Model research hub
Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is a hybrid car made since 1997 over five generations. Federal data shows the 2016 with the most recalls among older years (5) and the most complaints (179), the 2023 and 2024 with 4 recalls each, and 2020 and 2021 with none, and Toyoland calls 2017 to 2021 the pick of the run. The 2026 Prius starts at $29,745 and is rated 49 to 57 mpg combined.
What the Toyota Prius is and who buys it
Wikipedia (opens in a new tab) describes the Prius as a car produced by Toyota since 1997 over five generations, with a hybrid drivetrain called Hybrid Synergy Drive, model years from 2001 in the U.S., with the fourth generation (XW50) starting in 2015. The 2026 Prius has a 2.0L hybrid with front-wheel or all-wheel drive, rated 49 to 57 mpg combined by the EPA, about $1,100 to $1,250 a year in fuel. Kelley Blue Book base prices are $29,745 for the LE, $33,190 for the XLE and $36,760 for the Limited.
Best and worst Prius model years
Federal counts are low and fall over the fourth generation. The 2015 has 1 recall and 164 complaints, the 2016 has 5 recalls, covering air bags, hybrid propulsion, the electrical system and parking brake, and 179 complaints, the most of any year, and the 2017 has 3. The 2018 to 2022 cars have 0 to 3 recalls and 6 to 36 complaints, the 2023 and 2024 have 4 recalls each for the electrical system, equipment and backup camera, and the 2025 has 2. Open the 2016 Prius page.
Toyoland (opens in a new tab) says no Prius year earns a blanket avoid, and that third-party reliability records are consistently strong for 2017 to 2021, the pick of the run. Car Smite (opens in a new tab) says 2010 is the worst Prius model year of its generation to avoid and 2013, 2014 and 2015 are the ideal third-generation years.
Choosing a year
For the current shape, the 2017 to 2021 cars have the lowest recall counts and the best guide ratings, and the 2023 and 2024 cars have more campaigns for the electrical system and backup camera to verify by VIN.
Questions buyers ask
Which Toyota Prius years are best?
Toyoland (opens in a new tab) calls 2017 to 2021 the pick of the run, and Car Smite names 2013 to 2015 as the ideal third-generation years.
Which Toyota Prius year should I avoid?
Car Smite says the 2010 is the worst year of its generation, while Toyoland says no Prius year earns a blanket avoid.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2027 Toyota Prius is built around 2.0L hybrid four-cylinder, rated at 194 / 196 horsepower across its compact hybrid hatchback body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2027 U.S. lineup has 4 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe 2027 Prius seats 5 and is a Compact hybrid hatchback.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA recalls, complaints and crash ratings for the 2027 Prius.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2027 Toyota Prius
Every Prius shares the 194-horsepower hybrid powertrain (196 hp with optional AWD's rear motor); the four trims separate by display size, comfort and appearance equipment. MY2027 is a minor refresh of the current (2023-launched) generation.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
3 indexed Toyota Prius model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Toyota Prius | 1 | 2027 record → |
| 2026 Toyota Prius | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Toyota Prius | 2025 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Toyota Prius.
The Toyota Prius is a car produced by Toyota since 1997 over five generations. The Prius has a hybrid drivetrain, called Hybrid Synergy Drive, which combines an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. Initially offered as a subcompact four-door saloon, it has been produced only as a compact five-door liftback since 2003.
- Recalls and problems
- In April 2024, Toyota issued a recall affecting 211,000 2023 and 2024 model year Prius and Prius Prime units worldwide where the rear doors can open unexpectedly if not locked due to a short circuit on the electronic rear door latches when the car is moving or involved in a collision. The issue was that water could possibly short circuit the door lock.
- Awards
- At its introduction in 2009, it won the Car of the Year Japan Award for the second time. In December 2013, Consumer Reports named the Prius as the "Best Value", for the second year in a row. A 2019 iSeeCars study ranked the Prius as the second longest-kept vehicle among U.S. drivers.
