One of the more affordable hybrid vehicles to enter the market is the Toyota Prius from 2022. The starting MSRP for the L Eco base trim is $24,525, while the middle trims are sold for $25,735 and $28,745. The most expensive Prius Limited costs $32,820.
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What should I expect to pay for a 2021 Prius?
Toyota Prius Prime Price in 2021 The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the LE model of the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime is $28,220 plus a $955 destination fee. The top-spec Limited starts at $34,000, and mid-trim XLE models start at an even $30,000.
Terrific Fuel Economy
Even among hybrids, the Prius has excellent fuel efficiency. Only the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid’s EPA-estimated 59-mpg rating in base L Eco trim comes close to its EPA-estimated 56 mpg combined rating. The combined fuel economy for other Prius trims with front-wheel drive is a respectable 52 mpg, while the combined fuel economy for AWD models is an astounding 49 mpg, which is exceptional for any vehicle with AWD.
Choice of Drive Wheels
In an effort to keep customers who may otherwise be drawn to an SUV, the Prius started to come with AWD for 2019. It continues to be among the most economical AWD vehicles available. The innovative technology operates independently from the hybrid powertrain that propels the front wheels, using an electric motor to drive the back wheels at up to 43 mph. It runs without a hitch and raises the price by only $1,000 to $1,400, depending on trim.
Surprisingly Good Handling
In twisty roads, the Prius handles surprisingly well and can be fun to drive. Our AWD test car felt balanced and controlled with minimal body lean, despite the steering’s rather vague center but quick feedback as you turn into curves.
Lots of Safety Tech
The most recent iteration of the Toyota Safety Sense package of driving aids is standard on all Prius grades. Included in this are automated high beams, lane departure steering assistance, automatic emergency braking, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian recognition. Except for the lowest L Eco trim, all models will get rear cross-traffic detection and blind spot warning by 2021. Curve-adaptive headlights are added to top trims.
How durable are Prius cars?
A Toyota Prius owner may anticipate getting between 200,000 and 250,000 miles out of their vehicle with routine maintenance, with some owners exceeding the 300,000-mile milestone and still going strong. The Prius has a well-established history of dependable service for more than two decades as the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle.
Savings vs. new: $8,079
It’s a wise decision to purchase a certified pre-owned 2019 Toyota Prius, which, on average, will cost $8,079 less than a brand-new 2021 Toyota Prius. That equals a 27 percent savings. You may purchase a car with many of the same features and the same design for three-quarters of the cost of a brand-new Prius while still enjoying all the advantages of Toyota’s CPO program.
Savings vs. new: $9,538
If you want even more of a discount, the typical 2019 Prius used outside of Toyota’s CPO program costs $20,819. Savings of $9,538 compared to new model and $1,448 compared to 2019 Toyota Prius CPO. You must determine whether the savings outweigh the advantages of purchasing a certified pre-owned vehicle.
What issues does the Toyota Prius have?
The Top Toyota Prius Issues
- Crack-Prone Windshield. One of the most prevalent issues with the 2016 Toyota Prius is windshield cracking.
- excessive use of oil.
- Engine issues.
- Inadequate headlights
- Accessory problems inside.
- Fuel gauge reading that is incorrect.
How long does the battery in a Prius last?
You’ve been enjoying driving your Toyota Prius and not having to worry about petrol prices all the time. But you soon come to the realization that you don’t really understand how to manage a hybrid automobile battery.
It’s impressive for any vehicle that Priuses have been known to run for up to 250,000 miles without experiencing any battery problems! But being ready is preferable to having a breakdown on the highway.
If it is useless, how do you replace it? How do you keep it up? Here, we address the most important queries you may have about the Toyota Prius battery.
In order to achieve excellent fuel economy and lower emissions, hybrid vehicles like the Prius combine an internal combustion engine and a battery-electric propulsion system. A Prius thus draws the majority of its power from the battery, allowing the internal electric motor to drive the vehicle.
When moving at 15 mph or less, just the electric motor is used. But if you’re traveling quickly (like on a highway), you’ll be using a gasoline engine.
What is the Hybrid Car Battery Lifespan for a Toyota Prius?
Many individuals are misinformed about how lengthy the life of a hybrid battery is. If you drive your hybrid vehicle for extended periods of time, you might need to replace the battery about every five years on average. However, if you don’t, the battery would most likely only last 100,000150,000 miles, or eightten years, instead.
This is a useful tip: Toyota will provide you with a brand-new battery at no cost if your battery does die before you reach those miles.
How Do You Repair Hybrid Car Batteries?
When a Prius battery’s cells die, it indicates that one or more of them can no longer maintain the appropriate level of power.
Without factoring in labor fees, the cost of a brand-new battery from a mechanic will range from $2,200 to $4,100. A used battery will cost you up to $1,500, while a refurbished one will set you back $1,500 if you decide to fix it yourself.
The HEV battery pack cooling system needs to be inspected and cleaned once a year if you want to keep your Prius battery functioning properly so it lasts longer.
