Over 20 years it has pioneered fuel efficient mobility and redefined what a vehicle can be.
Blending hybrid efficiency with style, comfort, and technology the 2017 Prius is a win-win option. Winning was precisely what the Prius did in March, scooping the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) Canadian Green Car of the Year (CGCOTY) award.
It was a double win for Toyota, with the 2017 RAV4 Hybrid taking the Green SUV of the Year award.
What is the Canadian Green Car of the Year award?
To be eligible, cars are first assessed on the criteria for AJAC's Canadian Car of the Year Award. A panel of over 60 automotive journalists tests and scores all entrants. The vehicles are also graded on objective data such as cargo space and brake test numbers.
In the green cars category, vehicles face another round of scoring against specific ‘green’ criteria such as emissions, range, and recharge/refuel time.
As the most efficient Prius yet, Toyota’s entry into the category was always going to stake a strong claim. Yet it is the stylish efficiency and intelligent technology of the 2017 Prius that helped make it a winning proposition, transforming how we think of green cars.
Beyond expectations
The Prius has long been a vehicle defined by innovation and future-shaping firsts. The 2017 iteration is no different.
The 2017 Toyota Prius is one of the first models built using the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA). This integrated vehicle development approach enhances every aspect of vehicle design from driving experience to safety.
The new opportunities afforded by TNGA opened the door to sleeker, standout looks. The design was then perfected through wind-tunnel testing for optimum aerodynamics and fuel efficiency.
The TNGA approach isn’t just about looks and efficiency. The design achieves a more engaged drive making the Prius the hybrid you can feel excited about driving.
The hybrid leader
The 1.8L four cylinder engine, the powerful electric motor, the newly designed power storage batteries and powertrain management systems all add up to one thing: the most efficient Prius yet, delivering fuel efficiency of just 4.5L / 100 km city/highway combined.
In addition to impressive performance, every 2017 Prius offers an array of comfort, convenience, technology and safety features as standard.
These include an ECO drive monitor, six-speaker Display Audio system with Bluetooth® capability, the Smart Key System with Push Button Start, an advanced full-colour gauge cluster, and more.
The Prius also includes Toyota Safety Sense™ P*, the suite of advanced safety features that will be standard on virtually all Toyota models by the fall of 2017. This forms the core of a long list of safety features on the 2017 Prius including, a Pre-collision System, Automatic High Beams, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and Lane Departure Alert, eight airbags, a backup camera and a vehicle proximity notification system.
It all adds up to a package that pushed the boundaries of what a hybrid vehicle can be. The AJAC award is further proof the Prius is not simply leading a category, but redefining it.
Yet to truly experience the expectation-defying essence of the new Prius, you have to experience it for yourself. Build and Price your 2017 Toyota Prius here.
*Drivers should always be responsible for their own safe driving. Please always pay attention to your surroundings and drive safely. Depending on the conditions of roads, vehicles, weather, etc., the TSS systems may not work as intended. Please see toyota.ca, your local Toyota Dealer or Owner’s Manual for details.
