First showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo, the all-new Toyota Prius has finally been launched in India. It is the fourth generation of this sedan, which is based on the Toyota’s TNGA (Toyota New Generation Architecture) platform and is available only in the single Z8 trim. Priced at INR 38.96 lakh (Ex-showroom, Delhi), it sports a complete makeover for the design and gets some updates to the powertrain as well.
Starting with the car itself, the 2017 Toyota Prius gets an aggressive front fascia, sharp corners and a more contemporary rear end, however, the basic silhouette is somehow similar to that of the earlier one. Inside the cabin, the new iteration features leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, a touchscreen infotainment system, a 10-speaker JBL audio system, and heads-up display. For safety, it comes equipped with seven airbags, ABS, stability control and traction control.
Powering this fourth-generation Prius is a 1.8-litre Atkinson's Cycle petrol engine generating 97.8 Bhp along with 142 Nm of torque. The engine also comes with a new electric motor, which draws its power from a Nickel Metal battery, placed below the rear seats. The electric motor is good for 71 hp of power and 121 Nm of torque, while the combined power of this hybrid powertrain stands at 121 hp. Having this mechanism, the car is claimed to return a fuel mileage of 26.27 kmpl, which is almost similar to that of the Maruti Ciaz Hybrid unit leading the segment for years.
Commenting on the launch of the new Toyota Prius, Akitoshi Takemura, senior vice president, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said “ The Prius was the first hybrid model to be launched by Toyota in India and ever since then we have come a long way. The New Prius is an improvement keeping in mind the Prius DNA along with the FIRST ever introduction of TNGA in any Toyota Motor Corporation model. This together is the result obtained in the 4th Generation Prius. This continues to keep the Prius DNA intact which is “Always ahead of its times”. The new Prius is a glimpse of the future expected in Toyota Models.”