- Sales
- Global cumulative sales of the Prius liftback crossed 1 million vehicles in May 2008. Toyota reached that milestone in the United States by April 2011, and in Japan by August 2011. As of September 2022, Prius is the world's best-selling hybrid car, with over 5 million units sold.
Source: Toyota Prius (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Toyota Prius at a glance
- Production
- December 1997 – present
- Model years
- 2001–present (US)
- Class
- Subcompact/supermini (b-segment, B) (1997–2003), Compact car, Compact/small family car (c-segment, C) (2003–present)
- Body style
- 4-door Sedan (automobile), saloon (1997–2003), 5-door liftback (2003–present)
- Layout
- Front-engine, front-wheel-drive, Front-engine, four-wheel-drive (E-Four)
Toyota Prius generations
The Toyota Prius has been redesigned in 2003, 2009, 2015, 2022, gaps of 6, 6, 6, 7 years, an average of 6.3 years between generations. The current generation (fifth generation, XW60) began in 2022.
| Generation | Code | Began | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | XW10 | 1997–2003 | In 1995, Toyota debuted a hybrid concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show, with testing following a year later. |
| Second generation | XW20 | 2003–2009 | Presented at the April 2003 New York International Auto Show, for the 2004 US model year, the NHW20 Prius was a complete redesign. |
| Third generation | XW30 | 2009–2015 | Toyota debuted the new Prius (2010 US model year) at the January 2009 North American International Auto Show, and sales began in Japan on 18 May 2009. |
| Fourth generation | XW50 | 2015–2022 | The fourth-generation Prius was first shown during September 2015 in Las Vegas, and was released for retail customers in Japan on 9 December 2015. |
| Fifth generation | XW60 | 2022–present | The fifth-generation Prius was presented on 16 November 2022, with two powertrain options announced for the Japanese market. |
NHTSA rated the 2025 Toyota Prius overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 5 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.
Recent recalls (2 campaigns across the latest model years)
- January 2026, Electrical System:Wiring:Switches/Knobs/Buttons. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Prius Prime, 2023-2026 Prius, and 2025-2026 Prius Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. Water may enter the rear door switch and cause a short circuit, allowing an unlocked rear door to open unexpectedly. Consequence: A door that unexpectedly opens while the vehicle is moving increases the risk of injury.
- October 2025, Back Over Prevention:Display Function. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview… Consequence: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Owners filed 16 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Toyota Prius, most often about electrical system (6), unknown or other (3), forward collision avoidance (3).
Year by year
The Toyota Prius across 13 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Toyota Prius | 48–55 | $1,200–$1,350 | 4 | |||
| 2026 Toyota Prius | 49–57 | $1,100–$1,250 | 4 | 1 | 5 stars | |
| 2025 Toyota Prius | 48–57 | $1,100–$1,300 | 6 | 2 | 16 | 5 stars |
| 2024 Toyota Prius | 49–57 | $1,100–$1,250 | 4 | 4 | 23 | 5 stars |
| 2023 Toyota Prius | 49–57 | $1,100–$1,250 | 4 | 4 | 19 | 5 stars |
| 2022 Toyota Prius | 49–56 | $1,100–$1,250 | 3 | 1 | 24 | 5 stars |
| 2021 Toyota Prius | 49–56 | $1,100–$1,250 | 3 | 6 | 5 stars | |
| 2020 Toyota Prius | 46–56 | $1,100–$1,350 | 4 | 14 | 5 stars | |
| 2019 Toyota Prius | 50–56 | $1,100–$1,250 | 3 | 3 | 30 | 5 stars |
| 2018 Toyota Prius | 52–56 | $1,100–$1,200 | 2 | 1 | 36 | 5 stars |
| 2017 Toyota Prius | 52–56 | $1,100–$1,200 | 2 | 3 | 91 | 5 stars |
| 2016 Toyota Prius | 52–56 | $1,100–$1,200 | 2 | 5 | 179 | 5 stars |
| 2015 Toyota Prius | 48–50 | $1,250–$1,300 | 2 | 1 | 164 | 4 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Toyota Prius, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Electric range, miles | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 to 2027 | 53.0 to 51.5 | ||||
| 2025 to 2026 | 6 to 4 | 52.5 to 53.0 | Drives: All-Wheel Drive | Labels: Prius PHEV, Prius PHEV SE; Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; PHEV; Drives: Part-time 4-Wheel Drive; Fuels: Regular Gas and Electricity | |
