Toyota Prius: Redesigned Look and Performance
Toyota Prius: It’s always been appealing to save money on gas, but it hasn’t always looked cool. The redesigned Toyota Prius is making a meaningful effort to change that perception. The new Prius features front-wheel drive and 194 horsepower. All-wheel drive is available, adding a slight increase to 196 horsepower. The 220-hp Prius Prime is the plug-in hybrid version, reviewed separately.
Toyota Prius: Stylish and Fun to Drive
For the first time, the Prius is both stylish and reasonably fun to drive, while also achieving better fuel economy than before, with an EPA-estimated 56 mpg highway rating. It stands out among compact competitors, which are gradually adopting hybrid powertrains, including the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid and Toyota’s own Corolla Hybrid—with a hybridized Honda Civic expected to join the lineup eventually. Surprisingly, the Prius has become a fun—and cool—choice, earning it a 10Best Cars award for 2024 and a spot on our 2024 Editors Choice list.
What’s New for 2024?
Toyota makes no significant equipment changes to the 2024 Toyota Prius following its complete redesign for the 2023 model year.
Toyota Prius: Pricing and Which One to Buy
The price of the 2024 Toyota Prius starts at $29,085 and goes up to $36,100, depending on the trim and options. Known for its incredible fuel economy, the Toyota Prius delivers on its green promise. Its lineup of safety equipment and extra features is as robust as its commitment to fuel efficiency. Base models come with 17-inch wheels, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and a reasonably affordable starting price.
Toyota Prius: Engine, Transmission, and Performance
One powertrain commands the Toyota Prius lineup. This is a 194-hp hybrid setup that uses a 2.0-liter hybrid inline-four gasoline engine borrowed from the Corolla Cross hybrid crossover, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard. For all-wheel-drive Priuses, Toyota adds a high-output permanent magnet electric motor to the rear axle, bumping total powertrain output to 196 horsepower. The launch to 60 mph, which took last year’s Prius an exhausting 10.5 seconds, now takes just 7.1 seconds according to our testing of a front-drive Limited model. That’s quicker than both the Camry Hybrid and Elantra Hybrid. Thanks to larger front and rear brakes, the new Prius stops sooner from 70 mph than its previous iteration, doing so in just 171 feet compared to 194 feet from a previous test.
Toyota Prius MPG
The EPA estimates the Prius at 57 mpg city and 56 mpg highway for the front-wheel-drive model. This represents a 4- and 6-mpg improvement over the last generation. However, the all-wheel-drive LE variant makes the most significant fuel economy jump from the previous model, improving from 49 to 54 mpg combined. In our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, the Prius delivered 49 mpg. For more information about the Prius’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Toyota Prius: Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
While the fifth-generation Prius adopted a new—and dare we say, sleek—exterior design, the interior retained a more traditional automotive cockpit layout. For the first time, the Prius now features a gauge cluster directly behind the steering wheel, but its placement requires adjusting the wheel lower to get a clear view of the gauges. The sleek exterior design lowers the roofline by 2.0 inches compared to before, slightly reducing rear seat headroom. Base models come with a faux-leather steering wheel, while upgrading to the XLE or higher trim unlocks heated front seats, additional cup holders for rear passengers, and rear heated seats.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Both base and upper-level models of the Prius now feature larger screens compared to the previous version. The LE and XLE have an 8.0-inch screen, while the Limited offers a 12.3-inch touchscreen. This system includes “Hey Toyota” voice control and supports over-the-air updates, ensuring the infotainment system stays current with the latest features. The larger screen also comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities, as well as optional Wi-Fi connectivity.
Advanced Safety Features
The Prius includes standard driver-assistance features often available only in optional packages or higher trims on competitors. For Prius crash-test results, visit the NHTSA and IIHS websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Standard automatic high-beams
- Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Toyota offers warranty coverage that matches its competitors but excels with above-average maintenance coverage. Additionally, its hybrid-component warranty is an industry benchmark.
- Limited warranty: Covers three years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty: Covers five years or 60,000 miles
- Hybrid components warranty: Covers eight years or 100,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance: Covered for two years or 25,000 miles
