Mark Glover’s AutoGlo
car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’
News,
"Oregon, Nevada and
California's classic auto news & marketplace."
Sacramento, California -- The
transformation of the Toyota Prius from boxy runabout to head-turning sports
car wowed me so much that I frankly overlooked the advancements inside the car during an initial test.
So I spent more time
concentrating on the interior perks during a recent week in the 2026 Toyota
Prius Nightshade Plug-In Hybrid.
I was only partly
successful. I mean those smooth lines
and sporty sculpting do so much to turn your attention away ...
Where was I? Oh yeah, inside the machine.
My tester weighed in at
$41,304 on the sticker, an entirely fair price given the plug-in hybrid
technology and all the perks. And the
perks were plentiful.
I liked the 7-inch
digital gauge cluster, the instantly responsive cross-traffic alert, the
front/rear parking assist and the carbon fiber detail on the dashboard. This being a Nightshade model, black badges,
black trim and 19-inch alloy wheels with a black finish contributed an edgy
look to the package -- edgy in a good way.
Options included a glass
roof feature.
What more could a
save-the-planet devotee with a love of sports cars want?
How about a 114 miles
per gallon equivalent in combined city/highway driving, a rating based on
combined electricity and gasoline usage?
The number is still impressive with gasoline only: 48 miles per gallon.
And yes, you can get
your sporty on with combined net horsepower of 220. My tester scooted sharply
off the line and was a responsive, agile dancer in dicey freeway traffic.
For a motor vehicle
that was a long-ago pioneer in hybrid technology, this current Prius plug-in
still ranks as state of the art in the segment. With good looks and plentiful
customer-pleasing features thrown in.
