All-New 2026 Toyota Prius PHEV Ultimate Reviews

2026 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Nightshade Edition will be available in 2026. This is a dramatic new addition to the Prius portfolio that combines sleek style with unrivaled quality. The Nightshade Edition takes the classic design of the XSE and adds a variety of eye-catching black embellishments that make the profile even more distinctive.

Every aspect, from the sleek black emblems and door sills to the elegant door handles and bumper trim, has been carefully planned to give the car a unified and forceful look. The Nightshade Edition has 19-inch alloy wheels with a black finish, which makes it look even more powerful. This plug-in hybrid stands out from the others with its bright style.

The Nightshade Edition will be available in Karashi, Wind Chill Pearl, and Midnight Black Metallic, all beautiful colors that will make you look great.

2026 Toyota Prius Reviews

The Prius Plug-in Hybrid Nightshade Edition from Toyota for 2026 is a mix of sleek style and unique details. It builds on the famous XSE design and adds a number of bold black embellishments that make its already bold appearance even better. Every aspect, from the sleek black emblem and door sills to the elegant door handles and bumper trim, has been carefully thought out to give the car a unified and powerful look.

The Nightshade Edition has 19-inch black-finished alloy wheels that make it look even bolder. These wheels give this plug-in hybrid a unique design that sets it apart. You can choose the Nightshade Edition in Karashi, Wind Chill Pearl, or Midnight Black Metallic. It is a beautiful mix of elegance and boldness.

There will be SE, XSE, Nightshade Edition, and XSE Premium grades of the 2026 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid. The SE features a 13.6 kWh lithium-ion battery and the factory says it can go 44 miles (64 km) on electric power alone. The XSE, Nightshade, and XSE Premium trims are said to offer a range of 40 miles (64 km) when driving on electric power alone.

The Prius Plug-in Hybrid has a 2.0-liter engine and an electric motor generator that work together to provide you a smooth ride. The manufacturer says it can get up to 52 MPG combined. The combined hybrid system also has an amazing 220 net horsepower.

This summer, the 2026 Prius Plug-in Hybrid is slated to be available at Toyota dealerships. The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MRRP) for the SE will be $33,775, not including dealer processing and handling fees.

What’s New

For 2026, Toyota is giving the Prius PHEV the Nightshade look. The Nightshade Edition comes in three exterior colors based on the XSE grade: Karashi, Wind Chill Pearl, and Midnight Black Metallic. It also has distinctive 19-inch black wheels and blackout trim for the emblems, door sills, door handles, and bumper inserts.

• The Nightshade Edition of the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid will come out in 2026.
• You can get it in Karashi, Wind Chill Pearl, or Midnight Black Metallic.
• As far as 44 miles, estimated by the Manufacturer, All-Electric Driving Range Rating Up to a Manufacturer-Estimated 52 MPG when driving in hybrid mode
• Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 and the Toyota Multimedia Audio Standard

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2026 Toyota Prius Interior

Drivers will find a high-end and pleasant interior in the Prius Plug-in Hybrid. Some features are a standard digital instrument panel that lets you see the road ahead, comfortable seats made of fabric or SofTex®, depending on the grade, and a Toyota Multimedia Audio system.

All models come with Toyota Traffic Jam Assist* technology, which makes it easier to deal with stressful traffic jams on highways with limited access by controlling the steering, accelerator, and brake pedals from 0 to 25 mph under certain conditions.

The SE model has 17-inch dark gray alloy wheels with wheel covers, a standard 8-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen, and standard fabric front seats with 6-way power adjustment in black and red trim. A Smart Key System in the driver’s door, six USB-C ports, an Electronic Parking Brake, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, and a Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert are all standard features. Optional features include front and rear parking assistance with automatic brakes.

The XSE version has all the amenities of the SE version, plus 19-inch machined alloy wheels. A heated, 8-way adjustable SofTex® power driver seat is standard for comfort and a high-end feel. The seat is black with a red accent around the edges.

This version also has a standard Smart Key system on the front doors and rear liftback, wireless charging, and parking assistance in the front and back with automatic brakes. Options include a fixed glass roof and a high-quality 12.3-inch touchscreen.

The Nightshade Edition has all the fantastic interior amenities of the XSE grade, plus carbon fiber elements on the dashboard that give it a little flair.

The XSE Premium offers all the amenities of the SE and XSE, plus a JBL® Premium Audio system with eight speakers, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, a fixed glass roof, heated and ventilated SofTex®-covered front seats with Driver Memory seat, and a motorized rear liftback.

