2025 Toyota Prius Joins Nightshade Club, Starts at $29,485
Perhaps no vehicle in recent years has received as dramatic a glow-up as the Toyota Prius. After four increasingly polarizing generations, the compact hybrid finally matured into a sleek, attractive hatchback with the debut of its fifth generation for the 2023 model year. For 2025, Toyota is accentuating the Prius’ recent restyling by admitting it to the Nightshade club.
Related: 2023 Toyota Prius Review: Newly Sexy, Still Not Perfect
Like other Toyota vehicles to receive the Nightshade treatment, the 2025 Prius Nightshade rides on black wheels (measuring 19 inches on the hybrid) and features black exterior badging and trim. It’s also available in an exclusive exterior color called Karashi. Seeing the deep, bold yellow hue, you might assume “karashi” is Japanese for taxi; you’d be very wrong, but you’d also be looking in the right direction for a literal inspiration — it’s Japanese mustard.
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Shop the 2024 Toyota Prius near you
Powertrain Specs and MPG
Other than the new trim level, the Toyota Prius is unchanged for 2025. A 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a pair of electric motors power the front wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission, with a combined 194 horsepower and 139 pounds-feet of torque. All-wheel drive is available on every trim level and powers the rear wheels with a third electric motor that nudges output up to 196 hp; the overall torque output with the third motor stays put at 139 pounds-feet.
With its smaller wheels (17s, versus the 19s the rest of the lineup rolls on) and lighter curb weight, the entry-level LE trim achieves notably higher fuel efficiency than the Prius XLE, Nightshade and Limited. Toyota says it returns the same EPA-rated figures as the 2024 model, at 57/56/57 mpg city/highway/combined with FWD and 53/54/54 with AWD (official figures for the 2025 model are not yet available). The rest of the Prius family is rated at 52/52/52 mpg with FWD and 49/50/49 with AWD.
Availability and Pricing
The 2025 Toyota Prius will arrive at dealerships soon. Full pricing (including the $1,135 destination fee) is as follows; AWD is an extra $1,400.
- LE: $29,485
- XLE: $32,930
- Nightshade: $33,630
- Limited: $36,500
Safety Features and Trim Levels
Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 is standard on every Prius and includes forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-centering steering, lane departure mitigation, automatic high beams and road-sign recognition. Blind spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert and safe-exit assist are also standard.
Riding on 17-inch wheels and with cloth seats, the entry-level Prius LE is fairly basic, but it does feature LED headlights and taillights, heated side mirrors, and keyless entry and start. Infotainment is handled by six speakers and an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and satellite radio.
Starting with the XLE, the rest of the Prius lineup rides on 19-inch wheels and gets front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers and upgraded LED headlights. In crossing the $30,000 threshold, the XLE adds some desirable interior features, including synthetic leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and wireless phone charging. Other than the black wheels and exterior trim, the Nightshade differs from the XLE only in its black upholstery with gray stitching.
At the top of the Prius lineup, the Limited adds a fixed-glass panoramic roof, power liftgate, 12.3-inch touchscreen and eight-speaker JBL sound system. Digital Key allows Limited buyers to use their smartphone as a vehicle key, and a 360-degree camera system and autonomous parking are optional only on the Limited.
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