Toyota launched the first Prius for the US in 2000. Calling it the car for the new millennium, Toyota sought to pull people away from the SUV craze of the '90s and create the first hybrid vehicle produced on a global scale. The Prius' futurism pushed the bounds of modern automotive design and fuel efficiency, though it consequently drew plenty of criticism. As a result, the launch of the second-generation model for 2003 reimagined the automaker's hybrid as a more functionally refined liftback.
The fifth-generation Prius, revealed for 2023, remains mostly unchanged for the current model year. The biggest highlight for the 2025 Prius is the addition of the Nightshade grade. Toyota graciously provided us with a Prius Nightshade example to test for a week. We found the new Prius offered a pleasant driving experience, complemented well by impressive fuel efficiency and edgy looks.
Toyota spices up the looks of the 2025 Prius Nightshade on the outside and includes a good amount of features inside
Looks-wise, it's impossible to ignore the volume of the two-tone Karashi yellow and black-accented paint job on this Prius Nightshade. The deep rake of the windshield creates a sleek silhouette on the outside, and the pocket rear door handles deliver a clean profile. Things soften once you cross the threshold into the all-black interior. Some gray stitching on the black perforated Softex seats and ambient lighting adds a reprieve of color inside.
Interior space felt a bit quaint for my 5'11 frame. I opted to keep the fixed glass roof's sun visor open at all times to give myself a little more headroom. I seemed to struggle to find a seating and steering wheel position that was both comfortable and allowed me to see the dashboard unobstructed.
Tech-wise, the compact hatchback comes packed full of goodies. Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 is standard in the Nightshade grade. There's a 7-inch LCD digital gauge cluster that provides drivers with speedometer readout, drive mode indicators, and other customizable settings. A 12.3-inch multimedia screen sits on the center stack and supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There's a Qi-compatible wireless smartphone charging pocket next to the gear selector. For some reason, it didn't like my iPhone 15 having an OtterBox case on it. As a result, my phone wouldn't charge properly. Once removed, it worked without issue.
One element we thought was noteworthy cool was the accent lighting on the dashboard. Aside from bringing an aesthetic touch to the Prius' interior, it also served as a visual aid for driver's; when traffic begins to move from a stop, the accent lighting pulses to let you know it's time to go.
Under the hood of the Prius Nightshade
Beneath the mustard yellow hood sits Toyota's fifth-generation hybrid system. A 2.0-liter inline-four cylinder engine is paired with two electric motors and a lithium-ion battery. Toyota system output in the 2025 Prius is rated at 194 horsepower. The hybrid system is connected to an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission. All-wheel drive is an option but this example was not equipped with it.
Toyota says the front-drive Prius is good for up to 57 MPG combined. While both electric motors charge the hybrid battery, Toyota states that efficiency is further boosted by an Electronically Controlled Brake system, "which coordinates operation between the regenerative braking force of the electric motors and the hydraulic braking system force to provide optimal stopping power." As a result, the electric motors recover as much electrical energy as possible.
The Prius' EV mode allows the vehicle to operate on electric-only power for short distances depending on battery level and speed. A vehicle proximity notification emits an ethereal hum when running on electric-only power to alert pedestrians of the Prius' presence.
Nimble and peppy with few gripes are words we'd use to describe driving the Prius Nightshade
Hybrids are often knocked for being lackluster. In many cases, they get scolded for being loud, particularly when connected to a CVT. We were impressed to find the latest Toyota hybrid system in the Prius to be rather muted and overall more dynamic than expected. Almost, fun? The 194 horsepower from the engine and electric motors pulls the 3,164-pound Prius with some pep in its step. You may not win in a street race (depending on the opponent), but the quicker the Prius gets to speed, the quicker things quiet down. Getting the best fuel efficiency adds a little competitive element to the Prius' fun factor. In our week with the Prius Nightshade, we yielded an average of 44.7 MPG.
Driving around town, we were impressed with how the Prius handled. It felt sporty in corners, and absorbed bumps and rough streets well; it never felt too stiff or soft under day-to-day conditions. We appreciated the level of sound absorption in the cabin. Though you could hear the gas engine drone some under throttle, it goes near-silent once at highway speeds (70-75 MPH).
While the Prius was overall fun to tool around in, we had a couple of gripes we wanted to mention. First, I struggled to find a seating position that allowed me to sit comfortably and see the digital gauge cluster. I felt I needed to keep the sun shade of the dual-pane fixed glass roof open to accommodate getting properly situated in the driver's seat and for additional headroom.
On another note, I was baffled by the low picture quality of the backup camera. We already mentioned that the wireless charger didn't like my iPhone 15 having an OtterBox on it, and our last annoyance was the location of the volume knob. We love a tactile experience with physical buttons and knobs, but if it's out of convenient reach, that seems to defeat the purpose.
The 2025 Prius Nightshade is a really good daily commuter
We found ourselves fondly reflective of our time with the 2025 Toyota Prius Nightshade. The fifth-generation is the pinnacle of Prius; the new Nightshade grade for 2025 takes the practicality of Prius and adds zest and zhuzh to it. It's no longer just a quirky jellybean; the 2025 Prius is fuel efficient, filled with all the modern convenience and safety features you expect a new car to have, AND it is fuel efficient.
The price tag for our 2025 Prius Nightshade tester rings up at $35,203. There's over $2,100 of optional equipment added to our tester, including 50-state emissions, the 12.3-inch infotainment display, the fixed-glass roof, carpet floor mats and cargo mat, rear bumper applique, mudguards, and an OEM dash cam.
Despite our few quibbles, the 2025 Toyota Prius Nightshade is a really good daily commuter.