2026 Toyota Prius Nightshade

• The 2026 Toyota Prius Nightshade adds attitude to a familiar face, with blacked-out details and bold wheels.

• Still a hybrid at heart, but now it actually turns heads, especially in Reservoir Blue.

• Toyota gives the eco-icon some streetwear energy without touching its mpg credibility.

A Familiar Shape, Sharpened by Contrast

You don’t expect the Prius to sneak up on you. But the 2026 Toyota Prius Nightshade kind of does. It shows up dressed like it’s headed to a warehouse art show, not a Whole Foods parking lot. And that’s the point.

Toyota’s Nightshade Edition is back, this time layered over the dramatically redesigned fifth-gen Prius. The shape is already sleeker than anything Prius-shaped before it—low-slung, clean, almost coupe-like. The Nightshade finish dials that drama up a notch.

Blacked-Out Details, Subtle but Strong

Available on the standard hybrid SE trim (not the Prime), the Nightshade edition brings a full set of gloss black details—mirror caps, door handles, emblems, and 19-inch wheels. There’s even a blacked-out shark fin antenna and front grille trim. The visual weight balances well with the Prius’s narrow glass and crisp surfacing.

Paint options include Midnight Black, Ice Cap, and a new shade called Reservoir Blue—a color that shifts from subtle to showy depending on the light. That’s the one to get, hands down.

Interior Keeps It Minimal, with a Twist

Inside, Toyota resists the urge to go full blackout. Instead, the cabin sticks with practical fabric-trimmed seats, dark interior panels, and bronze contrast stitching—a stylish but restrained combo. The usual 8-inch touchscreen handles infotainment, and yes, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included. As is Toyota Safety Sense 3.0.

No Extra Power, But More Presence

There are no performance upgrades under the skin—just the familiar hybrid system that powers the Prius SE. That means 194 hp (145 kW) for front-wheel drive models and 196 hp (146 kW) if you go AWD. Still capable of delivering 50+ mpg, with zero range anxiety and classic Toyota reliability.

The 19-inch wheels do make the car feel more planted on the road—even if it’s just visual—and the lower stance already baked into this generation gives it more street cred than previous versions could ever manage.

Where It Stands Among Competitors

Compared to rivals like the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid or Honda Civic Hybrid, the Prius Nightshade brings the most visual attitude to the table. This isn’t a full performance variant—but it is the most extroverted Prius you can buy without touching the drivetrain.

Final Thoughts

The 2026 Toyota Prius Nightshade doesn’t make the car faster or more advanced—but it does make it look like something you'd want to be seen in. And for a car that spent most of its life defined by anonymity, that’s a surprisingly refreshing move.

Technical Specification:

• Performance

  • Hybrid output: 220 hp (164 kW) net combined from the 2.0 L engine plus electric motors

  • 0–100 km/h acceleration: approx 6.6–7.2 s (plug-in)

  • Fuel efficiency: up to 52 MPG combined in hybrid mode

• Body Measurements

  • No specific exterior dimensions listed for Nightshade (dimensions match standard Prius); the body remains in the compact liftback form

• Powertrain & Charging

  • Engine: 2.0 L M20A‑FXS 4‑cylinder gasoline engine

  • Hybrid System: Fifth‑generation Toyota Hybrid System with two motor-generators

  • Battery: 13.6 kWh lithium‑ion used in SE/XSE/XSE‑Premium/Nightshade plug-in grades

  • EV driving range: approx 40 miles (64 km) on Nightshade plug-in

  • Charging times: ~11 hours on 120 V outlet, ~4 hours on Level‑2 charger

  • Drive modes: EV Mode, Auto EV/HV, Hybrid Mode

• Capacities & Equipment

  • Wheels: 19-inch gloss-black alloy wheels exclusive to Nightshade

  • Interior: SofTex® seats with grey stitching, carbon-fiber dash accents, 8-inch multimedia touchscreen (12.3-inch optional on Premium)

  • Standard content: wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, Smart Key, six USB‑C ports

  • EV/Hybrid drivetrain continues normal operation even without plugging in

• Price

  • Starting MSRP for plug-in Nightshade: approx $37,000 (based on XSE pumped with Nightshade trim)

  • Base SE plug-in MSRP: $33,775

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