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Toyota Prius (2016 to 2022)

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Expert Rating

Toyota Prius (2016 to 2022)

Not a current model

    Summary


    The Toyota Prius was a medium-sized saloon, powered by a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain. The Prius was famous for being the original hybrid car, with the original model first launched back in 1997 in Japan. This is the fourth generation, which went on sale in the UK in early 2016.

    In addition to the standard Prius shown here, which was a regular hybrid model with very limited electric range, there was also a Prius Plug-in model that could be charged from an external charging point and offers considerably greater electric range. There was also the Prius+, which is a seven-seat model based on the last-generation Prius saloon.

    As hybridisation has become more common across the car industry in recent years, the number of potential rivals for the Prius has increased dramatically. Just within the Toyota family, the Corolla hatch/saloon/estate and the C-HR crossover are built on the same platform and feature the same hybrid drivetrains as the Prius, plus there’s the larger Camry saloon as well.

    The Toyota Prius has always been well-known for its environmental credentials, but the latest model was also a considerable improvement to drive. It was praised for its ride and handling, as well as low running costs in urban driving. However, the styling polarised opinion and the Prius was viewed by many people as a minicab rather than a family car.

    No longer on sale, the Toyota Prius holds an Expert Rating of 69%, based on 22 reviews published by the British motoring media.

    Key specifications


    Body style: Mid-size saloon
    Engines: petrol-electric hybrid
    Price when new: From £24,355 on-road

    Launched: Spring 2016
    Last updated: Spring 2019
    Discontinued: Spring 2022


    Media reviews


    Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

    Auto Express

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    Auto Trader

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    Autocar

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    Car

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    Car Keys

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    Carbuyer

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    Carwow

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    Daily Mail

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    Daily Mirror

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    Driving Electric

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    Evo

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    Green Car Guide

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    Honest John

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    Motors.co.uk

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    Parkers

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    The Sun

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    The Sunday Times

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    The Telegraph

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    Top Gear

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    What Car?

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    Which?

    +

    Safety rating


    Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

    Overall score: 5 stars
    Date tested: April 2016
    Read the full Euro NCAP review

    Adult protection: 92%
    Child protection: 82%
    Vulnerable road users: 77%
    Safety assist: 85%

    Eco rating


    No eco rating

    No longer on sale, the Toyota Prius has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.

    Reliability rating

    MotorEasy logo 600x167

    As of October 2022, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Toyota Prius to generate a reliability rating.

    The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Prius, we’ll publish the score here.

    Awards


    Trophies, prizes and awards that the Toyota Prius has received

    2022

    • Carbuyer Awards – Best Used Hybrid

    2021

    • Carbuyer Awards – Best Used Hybrid

    2020

    • Honest John Satisfaction Index – UK’s Most Reliable Car

    2019

    • Auto Express Driver Power Awards – New Car of the Year + Best Compact Family Car
    • DrivingElectric Awards – Best Used Hybrid Car

    2018

    • Auto Express Driver Power Awards – Best Compact Family Car
    • Honest John Satisfaction Index – Car of the Year
    • Professional Driver Awards – Private Hire Car of the Year

    2017

    • UK Car of the Year Awards – Best Family Car
    • Carbuyer Awards – Most Economical Car + Best Small Hybrid Car
    • Car Dealer Awards – Best Used Electrified Car
    • What Car? Awards – Safety Award

    2016

    • Auto Express Awards – Green Car of the Year
    • Carbuyer Awards – Most Economical Car
    • Telegraph Cars Awards – Best Eco Car
    • Women’s World Car of the Year Awards – Best Green Car

    Similar cars


    If you’re looking at the Toyota Prius, you might also be interested in these alternatives

    Ford Mondeo Hybrid | Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid | Kia Niro Hybrid | Nissan Leaf | Toyota Corolla | Toyota Prius Plug-in

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    The Car Expert has the ultimate ranking of the best and worst new cars on sale, based on scores from 30 of the top UK motoring websites. We'll be adding more cars and more lists all the time, so keep checking back for the latest results.

    The Toyota Prius has always been well-known for its eco credentials, but the latest model is also a considerable improvement to drive.Toyota Prius (2016 to 2022)