Skip to main content

All-wheel drive could help the next Toyota Prius gain traction in snowy regions

Some Subaru thinking may have rubbed off on its former collaborator, Toyota.

The fourth-generation Prius hybrid will be unveiled next year, and a new report suggests it may have an option that’s new to everyone’s favorite hybrid: all-wheel drive.

Powering all four wheels requires more energy, and the hardware adds weight. Neither is good for fuel economy but, in an interview with Automotive News, Toyota senior managing officer for powertrain development Koei Saga said it was a possibility.

Saga didn’t go into detail, but it seems likely that all-wheel drive would be offered as an option, with front-wheel drive still standard for those looking to pursue ultimate mpg.

Adding all-wheel drive could help broaden the Prius’ appeal, especially in snowy regions. That would also fit the theme of the rumors and reports regarding the new Prius that have trickled out so far.

Attracting a wider range of buyers and offering a wider range of options seems to be the goal of the fourth-generation model. Toyota will even offer it with two battery packs, a low-cost nickel-metal hydride unit, or a lithium-ion version.

The trademark Prius styling may also change, gaining some elements that people who aren’t stereotypical Prius buyers will find appealing.

All of this kowtowing is necessary because, after three generations, the Prius is no longer the cutting-edge symbol of sustainability it once was.

Hybrid powertrains are now available in everything from family sedans to supercars, and many of the early adopters that initially flocked to the Prius have likely moved on to plug-in hybrids and electric cars.

Yet the fourth-generation Prius is a very important car for Toyota, and not just because of the image it projects. Its modular platform and hybrid powertrain will be used in numerous future models, so the company can’t afford a flop.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Never mind slowing sales, 57% of drivers will likely have an EV in 10 years

Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) have slowed globally over the past few years. But should EV makers cater more to the mainstream, it’s likely that 57% of drivers will have an EV in 10 years, consulting firm Accenture says.

Last year, nearly 14 million EVs were sold globally, representing a 35% year-on-year increase. But it was much slower than the 55% sales growth recorded in 2022 and the 121% growth in 2021.

Read more
I spent a week with an EV and it completely changed my mind about them
The Cupra Born VZ seen from the front.

After spending a week with an electric car as my main vehicle, opinions I’d formed about them prior to spending so much time with one have changed — and some quite dramatically.

I learned that while I now know I could easily live with one, which I wasn’t sure was the case before, I also found out that I still wouldn’t want to, but for a very different reason than I expected.
Quiet and effortless

Read more
Trade group says EV tax incentive helps U.S. industry compete versus China
ev group support tax incentive 201 seer credit eligibility

The Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), a trade group with members including the likes of Tesla, Waymo, Rivian, and Uber, is coming out in support of tax incentives for both the production and sale of electric vehicles (EVs).

Domestic manufacturers of EVs and their components, such as batteries, have received tax incentives that have driven job opportunities in states like Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, and Georgia, the group says.

Read more