Check out the new 5-seater Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid

KUALA LUMPUR: Toyota has updated the Prius plug-in hybrid; the car is now offered with a seating capacity of five, up from the previous four-seater layout. Besides, the all-new Prius plug-in hybrid gets an optional 17-inch dual-tone five-spoke wheel, new metallic black paint, along with new material for the cabin, and new upholstery color tones.

Apart from that, the Toyota Prius PHEV remains completely unchanged. Like before, the car is powered by the regular 1.8-litre Atkinson-cycle VVT-i mill that churns out a maximum power of 98 PS at 5,200 rpm along with a peak torque of 142 Nm at 3,600 rpm. There are two electric motors as well, one of them develops 72 PS and 163 Nm, while the other one offers 31 PS and 40 Nm.

Now, together the 1.8-litre petrol engine and the 8.8 kWh lithium-ion battery produces a total system output of 122 PS. On the performance front, it can touch the 100 kmph mark in 11.1 seconds and showcases a top-speed of 162 kmph. The Prius plug-in hybrid displays an all-electric driving range of 68.2 kmph. As for the fuel economy figure, even with the battery depleted rests at 37.2 kmpl.

Using a 200-volt outlet, the battery can be fully charged in 2 hours 30 minutes; however, with a 100-volt socket, it only takes 14 hours. The electric range of the car can be increased by as much as 6.1 km, when the car is parked in the sun for a whole day, thanks to the solar panel on the roof. The solar panel also charges the AUX panel, which further reduces fuel consumption.

The new Prius PHEV now features an external electric power supply that can provide household electricity in case of emergencies.