Many fans of the Toyota brand and Prius enthusiasts alike had become convinced that the Toyota Prius would simply be a carryover for the 2019 model year, however all of that changed when the brand introduced the 2019 Toyota Prius in Moline IL at the 2018 LA Auto Show back in November. While a majority of the things found inside and out of the Prius would be carried over from the previous model year, Toyota introduced some refreshed exterior styling for the entire lineup of Prius models alongside a brand-new electric all-wheel drive system.
This new system, known as AWD-e, would make the Toyota Prius one of, if not the most fuel-efficient AWD-equipped vehicle in the United States, with a projected combined fuel economy rating of 50 miles per gallon. As of the writing of this page, the EPA has yet to release official mileage estimates, but Toyota projects 52 mpg city, 48 mpg highway.
Of course, not every Toyota Prius model will be equipped with the AWD-e drive system. The trim levels have been re-strategized for the new model year as well, with AWD-e being a new trim level of its own. The LE, XLE and Limited trim levels will return with projected fuel efficiency of 54 mpg city, 50 mpg highway for a 52 mpg combined rating, while the L Eco will represent the most efficient option at 58 mpg city, 53 mpg highway and 56 mpg combined.
While fuel economy might be the most important aspect of a hybrid sedan like the Toyota Prius, there is still plenty more to get excited about in this compact hybrid sedan. For instance, that refreshed exterior design, the fact that you can open up 65.5 cubic feet of cargo space by folding the rear seatbacks flat, and the standardization of Toyota Safety Sense P across all grades. If you’re interested in a 2019 Toyota Prius of your own, be sure to get in touch with the sales desk at your earliest convenience.