The facelifted 2019 Toyota Prius hybrid brings much improved exterior styling, a new trim-level strategy, and some other minor tweaks. But the biggest news is the availability of all-wheel drive for the first time ever in a Prius in the United States. Toyota calls the new system AWD-e, and the brand says that it will make the Prius one of the most fuel-efficient all-wheel-drive vehicles in the U.S. market.

Like the Japan-market Prius's E-Four setup, the AWD-e system uses an induction motor coupled to the rear axle that is independent from the hybrid powertrain at the front of the car. The rear electric motor will solely power the Prius from a stop to 6 mph and then will automatically be engaged or disengaged as needed at speeds of up to 43 mph. The AWD-e Prius uses a new nickel-metal hydride battery pack that is specifically designed to perform well in cold weather. The AWD-e Prius has the exact same passenger and cargo space as the standard Prius, with the rear motor not intruding into the cargo area. Toyota hasn't provided powertrain specs or performance numbers for the AWD-e Prius; the standard Prius uses a 95-hp 1.8-liter inline-four and a 71-hp front electric motor for a combined output of 121 horses.

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Toyota is estimating that the AWD-e Prius will achieve EPA estimates of 52 mpg city, 48 mpg highway, and 50 mpg combined. That's not far off Toyota's estimates for the higher-spec front-drive Prius trims (54 city, 50 highway, 52 combined) and the economy-oriented L Eco (58 city, 52 highway, 56 combined). The new Toyota RAV4 hybrid uses a similar setup, but its manufacturer estimates are 41 mpg city, 37 highway, and 39 combined. Not even plug-in-hybrid all-wheel-drive vehicles such as the Mini Countryman S and the Volvo XC60 T8 get close to the AWD-e Prius's estimates, and the crossover-shaped Kia Niro hybrid—which has front-wheel drive—only beats the AWD-e's city estimate.

Aside from some exterior badging, the outside of the AWD-e Prius looks the same as the standard models. Toyota massaged the Prius's styling across the board, adding much sleeker LED headlights and taillights, new front and rear bumpers, a different rear hatch, and multiple new color and wheel options. The interior styling remains the same (as funky as ever), aside from some new trim options.

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Toyota has also done away with the Prius's numbered trim levels, instead using "grade labels" that more closely align with other Toyota models: L Eco, LE, XLE, and Limited. The AWD-e system will only be offered on midrange LE and XLE trim levels of the Prius, with the AWD-e XLE getting a heated steering wheel and unique heated cloth front seats. Higher trim levels get features including a head-up display, an 11.6-inch central touchscreen, and adaptive headlights. All Prius models still come with Toyota's Safety Sense-P suite of active-safety features as standard, which includes automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beams.

Pricing for the 2019 Prius has not yet been announced, but in Japan the all-wheel-drive system costs about $1700 extra. Toyota says that the AWD-e Prius models could make up 25 percent of annual Prius sales, but depending on the final price, we can see that number being even higher.

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