Some options are a Panoramic View Monitor, a Digital Rearview Mirror, heated rear seats, and Advanced Park. This last option is meant to do the needed steering and braking controls, help the driver find a parking space, and even park the car in parallel or reverse into a perpendicular space using cameras and sensors to see what’s around the vehicle.

The XSE Premium also has the option of an 185W solar roof (only a few are available). This roof may charge the car’s battery while it is parked. While driving, this solar charger also powers other functions. The Multi-Information Display in the Prius Plug-in Hybrid with the solar roof shows information on how much power the car is making.

Tech

The 2026 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid’s SE, XSE, and Nightshade trims all come with an 8-inch Toyota Multimedia Audio Display. The XSE Premium trim comes with a 12.3-inch display as standard. Prius drivers may use many connectivity and convenience options, such as Over-the-Air (OTA) upgrades.

Users can communicate with the system using touch and speech controls that are easy to understand. With Drive Connect* (which comes with a one-year trial), drivers and passengers can use Intelligent Assistant, Cloud Navigation, and Destination Assist. With Intelligent Assistant, you can use voice commands to discover directions and points of Interest (POIs), modify the radio controls, change the cabin temperature, and more. Just say “Hey, Toyota” to turn it on.

Cloud Navigation is a car navigation system that uses the cloud to get the most up-to-date maps, traffic information, and routes. POI search uses Google Points-of-Interest data to ensure that consumers always get the most up-to-date search options. Location Assistance also lets you talk to a live representative 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to help you find your next location.

The Toyota Multimedia Audio System lets you connect two Bluetooth® phones simultaneously and works with standard wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™.

The Prius Plug-in Hybrid has an eight-speaker JBL® Premium Audio system that makes any music sound like a concert on the go. This system is standard on the XSE Premium grade. It has Clari-Fi® technology, which can restore compressed digital music formats and improve sound. The SE, Nightshade, and XSE grades have a six-speaker stereo system.

The Prius Plug-in Hybrid comes with a free 1-month/3GB trial of Wi-Fi Connect*, which lets up to five devices connect to 4G, making it like an AT&T Hotspot. Wi-Fi Connect adds the new Integrated Streaming feature (with a 1-month trial) to the already great audio playback features of HD Radio®, USB data, and a 3-month trial subscription to SiriusXM®. This lets customers connect their separate Apple Music® and Amazon Music® subscriptions to the car and control them from inside the car.

Safety Connect and Service Connect are free for at least five years with every Prius Plug-in Hybrid. The Safety Connect trial includes an SOS button, 24/7 Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification, and a Stolen Vehicle Locator.

During the Service Connect trial, drivers can get Vehicle Health Reports, Maintenance Alerts, and reminders.

If users have an active Remote Connect* trial or subscription (which can last for a year), they can stay in touch with their Prius Plug-in Hybrid through the Toyota mobile app. They can turn on the headlights, lock and unlock the doors, and start the car from a distance.

Owners can also check their vehicles’ status, receive reminders, and set up Guest Driver Alerts. The Digital Key** function is standard on the XSE Premium and optional on the XSE and Nightshade. It lets you lock and unlock doors, start the car from a distance, and perform other functions from your phone.

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Entertainment

An 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system is standard on the SE and XSE models, while a larger 12.3-inch unit is available on the XSE and standard on the top-of-the-line XSE Premium. A JBL audio system is also standard. Every Prius PHEV comes with six USB-C ports, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a 30-day trial subscription.

• Infotainment: 8.0-inch touchscreen (standard); 12.3-inch touchscreen (optional)
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB media port, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto
• Audio System: 6-speaker stereo (standard); 8-speaker JBL stereo (optional)

2026 Toyota Prius Exterior

Some of the standard exterior colors for the 2026 Prius Plug-in Hybrid include Cutting Edge, Guardian Gray, Midnight Black Metallic, and Reservoir Blue. The Nightshade version is the only one that can use Karashi. Premium colors include Wind Chill Pearl and Supersonic Red.

2026 Toyota Prius Engine

All Prius PHEV models include a 160-horsepower, 2.0-liter gasoline engine and two electric motors. One motor drives the drive wheels, while the other controls a planetary gearset to send the gasoline engine’s power to the wheels, similar to how a continuously variable automatic gearbox works.

