“New” (Feb ‘26 Production onward) OM – Different Specs (no more AWD?)

Discussion in 'Gen 5 Prius Main Forum' started by Probity, Feb 5, 2026 at 8:51 PM.

  1. Probity

    Probity Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2025
    43
    30
    0
    Location:
    Covington LA
    Vehicle:
    2026 Prius
    Model:
    LE
    I happened to see there’s a new owner’s manual on the Toyota site. The 1st one (like mine, 600 pages) is:

    Toyota 2026 Prius from Jun. 30, 2025 through Jan. 31, 2026 Prod. Owner's Manual USA and Canada Only (OM47F65U) pM_PRIUS_OM_OM47F65U_(U).book

    The “new” one (680 pages) is:

    Toyota 2026 Prius Starting Feb. 1, 2026 Prod. Owner's Manual USA and Canada Only (OM47G03U) OM47G03U . This one contains a new section on “Plug-In Hybrid”.

    I get it that periodically there’ll be updates, revisions to OM’s, every manufacturer does it. I haven’t done a detailed side-by-side comparison, will leave that to others. But what caught my eye is there seems to be some spec changes between the pre-Feb. 1 ’26 production and post-Feb. 1 ’26 production runs. No mention of AWD anymore in the entire post-Feb ’26 manual. So no more US AWD HEV's?

    I’m not familiar with ‘the Toyota way’, don’t know how they normally do things, but struck me a bit odd that in the middle of a model year there would be spec changes. For those in the know – what’s going on? Just some examples:
    1. Dimensions and weights – same, Engine – same M20A-FXS (bore, stroke, displacement)
    2. Fuel tank capacity – (a) pre-Feb ’26: AWD 10.6 US gal., FWD 11.4 US gal, (b) post-Feb ’26: all 10.6 US gal.
    3. Oil capacity with filter – (a) pre-Feb ’26: 4.4 US qts., (b) post-Feb ’26: 4.1 US qts
    Other:
    pre-post.PNG
     
    #1 Probity, Feb 5, 2026 at 8:51 PM
    Gokhan likes this.
  2. Pdog808

    Pdog808 Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2017
    434
    290
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    The lower oil capacity on the newer models is interesting. Assuming the same internal engine design, perhaps a smaller oil pan?
     
    #2 Pdog808, Feb 5, 2026 at 9:48 PM
    PrimeDan likes this.
  3. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    21,288
    8,874
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2018 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    Premium
    That can't be great for heat dissipation.
     
    #3 hill, Feb 5, 2026 at 9:59 PM
    PrimeDan likes this.
  4. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    23,561
    12,629
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    The new manual is for the plug in.
    It doesn't get AWD. The motor is more powerful for EV performance. It has a lower oil capacity due to an engine balancer.
     
    #4 Trollbait, Feb 5, 2026 at 10:07 PM
    PrimeDan likes this.
  5. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    21,288
    8,874
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2018 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    Premium
    Still - pulling a grade in the Arizona summer desert running AC & stuck behind some nightmare accident w/ miles of backup? I'd love love love to have a few extra quarts going on.
     
    #5 hill, Feb 5, 2026 at 10:12 PM
  6. KMO

    KMO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2004
    1,998
    722
    0
    Location:
    Finland
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius Prime
    Model:
    N/A
    Clearly. :LOL:

    That might have been a clue. :ROFLMAO:

    So those aren't real changes, but there have been a few.

    Biggest thing I'm aware of is the July 2025 production change:
    * Switch from specced 0W-16 to 0W-8 oil (but no evidence of a related mechanical change aside from removal of the low oil level sensor)
    * Removal of charge mode for the US plug-in (new California emissions rules).

    Plus there was the US Prime -> PHEV branding change before that, and the nightshade colours.

    Also there have been multimedia system updates - newer models have refreshed UI graphics. Not a major change like the 2006 G2 update that got a higher-res screen - might be software-only, so could maybe one day be issued as an OTA update, if Toyota ever did one.

    One extra function in Europe is a hotkey in the status bar for disabling the EU-mandated-on-power-on speed beeps. (I got the newer UI for my older car from a multimedia unit replacement, but the "hotkey" just indicates status - I'm assuming I'd need a dash update for it to work as a button as described in the newer manuals).

    Phone charger became available in Europe in 24 or 25, it had previously been omitted.

    Also they were plugging some EV geofencing thing for the navigation. My newer navigation now talks about charging points as if it were an EV, noting that destination is out of range and having the option to suggest charging points. Original didn't care about that sort of thing.
     
    #6 KMO, Feb 6, 2026 at 1:35 AM
    Last edited: Feb 6, 2026 at 1:53 AM
    Trollbait, PrimeDan and LRO like this.
  7. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2008
    6,403
    2,559
    0
    Location:
    Paramount CA
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    You are comparing the HEV to the PHEV as others said.

    There have been no significant updates in Gen 5 so far. The engine is identical in earlier years; so, you can use 0W-8 in all Gen 5 if you like.

    2027 should finally be a mid-cycle refresh with TSS 4.0 and perhaps some other updates.
     
    #7 Gokhan, Feb 6, 2026 at 4:29 AM
  8. Probity

    Probity Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2025
    43
    30
    0
    Location:
    Covington LA
    Vehicle:
    2026 Prius
    Model:
    LE
    Yeah I was aware there's a newish 2026 Prius Plug-in Hybrid OM (publication OM47G06U – 684 pages), and the newish regular 2026 Prius (HEV) OM (publication OM47G03U – 683 pages), before now they were different, now they’re almost identical, only difference seems to be the extra picture page (Charging Station Information) at the end of the PHEV OM that the HEV OM doesn’t have. Maybe it’s something as simple as a technical writing dept. FUBAR, IDK….as I mentioned before seems odd Toyota would drop HEV AWD in the middle of a model year after Feb. 1 2026, guess will just have to see.

    Via the Toyota website I’ve asked the following question, maybe they’ll answer, maybe they’ll blow me off, we’ll see (won't be holding my breath):

    “North America - 2026 Toyota Prius HEV (post-February 2026 Production) - I noticed on your website there is a new Owners Manual for 2026 Prius HEV produced after February 1, 2026 (publication no. OM47G03U). In it there is no mention of AWD (all-wheel drive) anywhere within the manual. Does that mean that after February 1, 2026, Toyota will no longer be producing an AWD version of the Prius HEV in any trim?”
     
    #8 Probity, Feb 6, 2026 at 1:59 PM
  9. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    23,561
    12,629
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    The interactive manual on the site for the Prius still has all the AWD info.
    Digital | Toyota Owners
    This is just a PDF mishap with the PHV manual body being used for the hybrid manual..
     
    #9 Trollbait, Feb 6, 2026 at 2:36 PM
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)