As the automotive industry continues to evolve, many automakers are beginning to introduce all-wheel drive in some of their sedans and hatchbacks. At least, that’s the case for Toyota, which recently announced AWD availability for the 2019 Toyota Prius. Continue reading to learn more about this innovative capability and how it can improve driving confidence in less-than-ideal conditions.
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How does the Prius AWD-e system work?
The 2019 Toyota Prius comes with available AWD-e, which provides added traction and driving confidence in adverse conditions. It’s an automatic and on-demand system that uses an independent electric, magnet-less rear motor to provide power to the rear wheels between 0 and 6 mph and even up to 43 mph, when necessary. This allows the Prius to still offer exceptional fuel economy, even when equipped with all-wheel drive. Toyota estimates Prius models equipped with AWD-e should be able to achieve a combined 50 mpg.
Other notable performance specs of the 2019 Prius
In addition to the new AWD-e system, the Prius also comes equipped with the Hybrid Synergy Drive system that has proven to be so successful on previous Prius models. The system mates a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine with two motor/generators through an electronically controlled CVT. The fourth-gen Prius model was engineered with the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) in mind, featuring a new high-strength body structure, lower center of gravity, and multi-link rear suspension.
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We can expect the 2019 Toyota Prius to be available during early 2019, which means we don’t have to wait too much longer to get behind the wheel and experience the new AWD-e system for ourselves. If you’d like to learn more about the new Prius or reserve yours today, feel free to get in touch with our team at Toyota Vacaville.