That’s 220 more horsepower than a regular Mazda 3, Honda Civic Si, or Subaru Impreza. What a great moment to be alive. The Prius PHEV only has front-wheel drive, although Toyota might provide all-wheel drive as an option. If so, a Prius PHEV with an extra electric motor will have an extra electric motor that only powers the car’s rear axle.

• Hybrid Powertrain: 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, combined 220 hp
• Transmission: Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT)
• Drive System: Front wheel drive

Performance

In the C/D test, the Prius PHEV reached 60 mph (96 km/h) in 6.7 seconds, half a second behind the Honda Civic Hybrid. It’s worth noting that the Prius PHEV takes 11.2 seconds to reach 60 mph in electric-only mode.

• C/D 60-mph test: 6.7 seconds

2026 Toyota Prius Battery

The lithium-ion battery pack lets the Prius PHEV drive up to 45 miles on electric power alone. In our test of the XSE variant, we drove 33 miles on the highway before the battery died, and the gasoline engine had to kick in. Our route was 75 mph and fuel-efficient.

According to Toyota, charging the 11 kWh lithium-ion battery pack from a 240-volt outlet usually takes around four hours. Solar panels on the roof can also give the car a little power when parked and charge it through a standard outlet. When you drive the Prius PHEV, the solar panels can power things like the air conditioning system. Sorry, but those panels are only available on the XSE Premium trim, not the lower-end SE and XSE trims.

• C/D Distance Test: 480 miles
• EPA EV range: 39-44 miles

2026 Toyota Prius MPG

The EPA hasn’t released fuel economy figures for the 2026 Prius PHEV, but the 2025 model is expected to achieve 50-53 mpg city, 48-52 mpg highway, and 48-52 mpg combined. Note that the base Prius PHEV SE is the most fuel-efficient trim, as reflected in the EPA estimates.

Real-world C/D fuel economy figures are based on the mid-level XSE trim. MPGe stands for miles per gallon of gas equivalent, an EPA metric that estimates the fuel efficiency of PHEVs and EVs.

• C/D Highway Fuel Consumption Test 75 mph: 46 MPG (hybrid mode), 101 MPGe (EV mode)
• EPA City Rating: 50-53 mpg
• EPA Highway Rating: 48-52 mpg

Security

The Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0. This package includes:

• Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection: The Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS with PD) is designed to help detect vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists and provide an audible/visual warning of a forward collision under certain conditions. If you do not react, the system automatically applies emergency braking.
• Full-Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) is an adaptive cruise control system designed to be adjusted at speeds above 20 mph. It uses vehicle-to-vehicle distance control to help maintain a predetermined distance from the vehicle in front of you.
• Lane Departure Warning with Steering Assist: Lane Departure Warning with Steering Assist (LDA with SA) detects lane markings or road edges at speeds above 30 mph. It is designed to provide an audible/visual warning if an unintentional lane departure is detected. If no corrective action is taken, Steering Assist provides gentle corrective steering to help maintain lane keeping.
• Lane Tracing Assist: Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) is designed to help keep the vehicle centered in the lane. LTA assists the driver in steering control when DRCC is in use.
• Road Sign Assist: Road Sign Assist (RSA) uses the front camera to recognize certain road signs, such as speed limit, stop, and yield signs. RSA provides sign information to the driver via the
• Multi-Information Display.
• Automatic High Beam: Automatic High Beam (AHB) is designed to detect the headlights of oncoming vehicles and the taillights of cars in front. AHB automatically switches between high and low beams as needed.
• Proactive Driving Assistance: Proactive Driving Assistance (PDA) uses the vehicle’s camera and radar, when system operating conditions are met, to provide gentle braking and/or steering to support driving tasks such as controlling the distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front, pedestrians, or cyclists. PDA can also provide gentle braking when cornering.

2026 Toyota Prius Price

The base price for the 2026 Toyota Prius PHEV is $34,970, but it can go up to $41,665 depending on the model and options. We’d go with the XSE because it has features like heated front seats, a motorized rear hatchback, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and keyless entry.

Along with the basic 8.0-inch touchscreen (you can upgrade to a 12.3-inch touchscreen), heated steering wheel, and a lot of safety measures, these are some of the XSE’s extra amenities. Adding a little exclusivity by upgrading to the Nightshade version is easy and cheap.

2026 Toyota Prius Release Date

The 2026 Toyota Prius will arrive at dealerships this summer.

Verdict

Thanks for reading. We’ll be updating more on the 2026 Land Fortune soon, so be sure to bookmark our Toyota SUV Models website for the latest comprehensive information. Have fun driving, and I’ll see you on the next trip!

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