Meet the US Spec, All-new, 5th Gen, 2023 Toyota Prius Hybrid

Hi All:

At least she is driving on all electric.

I completed a 500-mile loop last night for the first odometer study.

2023 Toyota Prius LE Odometer Offset

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First though is that unlike the Prototype XLE's and Limited's w/ their 19s I was driving in Del Mar a few months back which showed 60 mph indicated at 60 mph actual, the LE and its 17s shows a 1 to 1.5 mph under report at 50 (50 mph actual = 51 to 52 mph indicated) and a 2 mph underreport at 70 mph (70 mph actual = 72 mph indicated) just like the 4th gens.

Regarding the odometer offset, that is not bad at all with 512.1 miles actually traveled (Garmin) vs 510.6 miles indicated (Prius) for a positive odometer offset of just .3%. As the 17s wear, this will come in line and even go negative at the wear bars, so it looks to be really really close. Good job Toyota.

I still have just under 1/4 of a tank and will complete its first top off sometime later today or tomorrow so I can find the aFCD offset. That will be the beginning of the real tell as to whether it was cooked, or we will be pleasantly surprised.

A few more impressions of the 23 LE vs my 21 Prime LE.

The 23's seats are definitely flatter, wider, slightly longer, and a bit more comfortable.

The 23's steering assist creates a much lighter feel than the 21.

The Garmin and its Trip Meter displays are a mandatory addition given the inability to see the Drivers Display Trip Odometer. The DTE can be seen by slanting my head to the right and seeing it around the side of the wheel. Toyota messed up the lower quarter of driver display sightline big time.

The 23s Auto High Beam works like most other Toyota's now. Turn on the lights, hit the AHB button, and it works. Flick the stalk forward to force high beams on. My 21 Prime has you turn on the lights, hit the AHB button, and flick it forward to get into AHB mode. You pull back on the stalk to flash high beams manually and it is a pull back and let go which puts you back into Auto. I like the new way better. Both Prius' AHB stay engaged through a reboot, so you only need to do this once.

Rolling over speed bumps at 1 to 2 mph in the 23 is a lot less harsh. The slightly larger diameter wheels and tires help but it goes way beyond that. Hit a speed bump at 3 to 4 mph in the 21 Prime and you think you may have knocked out alignment! The 23 is much, much softer over those.

The 23 LE is noisier than my 21 Prime. Probably due to the loss of the Acoustic glass in the front side windows.

The 23's Audio has been tuned a little better. Highs are a little clearer and there is a bit more punch on the low end. Of course, this could be because it is brand new and my 21 has 188k and thousands of hours on its audio system.

The LKA in the 23 is a dream. It drives the car down the Interstate easier without nearly the inputs as the 21s.

The RCC is even softer on the accel and there is no abrupt acceleration of 1 to 2 mph with its initiation like the 21.

At around the 5-hour mark while in the middle of nowhere KY, I received a Disconnect message on the infotainment display and lost Android Auto. I first rebooted the 23's Audio system and that only held for about a minute before losing connectivity again. I rebooted my phone and it reconnected just fine for the rest of the trip. I will be watching this, but I suspect it was my phone, not the 23 Prius given how it cured itself once I rebooted the phone.

HVAC control - No upfront only control anymore and it is hard to tell if the A/C is on or not in Auto. I have to push the A/C on and off to verify it is off from the switch controls.

Wayne

 

Hi Edwin:

RCC since the 4th Gen Prius has been a must have edition to any vehicle now. It is not a take over and control, it is more of a guide system. If you take your hands off the wheel for over 2 to 3 seconds, the EPS does not feel your own micro-corrections, light torque of your hands resting in their position(s) on the wheel and will disable LKA while displaying a warning in the display to get your hands back on the wheel.

The new 5th gen Prius with the updated and feature rich TSS 3.0 has got this particular system dialed extremely well for the 9+ hours I was behind the wheel last night.

Wayne

 

Hi Chris:

I have not driven our Hyundai Sonata Hybrid with RCC for a while now but have never had that happen. Yet.

