Toyota announced that the all-new fifth-generation Prius will be available in Europe in PHEV-only form with 220 hp, offering improved efficiency, and double the electric range of its predecessor. The European premiere of the electrified model is scheduled for December 5, ahead of the first deliveries in spring 2023. In terms of design, the EU-spec Toyota Prius doesn’t appear to be any different than the Japanese version. The fifth-gen is admittedly the most visually appealing in Prius history, with a cleaner and more aerodynamic design. The windscreen is steeply inclined, creating a wedge shape in combination with the fastback tail.

Modern touches like the sculpted line on the profile, the thin LED lighting units, and the absence of “unnecessary forms and lines” create a more appealing form. Toyota designers made the new Prius 46 mm shorter, 22 mm wider, and 50 mm lower than its predecessor with a 50 mm longer wheelbase and 19-inch alloy wheels in higher trims.

 

The black-themed interior has a lower seating position, a steering wheel filled with buttons, a large 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a high-mounted digital instrument cluster that changes colors according to the notifications from the Toyota Safety Sense ADAS suite. The new Prius is based on the second generation GA-C platform of the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), bringing reduced weight, increased rigidity, and a lower center of gravity. Unlike its predecessor which came in both hybrid and plug-in hybrid forms, the new generation is exclusively available as a PHEV. European buyers have access to the most powerful powertrain producing a combined 220 hp which is a significant upgrade compared to its predecessor’s 120 hp. Toyota didn’t announce any performance figures but we suspect they will be greatly improved.

The new PHEV system comprises a 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with 146 hp, a single front-mounted electric motor with 158 hp, and a new 13.6 kWh lithium-ion battery which is installed under the rear seats. The larger battery and the improved efficiency allow the new model to offer more than double the EV range of the outgoing Prius. Optionally, Toyota is offering solar cells on the roof, which further increase the zero-emission capability of the model using power from the sun.

We expect to learn more about the European launch of the Toyota Prius on December 5, alongside more photos and videos of the plug-in hybrid model.