When the first-generation Toyota Prius was introduced nearly 27 years ago, the car wasn’t particularly known for its attractive looks. What it was famous for, however, was its credentials as the world’s first mass-produced hybrid vehicle. So important was this label that Toyota was able to keep people fixated on the car’s eco-friendliness despite having some glaring issues with the design.
Toyota would soon find that there are enough takers for a car that promotes itself as a green vehicle that not only pollutes less but also boasts incredible fuel efficiency figures. For some, the car’s ungainly design also meant their vehicle stood out from the rest of the cars on the road, giving them a strange sense of exclusivity. Despite the arrival of newer Hybrid cars, the Toyota Prius still sells in large numbers in the U.S. and Japan.
Between the first-gen Prius from 1997 and the fifth-generation Prius from 2022, there were three separate generations of Prius cars that persisted with the oddball design. The Prius has been selling quite well for Toyota in the U.S. for several years. However, the numbers for the U.S. market plateaued around 2014 and have been going down ever since.
With the arrival of good-looking EVs and PHEVs in the market, it no longer made sense for Toyota to persist with an odd design for the 2023 Toyota Prius. It would be interesting to see how much of an impact this design revamp has on actual sales figures, though.
