2021 Toyota Prius Review

Name: 2021 Toyota Prius
Brand: Toyota

Price Range: $18,990 - $27,998

Toyota Prius L Eco 4dr Hatchback Exterior

Average

7.3

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

The 2021 Toyota Prius is synonymous with hybrid vehicles, and for good reason. It's comfortable, highly efficient and practical. Although "fun!" is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Prius, it's good where it matters.

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Average price: $21,985

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Toyota Prius for Sale

Pros

Capable of returning 50-plus mpg
Quiet cabin, even with the gas engine engaged
Easy to see out of and maneuver around town
Available all-wheel drive

Cons

Offset instrument panel is out of driver's direct line of sight
Acceleration can be sluggish
Jittery ride quality on rough pavement
Standard infotainment system looks and feels dated

What's new

Limited-production 2020 Edition
Android Auto smartphone compatibility
Minor enhancements to advanced driver safety aids
Part of the fourth Prius generation introduced for 2016

Overview

Written by automotive expert Kurt Niebuhr

9/2/2020

The Toyota Prius is easily the most well-known and influential hybrid sold. Over the years, the Prius has evolved and steadily gained fuel efficiency and capability. Toyota introduced the current generation for the 2016 model year and made a variety of updates for 2019. The 2021 Prius boasts up to an EPA-estimated 56 mpg in combined city/highway driving, which is excellent for a hybrid. You can even get it with all-wheel drive to help out with traction on icy or snowy roads.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Ashburn, VA

25 listings

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2021 Toyota Prius
LE 4dr Hatchback
$20,998
- 72,676 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use only
- 54 City / 50 Hwy MPG
- CarMax Ellicott City (40 mi away)
- Free delivery available*
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Upgraded Headlights
- Blind Spot Monitorin...
Close
Located in Ellicott City, MD
Wanna drive? CarMax puts you in the driver's seat-and that includes transparency. Certain cars may have unrepaired safety recalls, so check nhtsa.gov/...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: Yes
Features and Specs:
52 Combined MPG (54 City/50 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JTDKAMFU5M3142078
Stock: 28230945
Certified Pre-Owned: No
New Listing
2021 Toyota Prius
2020 Edition 4dr Hatchback
$25,990
- 37,067 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use only
- 54 City / 50 Hwy MPG
- Carvana - Richmond (95 mi away)
- Home delivery*
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Upgraded Headlights
- Blind Spot Monitorin...
Close
Located in Richmond, VA
At Carvana, we go miles beyond the extra mile. That's why we provide you with a convenient, fast, and hassle-free car buying experience that puts you ...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
52 Combined MPG (54 City/50 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JTDKAMFU5M3128584
Stock: 2004610749
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 03-12-2026

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To keep the Prius competitive, Toyota also fits the Prius with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration and a suite of advanced safety features that's standard on all Prius trims. Some noteworthy competitors on sale today include the Honda Insight and the Kia Niro. Toyota also offers hybrid variants of its Camry, Corolla and RAV4. Their fuel economy isn't as high, but their more conventional styling and/or greater practicality make them viable alternatives as well.

What's it like to live with?

To learn more about the Toyota Prius of this generation, read about our experiences from living with a 2016 Toyota Prius. After its debut, we went out and bought one and racked up more than 30,000 miles. We cover everything from this hybrid's real-world fuel economy to seat comfort and cargo space. Please note that the 2021 Toyota Prius differs from our long-term 2016 model in that the newer model has updated styling and more standard features. It's the same generation, though, so most of our observations still apply.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Average

7.3

out of 10

We drove the 2021 Toyota Prius on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Performance

6.5/10

How does the Prius drive? You're not buying a Prius to get engaging performance. In Edmunds testing, our all-wheel-drive Prius test car covered 0-60 mph in 10.5 seconds, which is among the slowest cars around, hybrid or not. (Perhaps somewhat paradoxically, the lighter, front-drive Prius was marginally slower.) The Prius is also pretty tepid when it comes to agility and handling precision.

We do like the Prius' easy-driving nature and its smooth transitions from electric motor drive to gasoline engine power. Another Prius advantage is its available all-wheel drive. It should be noted, though, that the rear wheels only intervene when the front wheels lose traction. So in most dry-weather scenarios, you'll never feel them working.

