2016 Toyota Prius: Expect a larger, more efficient car on a major new platform

This modular platform is going to be used in various formats under about half of all future Toyota cars

The fourth-generation Prius, the darling of the hybrid set, is a major development for Toyota. The most significant aspect is not the Mirai-influenced styling nor the gains in efficiency, it is the new platform. The Prius is the first Toyota to be launched using the Toyota New Global Architecture platform – TNGA.

This modular platform is going to be used in various formats under about half of all future Toyota cars, so it really does matter if it works or not. TNGA should speed up development and lower costs across the board, plus it should bring gains in body rigidity of between 30% and 65%. In the case of the Prius the claim is that rigidity is up more than 60%.

There is certainly more sophistication in the chassis. There is a revised McPherson layout at the front and new double wishbone units at the rear. The wheelbase remains the same, at 2700mm, but length has increased by 60mm to 4540mm.

The power sources are less dramatically different. There is an uprated 1.8-litre petrol engine giving 97bhp, combined with an electric motor giving 71bhp. The nickel-metal hybride battery pack is more compact and quicker to charge. This has allowed auxiliary batteries to be put in the engine bay and the hybrid batteries to go below the rear seats. That in turn has given more space to the boot, which is up from 445 to 502 litres.

There aren’t any definitive numbers for fuel consumption or emissions, but Toyota are claiming the biggest improvements between any generation of Prius. They’re claiming improvements in efficiency of 18%, which would potentially mean CO2 emissions of just 73g/km and overall fuel economy of 85mpg.

Over all this is new styling which has clearly been influenced by that of the Mirai fuel-cell vehicle. The front end is more dramatic and complex and the rear has the crease above the back wheels and integrated spoiler reminiscent of the Mirai’s lines. Blacking out the C-pillar gives the impression of a roof that is floating.

The fourth-generation Prius will be on sale in the UK in early 2016. Despite all the changes, the prices are expected to start around £22,000, roughly in line with the current model.