if you're waiting for the new all-wheel-drive 2019 toyota prius awd-e, we now know that it will start at $27,300, including a $920 destination charge, for the lowest le trim level. the more deluxe xle awd-e trim level will start at $29,740, and the whole 2019 prius line will go on sale in january.
in addition to the new all-wheel-drive option, the entire 2019 prius lineup gets front and rear styling tweaks, along with a new naming system for the trim levels, switching from the 2018 prius number system to trim names: l eco, le, xle and limited. full details on the 2019 changes are available in our preview here.
the awd-e is only available in those mid-level versions, and the premium for all-wheel drive works out to $1,400 more on the le and $1,000 more on the xle. the all-wheel capability is added with an electric motor on the rear axle that has no mechanical connection with the hybrid drive system up front. it kicks in for traction as needed up to 43 mph and also from zero to 6 mph for more startup pep. official epa fuel economy ratings are not yet posted, but toyota estimates the awd-e models will deliver 52/48/50 mpg city/highway/combined versus 54/50/52 mpg for most front-wheel-drive models and 58/53/56 mpg for the l eco.
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the revised naming system takes the prius from seven trim levels to four, and pricing for the front-drive 2019 prius models starts at $24,690 with destination for the base l eco, up slightly from $24,395, the cheapest base 2018 prius one. the next-level front-drive le starts at $25,900, the xle at $28,740, and the top-of-the-line 2019 limited starts at $33,120.
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