Toyota updates Prius range

TOYOTA has given its fourth-generation Prius small car a mid-life refresh with updates to exterior styling, additional equipment and some minor price rises for the two-variant line-up.

First released in 2016, the Prius has undergone some visual changes, including the addition of new front and rear bumpers that add an extra 35mm in length, giving it a more streamlined appearance on the road.

A slightly revised lower air intake forms part of the new front bumper, while the Prius’ slimline LED headlights have been restyled for a sleeker look.

At the rear, the Prius scores new LED tail-lights designed to more closely mirror the front beams while giving the car a wider appearance from behind.

New wheel designs have been added, including 15-inch 10-spoke alloys for the base Prius and 17-inch five-spoke hoops with titanium-look paint for the top-spec i-Tech.

Two new exterior paint finishes will be offered – Feverish Red and Blue Dream.

Interior styling is mostly the same, save for a slightly redesigned centre console with two cupholders, and a new black cloth upholstery for the base Prius.

The largest change to the inside is the inclusion of Toyota’s latest-generation infotainment system, projected onto a 7.0-inch touchscreen and supported by a 10-speaker JBL audio system.

New functions are available on the updated system including digital radio, USB and auxiliary ports, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite navigation with live traffic, improved voice recognition and Toyota Link compatibility.

It also includes Siri eyes-free mode for iPhones and a smartphone mirroring system called Miracast.

The updates have led to an incremental price increase of $150 for both versions, with the Prius now starting from $36,590 plus on-roads and the i-Tech $7460 upstream at $44,050.

No changes have been made to the Prius’ series-hybrid powertrain, which teams a 1.8-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine to a pair of electric motors for a combined output of 90kW/163Nm, driving the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Official fuel consumption of the thrifty Prius is pegged at 3.4 litres per 100km.

An all-wheel-drive version was revealed when the updated car was detailed at last year’s LA auto show, however, Australian buyers will only be given the front-drive option.

Standard safety kit including active cruise control, a pre-collision system, lane departure alert, seven airbags and a reversing camera carry over.

Toyota recorded 235 sales of the Prius in 2018, down 14.2 per cent year-on-year, while through the first two months of the year, it has shifted 27 units, down 50 per cent on the 54 it managed to the same point last year.

2019 Toyota Prius pricing*

*Excludes on-road costs