Five More Things We Learned About the 2016 Toyota Prius
At a media unveiling last night that included full access to three models, Toyota was mum on major details about the 2016 Prius except to say it should achieve 10 percent better gas mileage than its predecessor, which is EPA-rated at 50 mpg combined. The car goes on sale in the first quarter of 2016, and it rides an all-new platform that contributes to a wider, lower and longer exterior.
Related: 2016 Toyota Prius: First Look
But while Toyota officials remained tight-lipped on most details, we were able to learn a few new things:
- The automaker has said almost nothing about the car’s drivetrain, but a spokesman told us that from a “30,000-foot” level it’s a similar gas-electric setup. Beyond that, he said, a lot has changed.
- The 2016 Prius shares very little with its predecessor. Bob Carter, senior vice president of automotive operations at Toyota’s U.S. arm, told reporters that “from [the] platform on up, this car is all-new.”
- Carter wouldn’t say if new Prius c, Prius v or Prius Plug-In variants will follow this redesign, but he noted his affinity for them: “I like having the Prius family,” he said. “Stay tuned.” That doesn’t sound like cancellation plans to us, but we’ll have to wait and see.
- Carter expects “not a major” shift in pricing for the 2016 Prius versus its 2015 predecessor, which starts at $25,035 including destination. “We’re not changing the concept” of the pricing, he told reporters.
- Toyota expects the base Prius to get 10 percent better gas mileage than its predecessor, which would put EPA combined mileage in the mid-50s. A Prius Eco model will push the envelope even further, and a Toyota spokeswoman told us it will debut this fall.
