The Toyota Prius (/pris/) is a hybrid vehicle that Toyota manufactures. Its drivetrain combines an internal combustion engine with an electric motor. It was first made available as a four-door sedan, but has only ever been made as a five-door liftback.
According to smog-forming emissions, the Prius was classified as one of the cleanest cars sold in the United States in 2007 by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
[1] Following the Hyundai Ioniq Blue hybrid, the Prius Eco for the 2018 model year was the second-most fuel-efficient gasoline-powered vehicle offered in the US during that year. [2] [3]
The Prius was the first mass-produced hybrid car, and it first went on sale in Japan in 1997. It was offered at all four Toyota Japan dealership chains.
In 2000, it was subsequently made available everywhere [4].
[5] Toyota sells the Prius in more than 90 countries, with the United States and Japan being its two biggest export markets.
[6] The milestone number of Prius liftback vehicles sold globally was one million in May 2008, two million in September 2010, and three million in June 2013.
[9] The United States surpassed a cumulative sales milestone of one million by early April 2011[10], while Japan did the same in August 2011.
[11] With nearly 4 million units sold as of January 2017[update], the Prius liftback was the most popular hybrid vehicle worldwide. [12]
In 2011, Toyota added the Prius v, an extended hatchback, and the Prius c, a small hatchback, to the Prius family. The Prius plug-in hybrid’s production model was unveiled in 2012. In November 2016, the Prius Prime, the second generation of the plug-in model, was made available in the United States. [13] Of all the vehicles certified by the EPA with internal combustion engines, the Prime achieved the greatest miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) rating while operating entirely on electricity. [14] [15] During the first half of 2015, the Prius c variant’s global sales surpassed one million units. [16] In January 2017, the Prius family had cumulative global sales of 6.1 million units, or 61% of the 10 million hybrids Toyota had sold globally since 1997. [12]
In This Article...
What distinguishes a Prius from a hybrid?
The Prius is a hybrid car, however the Prius Prime is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), which allows for daily charging for additional range in EV mode. This is the main distinction between these two vehicles.
Are Toyota Prius vehicles reliable?
The Toyota Prius is a reliable vehicle, yes. It offers a spacious load hold and outperforms practically all other hybrid vehicles in terms of fuel efficiency. A long number of features and plenty of comfy seating are also present. Its poor driving qualities, though, include slow steering response and subpar acceleration.
How reliable is the Toyota Prius?
Indeed, the Toyota Prius is a great vehicle. In terms of fuel efficiency, it outperforms almost all other hybrid vehicles and has a sizable load space. Along with a vast list of features, there is also a lot of roomy, comfy seating. However, it has average driving qualities, with slow acceleration and slow steering reaction.
How long does the battery in a Prius last?
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.
Why did Toyota cease production of the Prius?
Why would Toyota discontinue the Prius given its enormous success? Why would the car manufacturer stop making it? One is that the Prius is selling a lot less than it did at its height. Compared to 236,655 units sold in 2012, Toyota only sold 43,525 Prius models in 2020.
The Prius is currently overshadowed by other hybrid vehicles, notably those from the Toyota brand. With the introduction of the Toyota Corolla Hybrid, speculation about the Prius being discontinued became even stronger. The Corolla Hybrid, another compact hybrid vehicle offered by Toyota, may render the Prius obsolete.
Electric vehicles are another factor that might make the Prius irreverent. Today’s consumers have a lot more environmentally friendly options with EVs, so hybrids like the Prius might not be as desirable. Toyota has waited a while to produce an electric car, but the carmaker just said that it will make a significant push for electric cars in the future, starting with the introduction of the Toyota bZ4X crossover EV in 2022.
What drawbacks come with owning a Toyota Prius?
1. Riding Comfort
The 2018 Toyota Prius features a firm ride quality, which is perhaps its major flaw. The tires are undoubtedly made to provide decent mileage rather than to cushion every bump on the road. Even the Prius c hatchback is a little more pleasant than the standard Prius, which can be very bumpy when driving over even the slightest amount of bad road topography.
2. Slow Accumulation
The Prius is not particularly good at accelerating. Although the Prius can accelerate reasonably well compared to other cars in its class, it is designed for fuel efficiency rather than cruising at high speeds. You may need to think about purchasing a totally new vehicle if you want something with a little more oomph.
3. Subpar interior components
The Toyota Prius has this drawback with some of Toyota’s other contemporary models. The inside has the appearance of being made with inferior materials. The cloth upholstery and several of the knobs and buttons appear to be prone to wear and tear with time, even though nothing appears to be about to break at any second.
4. Loud Cabin While Highway Speeds
There is no mistaking it: this car is not silent! When trying to get the Toyota Prius to travel beyond 55 miles per hour on the highway, you will have to put up with a lot of road, wind, and engine noise in addition to its stiff ride quality. The engine frequently complains when the car is pressed to move fast, and the cabin appears to lack the necessary insulation to keep part of the outside noise out.
How it compares to the opposition:
With its 58 mpg fuel efficiency, which is unquestionably best-in-class for this year, the 2018 Hyundai Inoiq Hybrid is a top-tier rival for the Prius. The Ioniq, on the other hand, is less roomy and has a smaller plug-in range.
Despite having a lower fuel economy than previous models, the 2018 Honda Civic Hybrid performs well on highways and in cities. The Civic is quite roomy and has a ton of safety equipment.
Overall, the 2018 Toyota Prius is a roomy, very fuel-efficient vehicle. The Prius is still one of the top hybrid sales performers due to its focus on fuel efficiency, even if it will need to step it up in 2019 to compete with newer hybrid models from other automakers.
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What issues are there with Toyota Prius?
The top complaints for various model years are listed below:
- 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.
What is the price of a Prius battery?
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- Comparative-shop for batteries. It’s unlikely that the first battery you come across will be the lowest choice.
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Why do people buy Prius vehicles?
Most likely, when people hear the word “hybrid,” they picture a Prius.
Whether or not automobile enthusiasts enjoy the outward design, the Toyota Prius has become a phenomenon in the hybrid vehicle industry. Its success is aided by its fuel efficiency, safety ratings, affordable pricing, and roomy legroom. Most likely, when people hear the word “hybrid,” they picture this highly lauded vehicle.
The Prius has achieved success since it was first introduced in 1997 in Japan, and its sales are still very strong. Even after 20 years, there is a reason why the Prius is still so well-liked in the US. Toyota released the automobile when the price of gas hit an all-time high, therefore there are more advantages than disadvantages. Because the hybrid Prius was more affordable than other vehicles and guaranteed passenger comfort, Americans adored the vehicle.
We’re demonstrating how the Prius’s success was influenced by both the state of the American economy and its dependability.
How much does a Prius cost to purchase?
The base L Eco model of the 2022 Toyota Prius costs $24,625 to purchase. The LE model starts at $25,835, the XLE trim at $28,845, and the Limited model, which is the highest end of the spectrum, at $32,920.
Is Prius all electric?
The Prius is a normal hybrid, not a plug-in like the Prime, hence it has a shorter all-electric range. The Prius, in contrast, has all-wheel drive and has larger passenger and cargo room; AWD is not an option with the plug-in Prime.