2023 Toyota Prius vs 2022 Toyota Camry

The 2022 Toyota Camry, particularly in its TRD variant, made a surprising visual impact with its striking Cavalry Blue paint, a new addition exclusive to this model. This bold colour, combined with the aerodynamic body kit and sporty design elements like matte-black 19-inch wheels and red accents, gave the Camry TRD a distinctive presence. Despite its aggressive styling, the interior maintained a unique yet less polarizing design, featuring an unusual dashboard layout and driver-oriented centre console. However, some elements, such as the red gauge illumination and red seatbelts, were considered less appealing.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Prius underwent a complete transformation, finally offering a design that matched its efficient reputation with a more appealing aesthetic. The new Prius featured a sleek exterior with a blend of curves and edges, giving it a futuristic look. The car's longer, lower, and wider stance, along with 19-inch alloy wheels, contributed to its athletic appearance. Inside, the Prius prioritized function over form, with a straightforward cabin design and high-quality materials. The fixed glass roof on the Limited trim added a sense of openness, despite the slightly reduced headroom due to the sloping roofline.

The 2022 Toyota Camry TRD was equipped with a robust 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 301 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, provided a spirited driving experience. The Camry TRD's track-tuned dynamics, including stiffer suspension and enhanced braking, contributed to its solid and planted feel on the road. Despite its sporty nature, the Camry TRD managed a respectable fuel consumption of 9.5 L/100 km in combined driving, slightly above the expected 9.4 L/100 km.

The 2023 Toyota Prius, on the other hand, featured a new 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine combined with a more powerful electric motor and lithium-ion battery, producing 196 total horsepower in the all-wheel-drive models. This marked a significant improvement over the previous model's 121 horsepower. The Prius offered impressive fuel economy, with ratings of 4.8 L/100 km in city driving and 4.7 L/100 km on the highway. The new powertrain provided a more athletic and responsive driving experience, with improved acceleration and handling, making it a comfortable and engaging daily driver.

The 2022 Toyota Camry TRD offered a sporty driving position with fabric seat inserts and power height adjustment for both front seats. While the back seat accommodated two adults comfortably, the TRD model lacked rear-seat air vents and a folding rear seatback, limiting cargo flexibility. The trunk space was 428 litres, smaller than some competitors, but the Camry compensated with generous in-cabin storage options.

The 2023 Toyota Prius, despite its larger exterior, had a slightly smaller interior in some dimensions. Headroom was reduced due to the sloping roofline, but legroom increased, providing comfort for taller passengers. The cabin featured SofTex leatherette upholstery, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel as standard. The Limited trim included a fixed glass roof, enhancing the sense of space. Cargo space was 575 litres, with additional underfloor storage cubbies, though the rear visibility was somewhat compromised by the design changes.

The 2022 Toyota Camry came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The TRD variant featured a 9-inch display with a JBL premium audio system, though it lacked dynamic connected navigation. The system's physical buttons and knobs were appreciated for their simplicity and ease of use.

The 2023 Toyota Prius offered an 8-inch touchscreen on the XLE models, with a larger 12.3-inch screen on the Limited trim. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with cloud-based navigation available through a subscription. The Prius also featured a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, six USB-C ports, and an 8-speaker JBL audio system on the Limited trim. The connectivity bundles provided additional features like remote access and safety services.

The 2022 Toyota Camry was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, offering adaptive cruise control, lane-centring assistance, and a blind-spot monitoring system. The Camry received top safety ratings from both the IIHS and NHTSA, ensuring peace of mind for drivers.

The 2023 Toyota Prius featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, and lane-tracing assist. The Proactive Driving Assist system impressed with its minimal intrusion. The Prius also offered stability control, traction control, and blind-spot monitoring. It earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, though NHTSA ratings were not yet available.