The fifth generation of the Toyota Prius has officially arrived in Europe as a hybrid-only car chargeable from the standard wall socket. Its powertrain is based on a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and makes 220 PS (217 hp / 162 kW), a healthy 99-horsepower boost over the previous generation.
Making the new Prius even more attractive is its larger 13.6-kWh battery pack (the old one had 8.8 kWh). The pack resides under the rear sears and offers “up to 50% more range” compared to the old generation, the manufacturer claims. A simple calculation suggests the new range amounts to 94 kilometers (58 miles) or so.
Buyers of the Prius PHEV will be able to grab it with a roof-mounted solar panel. The official announcement fails to mention any specific range improvement or other benefits, though.
On the outside, the car looks familiar yet nicely refreshed. The roof is more slanted and coupe-like, for one thing. Inside, the dashboard is hovering above the front panel like in the bZ4X, and the head unit also rises above the torpedo.