Know About the Toyota Prius Battery Before You Get in Trouble
You are now fully informed about how Prius batteries operate, their typical lifespans, and the procedures involved in replacing them. Make care to keep it well-maintained so you can use it for many years to come.
A Prius costs how much each month?
For the 2022 Toyota Prius, the typical lease option costs $375 per month for a duration of 36 months, 12,000 miles per year, and $2,000 payable at signing. Depending on the length of the lease and the annual mileage, monthly payments might be anywhere between $368 and $510 per month.
For a 36-month lease with 10,000 annual miles and a $2,000 down payment, the lowest monthly price for the Toyota Prius is $368.
The new Toyota Prius’s MSRP is $26,170. However, $27,244 is the typical market selling price.
The Toyota Prius from 2022 is a hatchback. The Hyundai Ioniq and Chevrolet Malibu are two further comparable automobiles. According to typical leasing data for comparable vehicles, the Chevrolet Malibu is the least expensive to lease at $257 per month, while the Hyundai Ioniq is the most expensive at $430 per month.
How much do Prius batteries cost?
The Prius battery is no exception to the rule that hybrid and electric car batteries are more expensive than gas-powered automobile batteries. A new Toyota Prius battery can run you anywhere from $2,200 to $4,100.
Remember that even a used Prius battery costs roughly $1,500 when calculating the cost. You’ll be looking at a substantially bigger bill once labor costs and additional charges from your mechanic are taken into account. To maintain the lowest pricing possible:
- Comparative-shop for batteries. It’s unlikely that the first battery you come across will be the lowest choice.
- Obtain price quotes from mechanics. Prius frequently need specialist work, but every mechanic will charge labor in their own way. A different store might have a better offer for you.
- Think about switching to a different model. A new Prius can run for years without any problems, but you will need to pay the difference in price between it and your old one.
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Is a Prius expensive to own?
The Toyota Prius consistently receives good ratings from Consumer Reports readers, as shown by its high placement in our annual owner satisfaction poll. People are astounded by more than simply the excellent fuel economy. The Prius has a wide interior with a spacious backseat, plenty of cargo space under its hatchback, and a ton of safety and convenience features. It is obvious that this aerodynamic green machine is more complex than it first appears.
We put up this helpful reference to the essential information regarding the Toyota Prius for any buyer or owner because of this.
For a thorough road test, information on pricing, dependability, owner costs, and more, see the Toyota Prius model page.
It gets great fuel economy
Did you know that in our tests, the Prius has the best fuel efficiency of any car powered by a gasoline engine? 44 mpg overall, 55 mpg on the highway, which is amazing. Yes, we do believe you can perform better.
It’s one of the least expensive cars to own
In addition to saving money on gas, the Prius is also one of the most economical vehicles to buy altogether. The Prius works out to an incredibly economical $0.47 per mile when depreciation, gasoline costs, loan interest, insurance premiums, sales tax, and maintenance and repairs are taken into account. You can see why the Prius is “green” by comparing that figure to the anti-Prius, the BMW 750Li at $1.77 per mile. The Prius is “green” because it not only saves on gas but also money.
The odds are good that it will last a long time
Many owners have logged hundreds of thousands of kilometers thanks to the remarkable long-haul reliability of these vehicles. Even older Priuse models with roughly 200,000 miles on the odometer passed our retests with performance results that were remarkably comparable to those of brand-new models in the initial testing.
You can do some basic maintenance yourself
The Prius contains more high-tech hardware than you may expect, but it is still simpler to repair than you might assume. We even lowered a dealer quotation for a 30,000-mile inspection from $249 to to $85. (Discover how to reduce the expense of car maintenance.)
Want a ‘sportier’ Prius?
Yes, you read correctly: A whole range of TRD accessories, including bigger wheels, springs, and sway bars, are available for purchase from Toyota. A Prius may be be customized to look sexier.
Save your money on the Prius plug-in
Since the Plug-in version only provides roughly 12 miles of all-electric drivingeven on a good daywe advise avoiding it. Furthermore, it raises the cost of a basic Prius by roughly $5,000; Toyota has reduced the price by about $2,000 since its launch. While it lasts, buyers are qualified for a $2,500 federal tax credit to help defray some of that expense. We wouldn’t bite, though.
Just because it says ‘Prius’ on the outside doesn’t mean it’s a winner
Yes, there is a Prius that we dislike: the Prius C, the ordinary Prius’ younger sibling. The C receives a D- grade for acceleration, ride, fit and finish, and mediocre performance in the IIHS small-overlap crash-test despite averaging a very respectable 43 mpg overall in our tests.
Are Prius repairs expensive?
A Toyota Prius owner typically spends $400 a year on maintenance. A Prius can help you save money on maintenance and at the pump because an average car costs roughly $1,000 a month to maintain with fuel and other upkeep.
Because a large portion of the maintenance will be required as the automobiles age, all maintenance costs are fully back-loaded. To make sure you won’t have to pay for anything out of pocket, you might want to think about getting an extended warranty.
