Photo: Newspress USA
Toyota Motor USA today pulled the covers of a mid-life refresh for the popular Prius. The changes which will affect the 2019 model year are spearheaded by the AWD-e system, but we were also taken with the cosmetic updates.
To say that the Prius had a polarizing design would be unfair because few people liked it. Most of the hate was directed towards the shape of the headlights and the roof/trunk.
Designers mainly focused on the front end of the 2019 Prius model, giving it a fresh face. New headlights have been installed, free from their lower frills, along with a new bumper that has no fog lights and larger lower intake. It's not going to win any beauty contests, but at least Honda won't be allowed to run away with the trophies.
Around the rear, we see subtle tweaks to the taillights. Rounding up the changes is a new 11.6-inch infotainment screen available on high-grade models. This unit is taken directly from the Prius Prime and tries to follow the lead set by Tesla with a large portrait-style tablet. Unfortunately, the graphics aren't the best, and neither is connectivity, so we'd avoid ticking the box.
You might also notice the roof rack perched on top of the Prius presented at the LA Auto Show. That's because Toyota has supposedly added all-weather capabilities to the car with what they say is the most efficient AWD system sold in North America.
In practice, this draws electricity from a new Ni - MH hybrid battery pack and can send it to the motor placed between the rear wheels. This normally pushes the car along at up to 6 mph. However, it also provides stability on slippery roads at up to 43 mph (70 km/h).
The Prius has by no means turned into a Jeep, but it can provide a little bit of help to those who frequently deal with snow, and Toyota believes 25% of the customers will add AWD-e.
Designers mainly focused on the front end of the 2019 Prius model, giving it a fresh face. New headlights have been installed, free from their lower frills, along with a new bumper that has no fog lights and larger lower intake. It's not going to win any beauty contests, but at least Honda won't be allowed to run away with the trophies.
Around the rear, we see subtle tweaks to the taillights. Rounding up the changes is a new 11.6-inch infotainment screen available on high-grade models. This unit is taken directly from the Prius Prime and tries to follow the lead set by Tesla with a large portrait-style tablet. Unfortunately, the graphics aren't the best, and neither is connectivity, so we'd avoid ticking the box.
You might also notice the roof rack perched on top of the Prius presented at the LA Auto Show. That's because Toyota has supposedly added all-weather capabilities to the car with what they say is the most efficient AWD system sold in North America.
In practice, this draws electricity from a new Ni - MH hybrid battery pack and can send it to the motor placed between the rear wheels. This normally pushes the car along at up to 6 mph. However, it also provides stability on slippery roads at up to 43 mph (70 km/h).
The Prius has by no means turned into a Jeep, but it can provide a little bit of help to those who frequently deal with snow, and Toyota believes 25% of the customers will add AWD-e.
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