Wayne

 

Hi Trollbait:

Great overview and the systems do indeed reduce fatigue on longer drives in my years of longer drives while using them. Hyundai/Kia's and the VW/Audi/Porsche systems were at or near the best in the business until Toyota's TSS 2.0 and 2.5 arrived which set what I thought was best in class due to the light accels and decels. Toyota's TSS 3.0 has surpassed all with its very gentle and very predictable actions from both Lane Keep/Lane Trace and the RCC action.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

2023 Toyota Prius LE Accessorizing Continues


Almost ready for action. ​

The Garmin Drive 53 is mounted and powered via 2.6 Ah Anker power core with the antenna equipped cable black Gorilla taped into a channel ahead of the front door interior edge. And it is a must have for seeing trip meters - if you care, while driving down the road and not lifting your head over the wheel all the time. The GoPro Hero9 Black is also mounted with its power cabling ran underneath the top edge of the headliner and powered via another 2.6 Ah Anker power core held within the visor organizer which is barely visible. My Galaxy S22 + is mounted in one of my standard cup holder mounts and powered with a red braided USB-C to USB-C cable to the USB-C power outlet. I do not need to use the USB-C data port since I have wireless Android Auto.

Now, where in the hell do I mount the ScanGauge III so its cabling is hidden? I may mount that ahead of the lower console tray so as to keep things tidy but if it blocks access to the tray, I may mount it ... Hmmm.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

Putting these pics together suck as it took over 2-hours but at least it is finally complete.

2023 Toyota Prius LE Cargo Dimensions


Cargo height = 26.5 in -- Length with seats down = 62 in


Depth with seats up = 31 in and Max width = 36 in​

The next dimension is the one that really hurts however... I measured the width of my 2021 Toyota Prius Prime opening and it came in at 42.5". The 2023 Toyota Prius LE's opening width is just over 34" by comparison.

2023 Toyota Prius LE vs 2021 Prius Prime Opening Width Comparison


34.5 in width vs 42.5 in width​

Wayne

 

Hi Trollbait:

Here is a pic of the 23 Prius' RCC and LTA sensitivity adjustment display.

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Wayne

 

Hi All:

The 2023 Toyota Prius LE is topped off, the OEM Trip A/B are reset, and the Garmin's Trip A/B are reset for the aFCD calibration drive.

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On a slow volume Sam's Club pump, the auto shut off arrived ~ 0.9 gallons before the full top off. It took about 20-minutes in total and the angle of the fuel port is steeper than the 4th gens making spillage less likely. That is a good thing.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

I had a P195/60R17 Bridgestone Ecopia EP 422 Plus mounted on a full sized 17" alloy as a full-size spare. With an unrepairable flat on a Toyo Extensa A/S, I had a mismatch upfront. So, I purchased another Bridgestone Ecopia so the fronts match.

2023 Toyota Prius - Bridgestone Ecopia EP 422 Plus vs Toyota Extensa A/S


Bridgestone Ecopia EP 422 Plus/Toyo Extensa AS: 671.5/510.6 miles indicated -- 681.8/512.1 miles actual​

The first item noticed was the speedometer offset. The Toyo's had an ~ 1.5 to 2 mph shortfall at 70 mph. The Bridgestone has an ~ 1 mph shortfall at 70 mph. Which in turn indicates a different odometer offset.

As shown, the 17" Bridgestone Ecopia odometer offset is a negative 1.5% vs the 17" Toyo Extensa at a very minor negative 0.3%.

More importantly, there is an efficiency difference. Although I had not completed a Speed vs FE with the Toyo's, it sure "feels" as if there is a 1 to 2 mpg improvement with the Bridgestone's upfront vs the Toyo's. The difference is so much that I ordered a second pair of 17" Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus' for the rear as well. The higher overall effective ratio with the slightly taller tires probably helps too.

The second item of note and I was highly critical of the 19s and even 17s, was the price. The Ecopia 17s can be picked up for a more reasonable $167 vs the Toyo 19s at $243. If you purchase 4 Bridgestone Ecopia's, you receive $150 rebate through Costco or $110 through Discount Tire - neither show the 17" sizes available online yet but you can order them through Discount Tire, which helps bring the price down even further. The 4th gen Prius' P195/65/R15 Ecopia EP 422 Plus' are the same price as the 17s at Discount Tire currently.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

My first public drone vid. A transformation of some sort to the 23 Prius LE?

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Wayne

 

Hi All:

A before and after 2023 Toyota Prius LE proof sheet...

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My daughter-in-law helped create and install the rear glass and sideview mirror additions.

Wayne

 

Hi Chris:

Yup, an honest to goodness full sized spare. It does not fit anywhere pretty but you remember why we carry them for the just in case.

Yeah, Guinness is MIA for this first "practice" run but will be onboard for a second scheduled for sometime in early September.

I am now wondering if you can support this as a witness since I am on my own... Is there a gas station near you that I can complete the final refuel at that would have an attendant willing to sign off on the witness statement form and the witness log book? You could be the second and it would be finished. I am leaving on this first attempt but non-adjudicated drive tomorrow afternoon and should be in NY in a week.

Wayne