Three years ago, Toyota redesigned its venerable hybrid sedan to give it a sexier coupe style. Although it looks much more streamlined, it has a bit more drag coefficient (0.27) and a bit less cargo volume. Did I mention the bit less ease for passenger entrance and exit? There goes the taxi cab business.

If you’re not pressing your car into Uber service but would like a reasonably priced, sexy coupe that delivers outstanding economy, let me tell you more. First the words “sexy” and “Prius” have seldom been combined in an article where the author kept a straight face. But our 2026 Toyota Prius Nightshade, finished in an exclusive “Karashi Mustard Metallic" drew compliments from the Ritz Carlton valet who retrieved it from the front row. That doesn’t happen with every car I review.

Our Nightshade edition made its fashion statement with black trim, from the 19-inch alloy wheels to all the exterior brightwork. Even the shark fin antenna and model badging are black.  Our Prius was a plug-in version with enough battery to travel 40-miles without recharging. That gets you easily to Jacksonville and back to Amelia Island or a week’s worth of local driving on a four-hour, $2.50 electric fill-up in your garage. Want to go to Atlanta? The 530-mile petrol range will get you there and back with fuel to spare.

Okay, you’re convinced that this slinky machine is frugal but is it as fun as it looks? That’s a fair question that I answered with a bit of sportscar style driving. The Prius tips the curb weight scale at a reasonable 3,285-pounds, about the same weight as Honda’s Civic and nearly 600-pounds lighter than Tesla’s Model 3. That translates to crisp handling and a sporty 0-to-60 time of 7.2-seconds. The electric Tesla is quicker to sixty but you won’t get to Atlanta and back without a half hour Supercharger stop.

The Prius Nightshade carries the sporting theme inside with black SoftTex, eight-way adjustable seats and carbon fiber detail on the dashboard. A 12.3-inch multi-media screen provides smart phone connectivity, cloud navigation with either touch or voice inputs. Routine software updates are over the air and six USB 3 charging inputs populate the interior. And to let light in, a glass panel occupies the roof.

Toyota has also equipped the Prius with its long list of safety features to keep your ride uneventful, including a wide-speed-range dynamic cruise control for that Georgia trip. Over all, this is a thoughtful balance of sporting looks and frugal economy. Just ask the valet attendant.