Toyota has announced the 2026 Prius. The big change? You can now get the plug-in hybrid in the Nightshade model. Based on the XSE trim, the Nightshade adds blackout details like black accents, exterior badging, front door handles, and door sills. It also has black 19-inch alloy wheels as standard equipment. Three exteriors are offered on the Nightshade models: Midnight Black Metallic, Wind Chill Pearl, and Karashi. That last one is also exclusive to the Nightshade. Additionally, the Nightshade includes carbon fiber accents on the dashboard.
The rest of the 2026 Toyota Prius lineup carries over unchanged. Every model comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder paired to two electric motors, a lithium-ion battery, and a planetary gear set. Opting for AWD adds a third electric motor mounted on the rear axle. Power outputs stand at 194 hp for FWD models and 196 hp for AWD models. Meanwhile, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid adds a larger 13.6-kWh traction battery and a more powerful front electric drive motor, resulting in an increased output of 220 hp. However, plug-in hybrid models only come with FWD.
In terms of efficiency, the EPA rates the Prius at 57/56/57 mpg city/highway combined for the front-wheel-drive LE trim. AWD drops those numbers to 53/54/54 mpg. Higher trims are EPA-rated at 52 mpg across the board for FWD models, and 49/50/49 mpg with AWD. Plug-in hybrid models have an EPA-estimated rating of 53/51/52 mpg on the SE trim or 50/47/48 mpg for the rest of the lineup. It can also go 45 miles in all-electric mode in the SE trim, or 40 miles on the XSE, Nightshade, and XSE Premium trim.
Pricing starts at $29,745 for the base LE trim. AWD adds $1,400 to the sticker price. Meanwhile, the plug-in hybrid starts at $34,570 for the SE trim.
Source: Toyota