| 2024 to 2025 | 4 to 6 | 53.0 to 52.5 | first listed: 43 | Labels: Prius PHEV, Prius PHEV SE; Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; PHEV; Fuels: Regular Gas and Electricity | |
| 2022 to 2023 | 3 to 4 | 52.5 to 53.0 | Labels: Prius AWD XLE/LTD, Prius XLE/LTD; Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; Hybrid | Labels: Prius Eco; Engines: 1.8L 4-cyl Hybrid | |
| 2020 to 2021 | 4 to 3 | 51.0 to 52.5 | Labels: Prius c; Engines: 1.5L 4-cyl Hybrid; Size classes: Compact Cars | ||
| 2019 to 2020 | 3 to 4 | 53.0 to 51.0 | Labels: Prius c; Engines: 1.5L 4-cyl Hybrid; Size classes: Compact Cars | ||
| 2018 to 2019 | 2 to 3 | 54.0 to 53.0 | Labels: Prius AWD; Engines: 1.8L 4-cyl Hybrid; Drives: Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Engines: 1.8L 4-cyl | |
| 2015 to 2016 | 49.0 to 54.0 | Labels: Prius Eco | Labels: Prius Plug-in Hybrid; Engines: 1.8L 4-cyl PHEV; Fuels: Regular Gas and Electricity |
Buying used
What the Toyota Prius recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | electrical system (wiring) | None |
| 2025 | 2 | back over prevention (display function); electrical system (wiring) | None |
| 2024 | 4 | electrical system (wiring); equipment (other); back over prevention (display function) | None |
| 2023 | 4 | electrical system (wiring); equipment (other); back over prevention (display function) | None |
| 2022 | 1 | engine and engine cooling | None |
| 2019 | 3 | equipment (other); electronic stability control (esc); electrical system (instrument cluster/panel) | None |
| 2018 | 1 | electrical system (wiring) | None |
| 2017 | 3 | parking brake; tires (temporary/emergency spare tire); electrical system (wiring) | None |
| 2016 | 5 | air bags (frontal); parking brake; hybrid propulsion system (inverter); 2 more | None |
| 2015 | 1 | hybrid propulsion system (inverter) | None |
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| service brakes | 158 | 26% | 2015 (92) |
| unknown or other | 100 | 17% | 2016 (37) |
| electrical system | 91 | 15% | 2015 (27) |
| visibility/wiper | 66 | 11% | 2016 (42) |
| engine | 50 | 8% | 2016 (19) |
| vehicle speed control | 46 | 8% | 2016 (17) |
Trim by trim
Every 2027 Toyota Prius trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LE | AWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 196 | 139 | 3,230 | – | 53 | $30,050 |
| XLE | AWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 196 | 139 | 3,285 | – | 48 | $33,495 |
| Nightshade | AWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 196 | 139 | 3,285 | – | 53 | $34,300 |
| Limited | AWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 196 | 139 | 3,340 | – | 48 | $37,065 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2027 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Toyota Prius model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 4 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 196 | 3,230–3,340 | – | 10.5 |
| 2026 | 4 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 150 | 3,230–3,340 | – | 10.5 |
| 2025 | 4 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 150 | 3,230–3,340 | – | 11.3 |
| 2024 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 150 | 3,097–3,219 | – | 11.3 |
| 2023 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 150 | 3,097–3,219 | – | 11.3 |
| 2022 | 5 | 1.8-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 121 | 3,010–3,075 | – | 11.3 |
| 2021 | 5 | 1.8-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 121 | 3,010–3,075 | – | 11.3 |
| 2020 | 4 | 1.8-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 121 | 3,010–3,075 | – | 11.3 |
| 2019 | 4 | 1.8-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 121 | 3,010–3,075 | – | 11.3 |
| 2018 | 7 | 1.8-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 121 | 3,010–3,080 | – | 11.3 |
| 2017 | 7 | 1.8-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 121 | 3,010–3,080 | – | 11.3 |
| 2016 | 6 | 1.8-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 121 | 3,010–3,080 | – | 11.3 |
| 2015 | 6 | 1.8-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 134 | 3,072 | – | 11.9 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Owning it
Oil, fluid and wheel-nut figures for the Toyota Prius.