To protect your investment in the event of an accident or other unforeseen circumstance, you might also wish to purchase full coverage automobile insurance.
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About the Prius
Toyota’s Prius, which was half electric and half gas-powered, transformed the green sector when it was released in 2000. Since then, practically all auto manufacturers have released a gas-saving vehicle to compete in the green market. Given that their tanks only hold fuel for approximately to 50 mpg, these cars are relatively affordable to buy (beginning at $24,000). These vehicles have 121 horsepower and an 11.3-gallon tank. Most buyers of hybrid vehicles are often middle-class to rich, youthful to middle-aged men. Particularly in bigger American cities, Prius continues to have strong sales. However, after Prius vehicles began to circulate, its drivers have come under heavy criticism for how they handled their vehicles.
Cultural Digs
Prius drivers have long been the target of jokes in popular culture, from Urban Dictionary to the South Park episode “Smug Alert.” Prius drivers are described in numerous online personal stories and articles as being excessively slow, excessively rapid, and constantly disregarding stop signs and traffic signals. They’ve also received criticism for acting like a hypocrite by driving an eco-friendly vehicle and lowering their carbon footprint. This is especially true in South Park, where a scene portrayed Prius owners as arrogant knaves who delighted in drawing attention to their green vehicles. Additionally, the animosity has gotten so bad that some irate commuters have taken to criticizing Prius owners’ dangerous driving in online letters.
Eco-Friendly Drivers
Some of these stereotypes might have some grain of truth to them. At least in California, a recent study by the Institute of Personality and Social Research at the University of California Berkeley found a link between affluence and poor driving. In order to determine whether drivers would stop for pedestrians, their study involved watching them at a crosswalk. Approximately 8 out of 10 drivers obeyed the law and let the pedestrians pass. However, researchers found that people who drove expensive or environmentally friendly vehicles were far less likely to stop. Given that Priuses are considered eco-friendly vehicles, the responsibility may statistically rest with these drivers. These vehicles are frequently a prestige symbol for people who care about the environment. Even though this particular group of people may assert that they are “helping the environment,” such drivers are nevertheless regarded as being among the worst types of drivers out there.
Prius Owners and the Quest for Great MPG
But why do Prius drivers behave in such a manner? Another factor contributing to a Prius driver’s propensity for slow driving and aggressive braking is the desire to achieve the highest MPG. Priuses have two engines: an electric motor and a gasoline motor. Getting these engines to cooperate in order to power the car is the overarching goal. Despite the gas waste, the reason they brake so frequently is that consumers enjoy seeing the battery fully charged. Greater fuel efficiency is made possible through coasting and braking, which reduce the amount of time the gas engine is used. Due to this movement, Prius drivers often begin their acceleration from a stop sign or traffic light by coasting slowly. Even those who never touch the brake attempt to stop naturally. Additionally, Prius drivers prefer not to start their gas engines when they accelerate from a stop. Slowing down ensures that the car’s electrical system is still functioning, which enrages many of the drivers in front of them. The ideal speed for using the electricity is about 55 mph on freeways. Prius owners want to avoid using petrol, so anything faster starts using it. They’ll probably be plodding along in the slow lane as everyone else passes them at a high speed. Other drivers may be irritated by you in large part because of your antics.
The Rage Over Carpool
Following the introduction of Prius vehicles, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger enacted some intriguing legislation to promote the use of hybrid vehicles. Even though there was only one person in the car, some models of Toyotas and Hondas with the greatest gas-saving ratings were permitted to use the carpool lane. Many drivers found it infuriating to witness a single individual in a Prius speed past while the others were snarled in gridlock. Regular non-hybrid car drivers who use the carpool lane without any passengers risk being stopped and fined up to $270. Given this logic, it becomes sense that Prius drivers have attracted some negative sentiment.
Prius Accident and Death Stats
Most fatalities from auto accidents, according to researchers, involve compact, light-weight vehicles. Even though the Prius is a tiny four-door vehicle, small-car collisions cause about 31 fatalities each year. Despite the fact that Prius drivers have a reputation for being slow and incompetent, accident records demonstrate that this has no statistically significant impact on accident rates. Several Prius cars were recalled in 2016 because the parking brake may have been faulty. Even though Prius drivers were concerned, this didn’t have a significant impact on accident rates. However, the Prius juggernaut doesn’t appear to be slowed down by this.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that Prius accidents and accompanying fatalities are very low when compared to other compact cars, Prius drivers haven’t changed their driving behaviors. Furthermore, it makes sense that many other people could find these Prius drivers to be more despised given the exclusive privilege of driving alone in the carpool lane. Additionally, there seems to be a lot of truth in the Prius stigma regarding modest speeds. It makes sense that Prius owners who do this want to achieve worse gas mileage; after all, why even buy a hybrid car if you’re not going to use its best feature? Given this justification, it appears that Prius drivers will continue to face criticism until Toyota finds a means to make the switch between gas and electric engines more appropriate for Prius operating speeds.
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