How did Toyota f*** up the Gen 5 so badly?

Camry sales vs Prius sales = hmmm...

 

How about Camry sales vs. RAV4 sales? Corolla sells similarly to Camry, too.

Toyota Motor North America reports 2025 U.S. sales results—Toyota USA newsroom

 

Prius sales started dropping with the gen3. Then Toyota released the Corolla hybrid; the hatchback and wagon also are hybrid in other markets. It was either change the Prius's role and design or cancel it. By sales, it seems to be working.

 

Car niches are fascinating. I think it is here that I read someone lament that the Gen5 had too much power.

We can acknowledge that the Prius niche had a very strong identity partly because it was weird and expensive. You'll be able to read owners of prior generations on Porsche, Honda or Corvette fora lamenting the changes to their cherished labels.

If you liked your Prius, but you wanted a bigger car with a better value, they made it but called it a Camry.
If you liked your Prius, but wanted a useable hatch area, easier entry and a rear seat that could be used by adults, they made it but called it a Corolla Cross.

If you hated the Prius and Co-Exist stickers but liked the drivetrain and efficiency, they made a Prius just for you in a plain vanilla wrapper and called it a Corolla.

My first Toyota was a current generation Corolla hatch. Whatever committee designed that thing did a great job. There are no surprises and it was 0% weird.

 

This is a bit misleading. The Prius is supply constrained as it’s only produced in one factory in Japan for the entire global supply.