2016 Toyota Prius

By: Alex Forrest

Toyota has launched the first all-new Prius since 2009 and the big news is it’s actually a little bit sporty. More on that soon though…. 

As you’d expect, the Prius’s environmental credentials are even better than the car it replaces. Fuel consumption is down to 3.4L/100km in the ADR test, a notable step down from the previous Prius’s 3.9L/100km.

Exhaust emissions are also lower, down to 80g/km grams of CO2 per km from 89g/km.

Purifying the driving experience by boiling it down to its basics is a defining talent of the world’s best sports cars.

Unusually, power from the new Prius’s drivetrain is lower than in the car it superseded, but the new car is also lighter (by 30kg) and its centre of gravity is lower by 24mm.

This was enabled, in part, by changes made to the nickel-metal hydride battery, which, as well as being lighter and smaller, has also been repositioned from under the boot to under the rear seat.

Now, while you could argue the word Prius has become a byword for hybrid car, you’d be going against the odds to convince a jury it also meant sporty.

Now, while you could argue the word Prius has become a byword for hybrid car, you’d be going against the odds to convince a jury it also meant sporty.

It’s no Toyota 86, but this fourth generation Prius is markedly more responsive and has noticeably improved dynamics compared with its predecessor.

Contributing to these changes are the revisions to the front suspension geometry, damping and springs, which have resulted in noticeable improvements to the Prius’s ride and handling.

The Prius’s electric power steering has also been revised and although it feels quicker, there still isn’t much actual road feel there. Generally though, this is a more refined and sharper handling car than its predecessor.

Its safety features are excellent, with autonomous braking, active cruise control and lane departure warning systems now standard on both variants. However, the current Prius hadn’t been rated by ANCAP at the time of writing.

In contrast to the Prius’s strikingly styled exterior, the interior is relatively low key though still very technology-oriented. There’s even an induction charging pad for your phone.

The Prius’s headline act has always been its fuel saving tech and the statement that makes.

It’s just that now, driving this Toyota technology roadshow is much more interesting than it used to be.

The Toyota Prius had not been rated by ANCAP at the time of writing.