Comfort

7.5/10

How comfortable is the Prius? The front seats are softly padded. Most drivers will find them comfortable for the long haul, though taller drivers or those with long legs might find the seat bottoms to be a few inches too short. The cabin is generally quiet unless you floor the gas pedal, at which point the engine gets rather raucous.

Another downside is the Prius' ride quality over broken pavement and concrete expansion joints. The impacts from these types of bumps can make the car feel jittery. Since the car is so quiet, these bumps are perhaps more noticeable than they'd otherwise be.

Interior

7.5/10

How’s the interior? The Prius is a fundamentally easy car to get into and drive. Aside from the shifter, all other controls will feel immediately comfortable to the majority of drivers. Most drivers should also be able to find a comfortable driving position thanks to the seat's wide range of adjustability.

But we wish there was more telescoping range in the steering wheel, and most of the instrument panel information is not in the driver's line of sight. The 11.6-inch screen on the top-tier Limited model has most of the car's climate control settings and buttons in on-screen submenus. From an ease-of-use standpoint, it seems like a step backward from the dedicated physical buttons on lower Prius trim levels.

Technology

6.5/10

How’s the tech? As advanced as the Prius is from a powertrain standpoint, it can seem a little odd that it comes up a bit short in in-car tech. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, but the standard infotainment system looks and feels dated. Even the big 11.6-inch screen on the top-tier Limited model seems like a gimmick since Toyota doesn't do much to take advantage of the larger space.

The Prius, however, comes standard with a full suite of advanced driving aids. Most of them work well, and the adaptive cruise control can bring the Prius to a complete stop.

Storage

8.5/10

How’s the storage? Thanks to its cavernous hatchback cargo area and fold-down rear seatbacks, the Prius is quite useful for carrying luggage, groceries or whatever else you want to put back there. Up front, there's enough in-cabin storage for the daily odds and ends, and the cupholders securely hold beverages under the circumstances in which most Priuses are typically driven.

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The Prius is known for its frugal use of gasoline. The EPA estimates a range of up to 56 mpg in combined city/highway driving for the Eco trim level or down to 49 mpg with all-wheel drive. In our own fuel economy testing of a couple of Prius test cars, we've been able to verify that the EPA's estimates are achievable in real-world driving.

Value

7.5/10

Is the Prius a good value? The Prius' interior feels well built even if some cabin materials are a little too plasticky. It's still one of the best vehicles for fuel economy, and the AWD version delivers some extra assurance for drivers who live in snow country.

As for warranties, Toyota gives you its regular coverage, which includes a longer duration (eight years or 100,000 miles) for the hybrid components. You also get Toyota's two free years of scheduled maintenance.

Wildcard

7/10

The Prius isn't exciting to drive or filled with luxury features. Instead, the Prius is all about being easy-to-drive, practical and comfortable and, of course, saving on gas.

2021 Toyota Prius trim level differences

The 2021 Toyota Prius is a four-door hatchback hybrid that seats five passengers. The front-wheel-drive model is available in five trim levels: L, LE, XLE, Limited and the new 2020 Edition. The Prius AWD-e, which has all-wheel drive, is offered in the LE and XLE trims only. Significant features include: Compare the 2021 Toyota Prius trim levels in-depth.

Which Prius trim does Edmunds recommend?

It's tempting to keep the Prius basic, maximizing both cost and fuel efficiency, but we'd splurge a little and get the midgrade XLE. We prefer the XLE's heated simulated-leather seats, the standard wireless phone charger, and auto-dimming interior mirror as well as the available option packages should you want a sunroof or head-up display.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$79/mo

$197/mo

Avg. Compact Car

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Reliability

The 2021 Toyota Prius has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and no recalls. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5, ranks it #6 out of 28 among Midsize Cars. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

4.5 out of 5 stars4.5/5Excellent

#6 out of 28 among Midsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

$351/yr

vs. $415/yr
for Average Midsize Car

Frequency

0.71x/yr

vs. 0.87x/yr
for Average Midsize Car

Severity

10.9%

vs. 10.2%
for Average Midsize Car

Recalls

There are no recalls for the 2021 Toyota Prius

Warranty

3 years / 36,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Hybrid component Warranty: 8 years / 100,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 5 years / unlimited miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 2 years / unlimited miles
Free maintenance Warranty: 2 years / 25,000 miles

