Toyota’s Hybrid Liftback Went Through a Glow-Up
When the fifth-generation Toyota Prius landed in early 2023, it changed the game for the not-so-good-looking liftback. The 60-series Prius came in lower, wider, and with a lot more road presence. For a car that was once known more for its green message than its design, that shift made a real difference.
The upgrades went beyond the exterior, as Toyota simplified the layout, used better materials, and made the cabin feel like a proper modern compact car. That opened the Prius up to buyers who never would have given it a second look before.
Three years later, it’s about time for a refresh in Toyota years. Reports from Japan now point to the Prius getting a mild update soon, with Toyota looking to keep the momentum going instead of letting things go stale.
Toyota
Refresh Reportedly Coming Out This Year
According to Creative Trend, Toyota dealers in Japan are set to stop taking orders for the current Prius by February 2026. The same report points to some updates coming in the summer of 2026, but it’s best not to expect anything too dramatic.
There’s no sign of a full redesign or any big changes to the Prius formula. Major updates inside or out aren’t on the cards this time. Instead, expect the usual Toyota nip-and-tuck approach: small styling tweaks, some new features, and maybe a few tech or efficiency upgrades.
Back to Becoming a Key Toyota Model
The Prius isn’t the laughing stock it used to be, but it’s back to becoming a key model for Toyota. The sales numbers back that up. In 2022, the last year before the new generation, Toyota sold only 36,919 units in the US. By 2025, that number jumped to 56,488, a clear rebound that lines up with the launch of the fifth-generation model.
That comeback shows the Prius is an important nameplate now more than ever as Toyota’s gateway hybrid and a key part of its image, even as more electrified models join the lineup. With the 2026 model year set in America, the updated Prius will likely show up as a 2027 model, giving Toyota a clear handoff between versions.
