key.
The high rollers will want the Limited grade Prius. This adds features such the 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen, a fixed glass roof, and the Digital Key as standard. You also get a JBL premium sound system, heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and a power back door. Options available on this grade are Advance Park, a digital rear view mirror, heated rear seats, and a panoramic view monitor.
Technology and Safety
Enhanced connectivity and convenience features will be available to the 2023 Prius driver including over-the-air updates. The new multimedia system allows for dual Bluetooth phone connectivity and support Apple Car Play and Android Auto. You can also turn your Prius into a Wi-Fi hotspot thanks to the available Wi-Fi Connect 1-month trial that offers 4G connectivity for up to five devices. You can also use this feature to stream Apple Music or Amazon Music.
On the safety front the 2023 Prius will come with the latest Toyota Safety Sense generation, TSS 3.0. This includes a host of safety features such as Lane Departure Alert, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, and Proactive Driving Assist. Proactive Driving Assist is new to the Prius. “When system operating conditions are met, using the vehicle’s camera and radar, this system provides gentle braking into curves or gentle braking and/or steering to help support driving tasks such as distance control between a preceding vehicle, pedestrian, or bicyclist.”
Prius Summary
As you can see there are a lot of big changes on the 2023 Prius. And we didn’t even mention the most obvious which is the exciting new design. The Prius now has a much sportier and flowing exterior design motif. That combined with the host of upgrades should make this the best Prius ever. Pricing and availability will be announced later this year.
2023 Toyota Prius Prime
The new Prius Prime was also revealed at the LA Auto Show. A lot of the features of the Prius Prime mirror what we already covered with the Prius. The technology and safety items are largely the same. So, we are not going to go over all that again here. But we will focus on the key differences and what will make the 2023 Prius Prime standout. Like the Prius the most obvious change is the sportier styling with a more flowing and sporty shape. But the biggest functional change is the increased electric driving range. Let’s get to the details.
EV Performance
The Prius Prime offers a pure EV mode for short distances. And for 2023 those distances are not nearly as short as they used to be. There will be a larger lithium-ion battery that increases the EV range by more than 50 percent over the previous range of 25 miles. So, owners can now expect roughly 40 miles of zero emissions driving. This battery is combined with the new fifth generation hybrid powertrain and a larger 2.0L engine. This new setup results in a massive 100 horsepower increase over the previous model. The 2023 Prius Prime can be considered downright quick. It produces a total of 220 horsepower and a 0 to 60 time of 6.6 seconds. That is a major step forward.
Grading the Prime
The Prius Prime comes in three grades. There is the SE, XSE, and XSE Premium. Standard equipment on the SE Prius Prime is about the same as you get with the LE Prius. The XSE Prius Prime matches the XLE Prius grade and the XSE Premium is equivalent to the Limited grade on the Prius. The features are nearly the same although the XSE Premium does offer an optional solar glass roof which is not available on the regular Prius. Another Prime exclusive is an all-new feature to the Toyota line-up, Traffic Jam Assist. “If the system sensors detect traffic is slowing, and if operating conditions are met, this system will assist by providing acceleration, braking, and hands-free steering control under active supervision of the driver.”
Prius Prime Summary
The 2023 Prius Prime sees major upgrades to the outgoing model. It is more efficient and much more powerful. If you were holding off on purchasing one of these, we think the big changes in store for 2023 could convince you to finally take the leap. Toyota now has a plug-in hybrid that looks good, is much more efficient, and legitimately quick off the line. 2023 is going to be an exciting year.
Images: Toyota
