Used 2012 Toyota Prius Four Hatchback Review
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2012 Toyota Prius Four Hatchback.
Most helpful consumer reviews
2 months of city driving
quentoncassidy, Pleasant Hill, CA, 05/13/2012
2012 Toyota Prius Four 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
Just had it about two months.
Very good handling vehicle around town and the mpg are fantastic!
I'm averaging over 50 mpg in stop and go driving.
Took a relatively long trip of 350 miles and averaged 56 mpg.
Seats are very comfortable and the NAV system and technology features are great.
Sound system works very well; I have the Deluxe Solar Package and the upgraded stereo is … excellent.
There is a solar array on top of the vehicle that runs a ventilation system to cool the car on sunny days and this is another wonderful feature.
I've had sun roofs on all my cars since 1978 so I had to have this on the Prius.
it's always been about the environment, not your wallet
whcc90069, Rosemead, CA, 08/09/2012
2012 Toyota Prius Four 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
bought the package 4 not long ago.
it took a while to get accustomed to the "park" button, the "gear" selector, and the complicated instrumentation display.
the car is fairly quiet, though, i remember riding in a 2nd generation prius which seemed better at taking care of road noise.
i drove it from l.a. to phoenix and had no problems accelerating up hills.
with the a/c running, i … averaged 50.9 mpg throughout the entire 780 mile round trip.
the seats are comfortable and there's plenty of legroom for everyone.
toyota made the prius because of their (mis)interpretation of calif. air quality standards way back when.
the low emissions are great, and, the high MPGs are an added bonus.
6-year owner - Best car I've ever owned by far.
CK, 04/14/2020
2012 Toyota Prius Four 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
I've always been a car guy. Having owned and driven many exciting performance cars, I have found one thing in common with all of them - the more exciting the car, the more stressful it is to own. When I bought my Prius (almost new) six years ago, I wasn't expecting much. So I was pleasantly surprised by what a nice car it was to drive. But what I wasn't expecting over the long term … was to appreciate how much stress-free driving makes up for a lack of adrenaline.
I'm 44 years old now, and I've never owned a car for more than a year or two. But my 2012 Prius has been so reliable (nearly 120,000 miles later), I just can't let it go. I'm likely going to drive it until my 9-year old son turns 16, then give it to him.
I had to replace the front brake pads when I started driving for Uber in my spare time, but I probably could have gone another 50k miles on the old ones. Of course I've replaced several windshields and gone through a few sets of tires... and every time I turn around I find a new scratch or blemish where I'm oblivious to its origin. But really the only mechanical issue I've had has yet to be repaired, as recently one of the ball joints has started to rattle over bumpy roads.
All of the above falls short however. Here's the very best thing about owning a Prius. When somebody gives me a hard time I can always use this response... "Hey, if I cared what people thought of me do you really think I'd be driving a Prius?"
Cause if you are a manly man and you own a Prius, you will get teased by other men. So you must have thick skin and/or a level of confidence that doesn't hinge on how others perceive you. I guess you could say no snowflakes allowed haha.
owned a short time, but quite happy
carbuff50, Escondido, CA, 10/27/2012
2012 Toyota Prius Four 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
We purchased a four with sunroof, and added the 17 inch wheels to it.
Drove one with the 17 inch wheels and it made a wonderful difference in ride/handling.
Mileage so far is 51.9 avg..
The car is truly a tech. marvel. The inside is a little noisy but I think some of that is due to the standard toy size 15 inch tires that come on it.
The sunroof is terrific and well worth the money.
This … car does not feel anything like our prior older Prius which felt like a much more base/utilitarian vehicle.
We also have a high end MB and I am finding myself driving this more than it-because it is fun.
Edmunds Summary Review of the 2012 Toyota Prius Four Hatchback
Pros & Cons
- Pro:Superior fuel economy
- Pro:abundant backseat room
- Pro:spacious cargo area
- Pro:comfortable ride
- Pro:available high-tech luxury goodies
- Pro:strong safety scores.
- Con:Awkward driving position
- Con:disappointing interior materials
- Con:excessive road noise
- Con:overly busy gauge cluster.
Full Edmunds Review: 2012 Toyota Prius Hatchback
Edmunds Insurance Estimator
The Edmunds TCO® estimated monthly insurance payment for a 2012 Toyota Prius in Pennsylvania is:
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