1997 Prius
Japan · original Prius family overview · 1.5-litre Toyota Hybrid System
Toyota · model family
5 versions documentedPrius, through the years.
One name, many different cars. Choose a generation, then a documented year and version.
Toyota introduced Prius in Japan during calendar 1997, expanded the first generation to the United States for model year 2001, and launched the second-generation liftback in Japan during 2003. Each profile keeps its own market, calendar/model-year basis, body, hybrid-system version and grade.
This is a growing history. A generation listed here does not mean every year or trim is documented. Each profile identifies its engine, transmission and market; available driving models are labeled separately.
Time-travel garage
How far can Prius travel?
Choose two researched versions. Joyride compares only the documented year, generation and version on their own pages.
7 years apart1997 First generation · NHW10 / NHW11 to 2004 Second generation · NHW20
This activity uses documented Joyride profiles only. Missing years and trims stay missing rather than being filled with invented versions.
First generation · NHW10 / NHW11
1997–2003The original Prius was a compact sedan. Japan received NHW10 first; the revised NHW11 made the first generation a wider-market car.
Explore year coverage · 2 of 7 years · 4 versions
5 years remain to research in this span. A linked year has at least one reviewed version, not every body, trim, engine, transmission or market.
19973 versions1998To research1999To research2000To research20011 version2002To research2003To research
1997 Prius
Japan · NHW10 · original Toyota Hybrid System · five-seat sedan
1997 Prius
Japan · HK-NHW10-AEEEB standard launch grade; not the later Navi Package
2001 Prius
United States · NHW11 sedan · model year 2001 · electronically controlled CVT
Second generation · NHW20
2003–2009The second generation changed Prius into the familiar five-door liftback shape and introduced Toyota Hybrid System II.
Explore year coverage · 1 of 7 years · 1 version
6 years remain to research in this span. A linked year has at least one reviewed version, not every body, trim, engine, transmission or market.
2003To research20041 version2005To research2006To research2007To research2008To research2009To research
2004 Prius
Japan · NHW20 Prius G · calendar-year 2004 · five-door liftback
Third generation · XW30
2009–2015The third generation enlarged the petrol engine and broadened Prius into a larger global family.
Explore year coverage · 0 of 7 years · 0 versions
7 years remain to research in this span. A linked year has at least one reviewed version, not every body, trim, engine, transmission or market.
2009To research2010To research2011To research2012To research2013To research2014To research2015To research
Year and version profiles are still to be documented.
Fourth generation · XW50
2015–2022The fourth generation moved Prius to Toyota’s newer modular platform and continued with front- and all-wheel-drive variants depending on market.
Explore year coverage · 0 of 8 years · 0 versions
8 years remain to research in this span. A linked year has at least one reviewed version, not every body, trim, engine, transmission or market.
2015To research2016To research2017To research2018To research2019To research2020To research2021To research2022To research
Year and version profiles are still to be documented.
Fifth generation · XW60
Unveiled 2022 · 2023 model year onwardThe fifth generation adopted a lower, sportier body while keeping the hybrid hatchback idea.
Explore year coverage · 0 of 5 years · 0 versions
5 years remain to research in this span. A linked year has at least one reviewed version, not every body, trim, engine, transmission or market.
2022To research2023To research2024To research2025To research2026To research
Year and version profiles are still to be documented.
Explore another model family
Generation chronology: Toyota USA · celebrating 25 years and five Prius generations · Toyota · 1997 Japanese Prius launch · Toyota · second-generation Prius Japanese launch. Individual vehicle specifications have their own sources on each profile.