2021 Toyota Prius

Overview

When you think of a hybrid car, it’s likely that the Toyota Prius comes to mind. However, in recent years the Prius has gained a bevy of competitors, all of which have caught up to Toyota's electrified icon. The Hyundai Ioniq is more efficient, the Honda Insight drives better, and Toyota’s own Corolla Hybrid is cheaper and offers similar fuel economy. On top of all that, they all look miles more attractive than the Prius. Unless your idea of a fun time behind the wheel is seeing how little fuel you can use on your commute, don't count on the Prius to offer much in the way of driving pleasure. However, the Prius' spacious cabin and excellent fuel economy do keep it solidly competitive—and it's the only one of its direct rivals to offer optional all-wheel drive. And, of course, it brings Toyota’s reputation for reliability, making it a sensible purchase.

Where This Vehicle Ranks

#13 in Best Compact Cars for 2021

1

Honda Civic

STARTING AT: $22,265

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2

Mazda Mazda 3

STARTING AT: $21,645

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3

Volkswagen Golf

STARTING AT: $24,190

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4

Hyundai Elantra

STARTING AT: $20,655

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5

Honda Insight

STARTING AT: $24,145

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13

Toyota Prius

STARTING AT: $25,550

SHOP Prius

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What's New for 2021?

The Prius remains mostly unchanged for 2021, and adds a special Prius 2020 Edition and more driver-assistance and safety features. The special edition commemorates two decades of Prius sales in the United States, and is based on the XLE trim; only 2,020 will be built. The Prius 2020 Edition comes standard with black 17-inch wheels, black exterior trim, and a choice of two colors: Supersonic Red or Wind Chill Pearl. Pedestrian-and-bicyclist detection is now standard on the 2021 model, as are automatic high beam headlamps. Android Auto is also added to all trim levels except for the top tier Limited.

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Pricing and Which One to Buy

Our pick from the Prius lineup is the XLE AWD-e, which is a solid value thanks to its heated and power-adjustable seats, heated steering wheel, proximity-key function, and wireless phone charger. The "AWD-e" denotes electric all-wheel drive. The fuel economy penalty for its all-wheel drive system is almost nonexistent based on our real-world test results. The XLE AWD-e trim is available with the Advanced Technology Package too, which adds navigation and a head-up display.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The Prius's hybrid powertrain is not capable of delivering thrilling or even amusing acceleration. Its lethargy can't be given a free pass, as several competitors prove that acceptable performance need not be sacrificed in the pursuit of world-beating fuel economy. Nor does the 2021 Prius offer much in the way of driving enjoyment and refinement. All-wheel-drive Priuses feature an electric motor that functions separately from the hybrid system and powers the rear wheels. Braking is a common gremlin for hybrid vehicles, which use a mix of regenerative and friction braking. Inconsistent or numb feedback from the brake pedal as we experienced in the Prius is often the trade-off and, combined with the low-rolling-resistance tires that most hybrids wear, can make for longer braking distances in our testing than we would expect from similar-size non-hybrid vehicles.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The EPA estimates the thriftiest Prius Eco will earn up to 58 mpg in the city and 53 mpg on the highway. The other front-drive versions are EPA rated at 54 mpg city and 50 mpg on highway. Those who drive mostly highway miles and like to travel with the flow of fast-moving traffic might be disappointed to learn that the Prius delivered 46 mpg on our 200-mile highway fuel-economy test (which we conduct at a steady 75 mph), undershooting its EPA rating by 4 mpg. For the all-wheel drive model, the EPA estimates it will earn 52 mpg city and 48 highway. In our testing, an XLE AWD-e returned 47 mpg over our 200-mile test loop at 75 mph, which is 3 mpg lower than it’s EPA rating, but 1 mpg higher than a front-wheel drive model tested on the same loop.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Consider that a larger-than-average chunk of the Prius's cost is directed to make possible its advanced powertrain, and the amount of plastic in the interior starts to make sense even as it left us wanting for better trimmings. It could be appointed in sumptuous leather and we'd still take issue with the center-mounted information gauges, which require the driver to take their eyes off the road too frequently. Passengers have plenty of room to spread out in the Prius—there's space for four six-footers thanks to upright seating—but several rivals offer even more legroom for back-seat passengers. The hatchback body style of the Prius means there's a good amount of room for cargo behind the back seat, although it's not the most spacious vehicle in this competitive set. Its dash-mounted shifter frees up room for storage cubbies in the front seat area; rear cubby storage is limited to two unusually small door pockets and the small cupholders found in the rear seat's pull-down center armrest.

Infotainment and Connectivity

All trim levels of the Toyota Prius get a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with the exception of the top-tier Limited trim. This 7.0-inch infotainment system has a bevy of features, like AM/FM radio, a CD player, Bluetooth capability, and USB connectivity. The system also includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Android Auto is new for 2021 in the Prius. The Limited trim level gets a larger, vertically oriented 11.6-inch touchscreen system. It has all the same features as the smaller 7.0-inch system with the exception of Android Auto which, oddly, is not compatible with the larger system.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The Prius earned a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a 2018 Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It also comes standard with collision-avoidance technologies that are limited to option packages and upper trim levels in many competitive vehicles. Key safety features include:

• Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
• Standard adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Toyota's warranty coverage matches up to its competitors; its hybrid-component warranty is an industry standard.

• Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
• Hybrid components are covered for ten years or 150,000 miles
• Complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for two years or 25,000 miles

Specifications

Specifications

2019 Toyota Prius XLE AWD-e

VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback

PRICE AS TESTED
$32,113 (base price: $29,750)

ENGINE TYPE
DOHC 16-valve Atkinson-cycle 1.8-liter inline-4, 96 hp, 105 lb-ft; front: permanent-magnet synchronous AC motor, 71 hp, 120 lb-ft; rear: induction AC motor, 7 hp, 40 lb-ft; combined output, 121 hp; 1.3-kWh nickel-metal-hydride battery pack

TRANSMISSION
continuously variable automatic

CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): struts/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 10.0-in vented disc/10.2-in solid disc
Tires: Dunlop Enasave 01 A/S, 195/65R-15 91S M+S

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 106.3 in
Length: 180.0 in
Width: 69.3 in
Height: 58.1 in
Passenger volume: 91 cu ft
Cargo volume: 25 cu ft
Curb weight: 3233 lb

C/D
TEST RESULTS
Zero to 60 mph: 10.8 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 32.7 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 10.7 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 5.2 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 8.3 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 18.0 sec @ 78 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 104 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 194 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.80 g

C/D
FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 44 mpg
75-mph highway driving: 47 mpg
Highway range: 490 miles

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 50/52/48 mpg

More Features and Specs