Generation history
The Toyota Prius has been through 5 generations, starting in 1997, 2003, 2009, 2015 and 2022. The gaps were 6, 6, 6, 7 years, an average of 6.3. The pace has been steady. The current generation began in 2022. On that cadence the next full redesign points to 2027 through 2029, centered on 2028. This is a projection. It comes from the model's own past redesign years, not from the manufacturer. A mid-cycle refresh usually lands in between. Public records describe the current generation this way: The fifth-generation Prius was presented on 16 November 2022, with two powertrain options announced for the Japanese market. Specifications, trims and the NHTSA safety record are on the Toyota Prius model page.
Every generation
| Generation | Code | Years | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | XW10 | 1997–2003 | In 1995, Toyota debuted a hybrid concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show, with testing following a year later. |
| Second generation | XW20 | 2003–2009 | Presented at the April 2003 New York International Auto Show, for the 2004 US model year, the NHW20 Prius was a complete redesign. |
| Third generation | XW30 | 2009–2015 | Toyota debuted the new Prius (2010 US model year) at the January 2009 North American International Auto Show, and sales began in Japan on 18 May 2009. |
| Fourth generation | XW50 | 2015–2022 | The fourth-generation Prius was first shown during September 2015 in Las Vegas, and was released for retail customers in Japan on 9 December 2015. |
| Fifth generation | XW60 | 2022–present | The fifth-generation Prius was presented on 16 November 2022, with two powertrain options announced for the Japanese market. |
The Toyota Prius spent 6.3 years per generation on average. The current one is 4 years old. Treat 2027 to 2029 as a range, not a date.
Source: Toyota Prius (Wikipedia). The estimate is our arithmetic on those start years.
Open the Toyota Prius model page for specifications, trims, safety record and answers.
In more detail
In 1995, Toyota debuted a hybrid concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show, with testing following a year later. The first Prius, model NHW10, went on sale on 10 December 1997. The first-generation Prius (NHW10) was available only in Japan. The first-generation Prius, at its launch, became the world's first mass-produced petrol-electric hybrid car.
Presented at the April 2003 New York International Auto Show, for the 2004 US model year, the NHW20 Prius was a complete redesign. It became a compact liftback, sized between the Corolla and the Camry, with redistributed mechanical and interior space significantly increasing rear-seat legroom and luggage room. The second-generation Prius is more environmentally friendly than the previous model (according to the EPA), and is 6 inches (150 mm) longer than the previous version. Its more aerodynamic Kammback body balances length and wind resistance, resulting in a drag coefficient of Cd=0.26.
Toyota debuted the new Prius (2010 US model year) at the January 2009 North American International Auto Show, and sales began in Japan on 18 May 2009. Toyota cut the price of the Prius from ¥2.331 million to ¥2.05 million to better compete with the Honda Insight, leading some to wonder whether increased sales of the Prius might come at the expense of sales of other vehicles with higher margins. Competition from lower priced hybrids, such as the Honda Insight, also made it difficult for Toyota to capitalize on the Prius's success.
The fourth-generation Prius was first shown during September 2015 in Las Vegas, and was released for retail customers in Japan on 9 December 2015. The launch in the North American market occurred in January 2016, and February in Europe and the Middle East. In August 2013, Toyota Managing Officer Satoshi Ogiso, who was chief engineer for the Prius line, announced some of the improvements and key features of the next generation Prius.
The fifth-generation Prius was presented on 16 November 2022, with two powertrain options announced for the Japanese market. This generation of Prius is available in 1.8-litre (2ZR-FXE) and 2.0-litre (M20A-FXS) variants, which can produce up to 103 kW (138 hp; 140 PS) and 144 or 146 kW (193 or 196 hp; 196 or 199 PS), respectively. This model is also available with E-Four all-wheel drive system. The second, a plug-in hybrid, combines a 2.0-litre M20A-FXS engine, an electric motor and lithium-ion batteries to produce a combined output of 164 kW (220 hp; 223 PS).
Generation notes adapted from Toyota Prius (Wikipedia).
Today's Toyota Prius
NHTSA rated the 2025 Toyota Prius overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 5 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.
Owners filed 16 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Toyota Prius, most often about electrical system (6), unknown or other (3), forward collision avoidance (3).