Toyota Prius Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.3

29 reviews

5(62%)

4(21%)

3(10%)

2(3%)

1(4%)

See all 29 reviews of the Toyota Prius

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Trending topics

AWD-e easy to live with

DKDC, 03/15/2020

2020 Toyota Prius LE AWD-e 4dr Hatchback AWD (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

We’ve had the AWD-e for three months and are still happy with the car. Very relaxing to drive in the city, super efficient on the highway. Around town the size is perfect, parking assist is fun to use, rear cross traffic alert very useful, the car is quiet. MPG in town has not been fantastic in the winter, but once the weather warmed up a bit the MPG went up. Average mpg since purchase …

Prius built for safety!

Ethan , 09/15/2020

2020 Toyota Prius XLE 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

In the beginning of the month I got into a horrific car crash. A semi hit my car and I drove into a concrete wall on the freeway at 75 miles an hour. Although my Prius is a total loss, I believe it saved my life. I have four broken bones and a lacerated knee. I walked out of that car. Unbelievable! I loved my Prius!

1st hybrid, so far, love it

surly jason, 04/10/2021

2021 Toyota Prius LE 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

I've owned a ton of cars through the years; back in 2014, I got a Prius as a rental and remember enjoying it very much. I finally got tired of putting gas in my tank and started doing some research on Prii -- they are made in Japan and have legendary reliability. Checking fuelly, it seems like the later models all get about 50 mpg. I test drove several Prii but decided on a gray LE … model with black interior. I've owned it about 3 weeks and 1,200 miles and really like it: it's extremely quiet, smooth and pleasant to drive. I've had to put gas in it twice which is a welcome relief. It's not that I can't afford gas, I just hate stopping to put it in. I no longer feel compelled to gas up after taking a 200-mile trip because there's still about 350 - 400 miles of range left (which is what many cars have with a full tank -- like my previous CRV, for instance). I can't imagine going back to a conventional car that gets conventional mileage. There is definitely a place for larger vehicles -- like if you have a large family, you're a tradesman and carry a bunch of stuff around, or you tow things -- but I bet if lots of people were honest with themselves and what their needs are, and they tried a Prius, they'd be pleased. I am extremely happy with my purchase. UPDATE, 10/12: Love this car. I have right around 8,000 miles on it and the vehicle has consumed 134 gallons of gasoline. My operating cost per mile is about $0.51. I love how quiet the car is. The air conditioning is also the coldest and most effective system I've experienced. I am hoping the heat will be half as effective come winter and I'll be happy. I'm about 6' tall and I feel comfy in the car but I can see how a larger car could be more comfortable for someone who wants more legroom; as it is, I scrape the tops of my legs against the bottom of the steering wheel upon entry and exit. Improvements I'd like: the steering wheel to telescope out further. The automatic locking system to work on all doors not just the driver's door (I have to fish out my key fob to open the hatch if it's locked -- most newer cars have a proximity sensor so when you're near the car, pressing any of the external buttons unlocks the doors without resorting to pushing the buttons on the fob). I'd also like a self-dimming rear mirror. This is a pretty basic car and it could be that higher trim levels address my wants. I don't plan to get rid of this car but I could see getting a Camry or a RAV4 hybrid to supplement this vehicle when my significant other's car nears time for replacement. I am just so impressed with this car. I bought it to take us places on the weekends so we don't have to think about gas and it's met every expectation. I rarely go below a half-tank which means we travel about 300 miles and consume about 5 gallons of fuel doing so. The fuel range is phenomenal and I love driving the thing. April 17th, 2022 update: have owned "Alice" more than a year and over 13k miles. Still love the car and enjoy driving it every time. Mpg dipped to high 40s / low 50s over the winter but is rebounding to mid to upper 50s as it's getting warmer. One of many things I love is leaving the car "on" with the heat running while getting gas because the engine stays off and I re-enter a toasty car. The biggest thing I dislike is how low Prius is. They make lift-kits for these and honestly 1 1/2" of height would be terrific. I'm not buying a lift-kit but it would be helpful. The car is great and I still think 80% of motorists could get by with a Prius. I love my little putt-putt !! UPDATE, 10/18/22: still love my putt-putt, Alice. No complaints or problems. No unusual maintenance. Just passed 20k miles. There's a little wear on the fabric seats but I have to remind myself it's just a cheap little car. I may look into getting some colorful seat covers ... I love not having to think about my car, maintaining it, doing much of anything except pushing the start button and going. I recently inherited a CRV and while I enjoy the space inside and higher ground clearance, it's frustrating how much gas it uses compared to the Prius. UPDATE 4/18/23: Prius has been totally dependable and I still love driving it. She has about 27,000 miles and over the past 10 fill-ups, has averaged averaged just over 56 mpg; I expect this to increase with the warmer temperatures. The Prius and CRV make a great vehicular combo -- one with tons of cargo space, AWD, ground clearance; the other with terrific comfort and excellent mpg. I went and saw the new Prii and while they're more powerful, they're also smaller inside so I remain extremely pleased with mine :-) Five stars and two thumbs up !! UPDATE 10/20/23: Nearly 38K miles and nothing but oil changes, new wipers, new cabin air filter, and new tires. I love driving my car and even make money driving the car with the current IRS reimbursement rate. Every time I get into it, it feels like "my new car." When I got the new tires, the dealer offered me a 2023 Prius as a loaner. I liked the extra power but the interior felt smaller and I disliked how the steering wheel obstructed the instrument panel. If they bring the bright yellow to the US, however, well, I may have to get one. In the meantime, loving my '21 Prius, Alice. UPDATE 4/25/24: I've never been as satisfied with a vehicle as I am with Alice. Nearing 50,000 miles and no problems. I enjoy every drive in her. Still smooth, quiet, and reliably averaging between 50 - 60 mpg. I believe the average lifetime mpg is just over 59 mpg. I have seriously considered a Camry Hybrid but I value the hatchback too much to make the change. I would consider a small hybrid SUV if they approached the mpg of Prius but they don't. I think what I'd like would be a Camry Hybrid in wagon format. In the meantime, I have no plans to get rid of Alice. UPDATE, 10/26/24: Still driving Alice -- she's been a fabulous vehicle. No unusual maintenance items and the only things replaced have been engine and cabin air filers, wipers, tires, and regular oil changes. She still runs like new and gets us where we need to go. This is the car that I've driven the farthest, by far, and just passed 60K miles. I plan to keep Alice for at least another year and a half and then she'll also be the car that I've owned the longest. UPDATE, 4/28/25: best darn car ever. 68k miles and she just keeps getting better. No unexpected expenses, 56 mpg over the life of the car. There is nothing here not to like. UPDATE: November 2025, 82000 miles. A strut was leaking so I had both replaced. We're coming up on needing new tires. Average mpg so far is 58. We just returned from a 460 mile trip averaging 62 mpg. What a car!

