The Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid has been revised for
the 2019MY, adding some new gear and retaining the rest of the functions
available in its predecessor. The biggest news is the addition of an extra rear seat, raising
capacity from 4 to 5 people on the rear bench. Toyota claims that the bench
offers the same levels of comfort as before.
Also new for the 2019 Prius PHEV is the Galaxy Black
Metallic exterior color and optional 17’’ alloy wheels. Inside, the plug-in hybrid adds
black accents that replace the white trim. New fabric trim is also on offer,
providing “a higher sensory quality feel to the interior”, according to Toyota.
Elsewhere, the Prius PHEV remains unchanged. It
achieves up to 1.3 l/100 km (217.3 mpg UK / 180.9 mpg US) and emits 28 g/km of
CO2. Electric range is up to 45 km in real-life conditions and in
pure battery mode has a top speed of 135 km/h.
Part of the smart technologies used by the Prius
PHEV is the heat pump which, unlike other cars that generate heat from the
engine or electric heaters, brings heated air from outside. It also features a
battery warming system that keeps the cells at an efficient temperature,
ensuring that efficiency and battery power are maintained at a sufficient level
to minimize the impact of cold weather on the zero-emission driving range.
Unique to the segment, the solar panel remains part
of the accessories list, being capable of providing an extra 5 km each day to the total range.
