New Toyota Prius turns heads with its sporty styling

This review first appeared in the June 2023 edition of the Cruisin' News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

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Sacramento, California -- Upon seeing the all-new-for-2023 Toyota Prius Limited pull up to my driveway, I exclaimed, "That's a Prius?!"

It was a sentence I would hear repeatedly over the next few days: from neighbors, total strangers, food delivery workers and more.

The comparatively vanilla-looking Prius of years past is now wrapped in sleek, sporty skin that looks ready to take on most of the sports car brands rolling on our roadways.

What a rush!  But wait, there's more.

The power plant package backs up the look. The hybrid system -- anchored by a 2-liter, four-cylinder engine -- dishes up a net horsepower rating of 194.  And wow, it feels good!

Strong off the line, enthusiastic on the fly and nimble as a purpose-built sportster, I had more fun in this Prius than any of the previous versions I've tested.

Toyota wisely figured out that saving the planet can still be a visual and horsepower-laden treat.  The general stereotype I've heard for years is that Prius hybrid drivers tend to drive their fuel-sipping cars like they stole them.

No need to feel guilty about that now.

The sporty 2023 Prius all but begs to be hustled.  But the fuel ratings on the FWD tester -- 52 miles per gallon in both city and highway driving -- make the experience guilt-free.

The styling move took some guts.  After all, Toyota was making a major change to a 22-year model that the automaker proudly bills as the world's first production hybrid car.

Happily, Toyota designers and engineers did as well on the inside of the new Prius as they did the exterior.

I found the sedan's interior surprisingly roomy with an attractive, thoughtful layout of controls and digital displays.

The tester was generously equipped with standard features, including a power liftback, a fixed glass roof, an eight-speaker JBL audio system and heated/ventilated front seats.

Even with a $1,085 Limited Premium Package of options, the bottom line on the tester's sticker came to a reasonable $37,494, a fair price given the technology and perks on board.

For those who have long praised the fuel-saving powers of the Prius but wanted more flash for the eyeballs, your time has arrived.  Just be prepared to assure friends, family and strangers that this sporty-looking new model really is a Prius.