2026 Toyota Prius PHEV Review: Faster, Heavier, Worse?

The 2026 Toyota Prius Plug In Hybrid Nightshade has 220 horsepower, but it’s missing the one thing that made the AWD model magical. Here’s why physics wins every time.

The 2026 Toyota Prius Plug In Hybrid (Prime) Nightshade Edition makes 220 combined horsepower. That's objectively more than the standard AWD hybrid. However, by deleting the rear electric motor to accommodate the 13.6 kWh battery pack, Toyota has traded the Prius’s newfound handling poise for simple straight-line speed.

In this review, we diagnose the power paradox of this latest Prius. We investigate why 220 horses fighting for traction through two front tires leads to classic torque steer and frustrating understeer, and why the slower 196 hp AWD model is actually the better driver's car.

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