Struggling to get around Madrid? For €290/month, Toyota offers you its new Prius hybrid

A refreshed look, greater capacity and improved perceived quality, a high level of standard equipment and more versions, including the equipped with the new AWD-i all-wheel-drive electric system —which Toyota is adding to its range for the first time with this launch— and an attractive Pay per Drive financing of €290 per month are the main new features of the new Prius.

From €29,990, Toyota dealerships in Spain are already selling the refreshed 2019 Prius, which for the first time in its range will offer a version with four-wheel drive to provide greater capability on all kinds of terrain and in all conditions.

Significantly changed exterior design

The Prius’s exterior design features a refreshed look, with a cleaner design achieved through sharper, more striking lines. Its front end has changed almost completely thanks to the adoption of the new LED headlights and a new bumper. The same applies to the rear, where the new bumper and new rear lights give it a clearly distinct appearance. In profile, in addition to the new side tension lines, the 2019 Prius also debuts a new collection of two-tone alloy wheels in dark grey. The exterior styling updates to the range are completed with two new body colour options: Indigo blue and Emotion red.

Beneath the refreshed exterior of the Prius, Toyota has incorporated in this new edition of the model the new GA-C platform, derived from the New Global Architecture developed by the brand —Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA)—, thanks to which the new Prius offers dynamic performance and ride comfort never before seen in this model. This is also helped by the lower centre of gravity achieved on this model as well as the notably greater body rigidity achieved in production.

AWD-i total control system, for the first time on Toyota vehicles

On top of all this, there is the option of the new All Wheel Drive-Intelligence (AWD-i) electric all-wheel-drive system, developed by the Japanese brand’s engineers and specially adapted to the Prius Hybrid to ensure better response on any surface. The high torque provided by the additional 5.3 kW electric motor mounted on the rear axle provides greater traction when needed.

The system makes the car’s pull-away more efficient, operating fully automatically at speeds of up to 10 km/h and providing greater traction in conditions of difficult wheel grip (snow, wet or slippery surfaces) while the car travels at speeds between 10 and 70 km/h. To ensure better response, Toyota fits the new Prius Hybrid AWD-i with a new nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery, which delivers excellent performance especially in cold climates, while the front-wheel-drive versions use a new and updated lithium-ion battery. Fuel consumption and emissions figures barely differ between the two versions.

The introduction of this new electric motor has hardly changed the vehicle’s structure thanks to the compactness and lightness of its design, to the point that boot capacity is barely reduced as a result.

Greater cabin comfort and advanced technology

Inside the car, the brand’s engineers have focused above all on equipping the cabin with improvements that its occupants will clearly notice. Thus, the considerable increase in perceived quality of the finishes is complemented by the redesign of certain elements that make driving more pleasant and comfortable.

The centre console has been redesigned, and some changes have been made to the layout of certain controls on the instrument cluster. The upholstery is new, and the wireless charging tray for mobile devices is now larger. The touchscreen of the Touch 2 & Go Toyota multimedia system now offers gesture control to switch screens or reduce content, just like any latest-generation smartphone, and the head-up display system adds “turn by turn” navigation indications to its features.

In its equipment, the new Toyota Prius comes, in addition to the latest evolution of the effective Toyota Safety Sense protection system, with an advanced parking assist system (SIPA), a premium JBL audio system, an intelligent climate control, a navigation system, among many other features. This equipment can be supplemented with the extensive range of genuine accessories developed by Toyota Custom for this model, with options including roof crossbars, chrome side mouldings, a boot protector, illuminated door sill trims, or the Toyota proTec body and upholstery protection, which extends the life of the original paintwork and upholstery by providing greater protection to their finish.

Price for the new Toyota Prius in Spain

As we mentioned at the beginning, the brand’s official dealer network in Spain is already selling both versions of the new Prius, both the four-wheel-drive and the front-wheel-drive. The former is sold from €32,690 and the latter from €29,990, in both cases with the €2,560 promotional discount already deducted by the brand.

Furthermore, thanks to the brand’s Pay per Drive programme, you can enjoy driving this model from €290 per month, a pay-per-use financing scheme that brings all the advantages of the leasing world to private customers purchasing their car. As a hybrid vehicle, the Prius falls within the ECO vehicle category, which can travel almost free of any restrictions through restricted-access residential areas such as Madrid Central, while also enjoying attractive savings by being exempt from registration tax and from paying parking fees, depending on the city.