The Toyota Prius is Japan Car of the Year for 2023-2024

When someone asks or talks about the Toyota Prius, you’d probably think of a basic point A to point B hybrid car. Well it’s now more than just that as it just won as the Japan Car of the Year (JCOTY) for 2023 and 2024.

Much well known as the first mass-produced hybrid electric vehicle, with its first generation coming out back in 1997, which also won the Japan Car of the Year award for that year, it has definitely changed a lot since then. The current generation Toyota Prius, codenamed the XW60, was first revealed in November 2022 with sleek and futuristic styling, going away from the traditional Prius look, as well as new and more powerful hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains under the hood.

As to why it won, here’s what the JCOTY jury had to say:

“The Prius, which has long been a pioneer and a driving force behind hybrid vehicles, has finally broken out of its shell in its fifth generation. Now that hybrid technology has become commonplace, it no longer needs to be its symbol, but rather has made a breakthrough on its own and moved into a new phase.

The top management suggested a plan to promote commoditization, but it was the enthusiasm of the development team that overrode that idea. The aim was not only to be a clean car, but also to be a car that would be loved.

The body, which until now prioritized aerodynamic performance, has been transformed into a stylish monoform. Although the Cd value is slightly inferior to the conventional model, by reducing the front projected area, we have succeeded in keeping the CdA value to the same level as the conventional model.

The vehicle was highly praised for its lower center of gravity and longer wheelbase, which significantly improved dynamic performance. Maneuverability has transformed into the most agile and accurate Prius ever, allowing you to enjoy sports driving.”

As the top choice by the jury, the Toyota Prius won 360 points. That’s more than double the second placer, the BMW X1, which garnered 150 points, followed by the Honda ZR-V, a Civic-based crossover, which gained 100 points, for third place.

Two other models also received special awards. The Mitsubishi Delica Mini won the Design Car of the Year award, while the Nissan Serena e-POWER won the Technology Car of the Year award. The latter we experienced ourselves when we visited Japan with Nissan Philippines for this year’s Japan Mobility Show. You can read about that here.