Five Things You Need to Know About The 2019 Toyota Prius

There are some exterior designs tweaks

The front and rear end of the Prius has received some minor upgrades with a new design to both bumpers. The bi-beam LEDs and a revised lower intake are new, and according to Toyota, “accentuate the sharper, sleeker aesthetic”. The 15-inch alloys have also received an upgrade with a refreshed design on the 10-spoke cover.

How do I feel about the look? I don’t mind the front all that much. It’s a bit futuristic looking, but it grew on me. It’s that rear end that I just can’t get used to. But in all honesty, no one’s buying a Prius for how it looks. It’s what lies beneath that counts. Speaking of which…

The platform is unchanged

The platform may remain the same, but keep in mind that it’s not old either. The Prius was the first Toyota to make use of the Toyota New Generation Architecture (TNGA) platform series. The engine on duty here is a 1.8-litre Atikinson cycle petrol engine with two motor generators.

The vehicle can switch between using the petrol unit or the electric motors, depending on the driving conditions. I found this system to be great for inner-city driving. With the stop/start traffic conditions on my commute, I used very little fuel in total – I am a huge fan of this, naturally. Toyota claims a combined fuel consumption of 3.7-litres/100km and I’m happy to report I got close on most occasions. The combined power output on this car is 100kW and I do love the immediate availability of torque on hybridised cars.

There are a few interior upgrades

In today’s day and age, charging our phones while on-the-go is a much sought-after luxury. This refreshed Prius makes it easier thanks to wireless charging. Yes, I tested it and it worked on my Nokia Android device.

The redesigned centre consoles makes room for two cup holders and seat heating switches - this became my favourite button to press while we had this car on test because “brrrr!”. The Cape Town winter has been tough! Also new on the inside is the piano black interior. It was white before. So, there’s that.

It’s packed with standard features

I never once felt like there was a missing feature in this vehicle. Climate control, cruise control, a reverse camera, heads up display, rain sensing wipers, a fully equipped audio system (Bluetooth and USB connectivity), and a touch screen all come as standard.

Safety features include seven airbags, ABS with EBD, brake assist, traction control and more. No shortage of tech here then.

It’s a status symbol

Let’s be honest here, people who buy a Prius are trying to show people that they are green and that they care about the environment. It’s about status and showing their peers that they are environmentally friendly. There is, however, a great debate about whether or not buying a Prius in, in fact environmentally friendly at all. Sure, you use less fuel and emit fewer emissions. But there are those who say that building this vehicle and getting it to our tip of Africa offsets the good you could be doing by choosing a hybrid over a conventionally powered vehicle. Plus, there’s an argument to be made about the fuel savings that happens when you buy vehicles powered by turbo- and supercharged 1.0- or 1.2-litre units.

I’m not saying don’t buy a Prius. I’m just trying to say that you need to do your research to see what works for you. Unless you want people to see your environmental contribution (or lack thereof in this case) - in which case, go for it. You probably had your mind made up about this already.

Toyota Prius 1.8 Hybrid Specs: