A new Toyota Prius has arrived. The hybrid car with which it all started now looks more like a coupe

It's been 25 years since the first production hybrid was put up for sale : the Toyota Prius . The Japanese was ahead of his time and opted for efficiency and electrification before anyone else.

A quarter of a century later, it has been proven that it was a winning bet and the Prius is one of the most popular sedans in the world. Now, it is completely renewed and launches its fifth generation , this time with a more attractive design, but with the same DNA as its first installment.

The plug-in hybrid is here to stay

Anyone who talks about hybrid cars will automatically think of the Toyota Prius . Long before electrified motors became popular around the world, the Prius brought technology to the streets that is currently the order of the day. At first it was difficult to understand its forms and its particularities, but at Toyota they were clear that this was the best path to efficiency.

A quarter of a century later, the Japanese brand must be agreed. The second generation of the Prius was a global success, with almost 1.2 million units sold, and with the third installment it established itself as the absolute benchmark among hybrids, with 1.7 million units sold. In total, more than 5 million Prius have been sold .

The fourth Prius arrived in 2015 to raise the bar for efficiency and take a step forward in terms of interior quality, ride quality and handling. In addition, it became a plug-in hybrid, although its particular design and higher price have meant that it is not as successful as its predecessors, despite the fact that it is difficult to find a car that is equally efficient.

Now, Toyota intends to reverse the situation and make the Prius a bestseller again with its fifth generation . To achieve this, it leaves behind the curious shapes of the previous Prius and leans towards a design that enters much better through the eyes.

The new Prius is more proportioned than the previous model, has cleaner lines and something that has been conspicuous by its absence in previous deliveries: a touch of sportiness .

At first glance, it even gives the impression of being in front of a coupé because the rear door handle has been hidden next to the C-pillar. For its part, the front is inspired by that of the Toyota bZ4X and thanks to the shape of the LED headlights it is very aggressive .

From behind it is reminiscent of the second and third Prius, with a very inclined tailgate that ends in a rear that is practically cut in a straight line, like the characteristic Coda Tronca design of some classic Alfa Romeos, which had a "cut tail" to improve their aerodynamics .

Size-wise, it's slightly shorter than the current Prius, wider, and lower. Hence, it seems more proportionate. Measuring 4.49 meters long , 1.78 meters wide and 1.41 meters high, it is also slightly smaller than the new Honda Civic e:HEV hybrid.

Inside it is also more minimalist than its predecessor and is reminiscent of the Toyota bZ4X. It uses a small digital panel and a large 12.3” central touch screen with the latest Toyota infotainment system, but maintains the dashboard button panel with the physical controls for the climate control.

As for the range of engines, it will use a 223-hp 2.0-liter plug-in hybrid that Toyota says will offer better performance than the current Prius' PHEV system.

The Japanese brand ensures that the Pris will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds with this mechanism, almost as fast as a Volkswagen Golf GTI.

The new Toyota Prius PHEV will carry a 13.6 kWh lithium-ion battery , but the manufacturer has not yet confirmed what the electric range of the car will be or at what power it will be able to charge.

Sí sabemos que también habrá una versión con paneles solares en el coche que podrá recargar energía suficiente para recorrer alrededor de 1.250 km al año.

In addition to the plug-in hybrid Prius, which will be the only one to be marketed in Europe, there will be two hybrid Prius , one with a 1.8-liter thermal engine and the other with a 2.0-liter block. The latter will offer a combined power of 193 hp and may have simple and all-wheel drive. At the beginning of December we will know all the specifications of the new Prius.