### Toyota Prius Nightshade Edition Review: A Car That Defies Expectations As a professional automotive journalist, I've had the pleasure of driving some of the most exotic and high-performance cars on the market. But, I must say, my experience with the Toyota Prius Nightshade Edition was a refreshing change of pace. This car, in a bright Karashi yellow, has been generating a lot of buzz, and I'm here to tell you why. ### The Unlikely Charm of the Toyota Prius The current, fifth-gen Toyota Prius blew a lot of minds when it was revealed at the end of 2022. I figured that, by now, people would have gotten used to the design. But, the public reactions I got to the yellow 2026 Prius Nightshade … I’m telling you, people went absolutely nuts for this thing in a way I really did not expect. ### A Car That Stands Out Where ...
### Toyota Prius Nightshade Edition Review: A Car That Defies Expectations
As a professional automotive journalist, I’ve had the pleasure of driving some of the most exotic and high-performance cars on the market. But, I must say, my experience with the Toyota Prius Nightshade Edition was a refreshing change of pace. This car, in a bright Karashi yellow, has been generating a lot of buzz, and I’m here to tell you why.
### The Unlikely Charm of the Toyota Prius
The current, fifth-gen Toyota Prius blew a lot of minds when it was revealed at the end of 2022. I figured that, by now, people would have gotten used to the design. But, the public reactions I got to the yellow 2026 Prius Nightshade … I’m telling you, people went absolutely nuts for this thing in a way I really did not expect.
### A Car That Stands Out
Where I’m based is rural. But, as much as I like to joke about being a boondocks redneck, I’m really not that deep in the country. The relevant context being: Brand-new Audis, Bimmers, Teslas, Rivians, and other six-figure luxury vehicles are not uncommon sights on the road around here. Heck, I had a McLaren 765LT loaner for a few days this summer and did not notice a single reaction from randos and passers-by. Meanwhile, less than five minutes into my test drive of the Karashi yellow Toyota Prius Nightshade Edition, a woman in an oncoming Subaru gave me a big smile and thumbs-up as I idled through our tiny downtown’s main street.
### A Color That Turns Heads
Mere moments later, when I pulled into the gas station to raid the beer cave, a middle-aged guy climbing into a late-model Hyundai gave me an earnest “nice car!” image: Yellow Prius from the back, image: Yellow Prius from the front, high-angle. image: Yellow Prius from the front three-quarter (high-angle). Andrew P. Collins “Ha, yeah, thanks, I like it too,” I replied jovially. I always feel a little weird accepting compliments for a car I don’t own and didn’t design, but I also figure it’d be weirder to make a whole speech about my job here.
### A Car That Inspires
Anyway, a car as normal as a Toyota Prius getting props twice in ten minutes is pretty wild. And over the next six days I spent with the car, I had no less than three more interactions with strangers expressing similar sentiments. An elderly lady coming out of a Walgreens actually stopped me as I was parking to tell me the car was “cute.” I ended up talking to her for a bit; she regaled me with a story of a “cool Toyota” she once had but couldn’t remember the name of (I think she was referring to an early Celica). Later, a dude in a third-gen Prius gave me a big nod and thumbs up as we passed in a parking lot. Finally, I took the Prius to talk to a local guy about buying a go-kart from him, and he called it “one of the coolest things he’d seen on the road.” So, yeah. I’ve been lucky enough to drive more than a few eye-catching new cars where I live now, and not a single one of them has garnered as much attention as the now three-year-old Prius design sprayed in a cool color.
### The Verdict
The Toyota Prius Nightshade Edition is a car that defies expectations. With its unique color scheme and humble design, it’s a car that’s sure to turn heads. Whether you’re a car enthusiast or just looking for a reliable daily driver, the Prius Nightshade Edition is definitely worth considering. Its starting price of around $34,000 makes it an accessible option for those looking to own a unique car.
### Image: Prius in a majestic setting. Andrew P. Collins
### Ever have any interesting experiences driving a brightly colored car? I’d be interested to hear about it—[email protected].
### Andrew P. Collins
### Executive Editor
### Automotive journalist since 2013, Andrew primarily coordinates features, sponsored content, and multi-departmental initiatives at The Drive. – Car Reviews Car Reviews – Toyota Prius Toyota Prius – Toyota Reviews Toyota Reviews
COMMENTS