Best Hybrid On The Market

Bruski, 05/08/2020

2020 Toyota Prius XLE AWD-e 4dr Hatchback AWD (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

This is my 3rd Prius. The technology and fuel economy continues to improve. The quality, reliability & dependability is incredible. Never have to be concerned with range anxiety on long trips like with all electric vehicles. Environmentally responsible.

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Toyota Prius, so we've included reviews for other years of the Prius since its last redesign.

2021 Prius Features & Specs

Trim:

L Eco

MSRP (New) Excludes Destination Fee	$24,525
Engine Type	Hybrid
Combined MPG	56 MPG
Cost to Drive	$79/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	27.4 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the Prius models:

Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection: Detects cars or pedestrians and warns of potential collisions, then automatically applies the brakes if you don't react.
Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist: Alerts you if the car drifts out of its lane and can apply steering input to correct the course.
Intelligent Clearance Sonar: Alerts you to the presence of obstacles near the vehicle during low-speed maneuvers.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover10.7%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Acceptable
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2021 Toyota Prius Review

Price & Payment

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

For sale near Ashburn, VA

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

What's it like to live with?

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

2021 Toyota Prius trim level differences

Which Prius trim does Edmunds recommend?

Cost to Drive

Reliability

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

Recalls

Warranty

Toyota Prius Reviews

Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

2021 Prius Features & Specs

Safety

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