Toyota Prius - Interior, design & technology

The overall shape of the fifth-generation Toyota Prius is similar to its predecessors, with a flat back end and low roofline used to improve efficiency. The latest car adopts Toyota’s fresh design characteristics that were on display during the reveal of its future lineup in 2021. These include a purposeful front end with sleek headlights that wrap around into the bonnet’s leading edge, sharp lines that give the Prius definition, and wheels that fill out the arches. The overall look is more sporty and, to our eyes, more premium than what’s come before.

With the car’s fresh approach as a retail-driven model, we’d hope to see more on the road specified in more daring colours than the white and blacks you typically see of taxi ranks and Uber fleets. There’s a bold Mustard yellow metallic and a Scarlet Flare red, but the rest of the colour options are rather drab. 

What is the Toyota Prius like inside?

Sitting in the latest Toyota Prius, you’re aware of the compromises made in the name of aerodynamic efficiency. The steep roof profile dictates that the driving position is placed far back from the base of the windscreen, creating a deep dashboard that’s seemingly big enough to land a helicopter on. While all that contributes to the car’s low drag coefficient, it creates blind spots when exiting parking spaces and pulling out of junctions. That seems like an oversight, given the popularity of the Prius in built-up areas.

What is the interior quality like? 

The interior is a big step on from the old Prius PHEV in almost every aspect. The overall quality is much improved, and while some hard plastic is used, everything feels tied down. 

Something that made the old car feel cheap was the gear selector on the dash. The latest Prius comes with the same leather gear lever that you’d find on many Lexus models. All the common touch points feel robust, too.

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Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

The positioning of the seven-inch driver’s display up high on the dash might look a little odd, but it works well in practice. The steering wheel (which is wrapped in especially squidgy leather) is low enough for the screen to be easily readable, although the layout is a little cluttered with too much information in a confined space. 

A 12.3-inch touchscreen on the dash is a real bonus from the previous Prius, where infotainment was a severe let-down. The response times from the latest system are rapid, the resolution is clear, and the menus are easy to navigate – although we’d prefer the virtual buttons to be a little bigger to use while driving. The integrated sat-nav is a breeze to use, but you can utilise your own navigation apps through its wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Despite incorporating a larger screen, Toyota has claimed it has “listened to what customers want” and added a row of physical climate control switches in the middle of the dash. They’re nothing flashy, just simple toggles that work perfectly, as do the buttons on the steering wheel. 

There’s no shortage of USB outlets in the Prius, with six in total – just as well because there’s no wireless smartphone charging pad even on the top-spec Excel. A six-speaker sound system is standard on Design and Excel trims; no sound system upgrade is available.