| Model year | Engine oil | Brake fluid | Wheel-nut torque | A/C refrigerant | Key-fob battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0W-8 (4.4 qt) | – | – | – | – |
| 2026 | 0W-8 (4.4 qt) | – | – | – | – |
Source: the manufacturer's owner's manual for each model year. A dash means that year's manual gave no single value for it, for instance one that lists two oil grades or two key types.
Model-year recall record
Toyota Prius: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
More recalls than this model’s own average
- 2016 Toyota Prius : 5 recalls on file, most commonly affecting airbags and hybrid propulsion.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | not available | electrical system |
| 2025 | 2 | 16 | backup camera, electrical system |
| 2024 | 4 | 23 | electrical system, equipment, backup camera |
| 2023 | 4 | 19 | electrical system, equipment, backup camera |
| 2022 | 1 | 24 | engine cooling |
| 2021 | 6 | ||
| 2020 | 14 | ||
| 2019 | 3 | 30 | electrical system, stability control, equipment |
| 2018 | 1 | 36 | electrical system |
| 2017 | 3 | 91 | electrical system, tires, parking brake |
| 2016 | 5 | 179 | airbags, hybrid propulsion, electrical system, parking brake |
| 2015 | 1 | 164 | hybrid propulsion |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Toyota Prius model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Toyota Prius?
Recall count alone can't answer that: it says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record. What federal data can say: 2016 carried more. See the model-year table on this page for the exact counts and what they cover.
Q02Which Toyota Prius model years should I watch for recalls?
The 2016 Toyota Prius has 5 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting airbags, hybrid propulsion, electrical system. Always confirm the open/completed status of every campaign for the specific VIN: a recall on this list may already be repaired on the vehicle in front of you.
Q03What are common recall-related problems on the Toyota Prius by model year?
2026: electrical system. 2025: backup camera, electrical system. 2024: electrical system, equipment, backup camera. 2023: electrical system, equipment, backup camera. 2022: engine cooling. 2019: electrical system, stability control, equipment.
Q04Why do some Toyota Prius model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Toyota Prius model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Hybrid and electric vehicles, Buying, records and recalls, Climate and electrical, Brakes, tires and steering, Engine and cooling.
2016 Toyota Prius owners specifically: see Buying, records and recalls and Hybrid and electric vehicles and Climate and electrical and Brakes, tires and steering.
Trim ladder
1 Toyota Prius trim, each with its own page.
Compared with
Models this Toyota Prius is most often compared with.
Nearest Toyota models
Other Toyota models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2027 Prius come in?
The 2027 Toyota Prius (compact hybrid hatchback) comes in 4 trims: LE, XLE, Nightshade, Limited.
Q02What are the 2027 Prius trims?
The 2027 Toyota Prius trims are LE, XLE, Nightshade, Limited, listed from the entry LE up to the top Limited.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2027 Prius use?
The 2027 Toyota Prius is built around 2.0L hybrid four-cylinder, rated at 194 / 196 horsepower across its compact hybrid hatchback body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2027 Prius have?
The 2027 Toyota Prius is rated at 194 / 196 horsepower (2.0L hybrid four-cylinder).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2027 Prius?
The 2027 Toyota Prius is offered with FWD / AWD.