Used Toyota Prius for sale: everything you need to know

The Toyota Prius is the original hybrid car. Created as a bespoke model to promote the fuel-saving benefits of hybrid engine technology, it caused a stir when launched back in the 1990s. The Toyota Prius went on to become the world’s best-selling hybrid car by far.

Toyota Prius rivals include the Lexus CT, the excellent Hyundai Ioniq, and the practical Kia Niro in a fashionable SUV form.

There have been several generations and the most recent one is the best of the lot. Compared to the boxy original, it looks futuristic, and has a sophisticated interior that’s far roomier than its ancestor.

Should you buy a Toyota Prius? 

The Toyota Prius is certainly a well-known hybrid model. Just as the Volkswagen Golf is the archetypal family hatchback, so the Toyota Prius is the first car you think of when asked to name a hybrid. It has brilliant brand currency that helps ensure it remains a popular used car choice. 

Toyota say sthe Prius has ‘self-charging’ hybrid tech, as it doesn’t need to be plugged in. The compact battery is recharged by reusing energy normally lost during braking. The system is able to deliver a certain amount of pure electric running, with the engine cutting in and out automatically. You don’t have to try very hard in order to get more than 50mpg from a Toyota Prius. 

The Toyota Prius makes a great second-hand buy, with a winning combination of fuel economy, decent specification and that famous Toyota reliability. 

There will always remain strong demand for the Toyota Prius, which is proving to be a very long-lived car even in its earliest guise. If you want one of the most well-rounded and efficient hybrid cars of recent years, the Toyota Prius is still worth a look.

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What's the best used Toyota Prius model to buy?

There’s only one engine choice - the 1.8-litre petrol with an electric motor providing hybrid assistance to it. There is the option of an all-wheel drive system, but we can’t imagine too many buyers wanting, or needing, the extra traction it brings. Toyota offers the Prius in four trim levels, Active being the entry point into the range, it followed by the Business Edition, Business Edition Plus and Excel. 

All are very well specified, though the Toyota Prius Active does lose a couple of things we’d want with our Prius, so we’d opt for the Business Edition trim. Over the Active, The Business Edition has a head-up display, auto dimming rear-view mirror, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert – the latter two useful as the view out the back of the Prius isn’t exactly panoramic – and a wireless charging area for your phone. Business Edition models and up also get the plusher soft-touch material on the dashboard and door trims.  

Used Toyota Prius fuel economy and performance

Toyota offers just a single 1.8-litre hybrid petrol engine with the Toyota Prius. Like all the company’s hybrids, it is paired with a CVT automatic transmission. 

• Toyota Prius 1.8 VVT-i hybrid petrol: The Toyota Prius engine is a 1.8-litre that, aided by an electric motor, serves up a combined power output of 122PS. Zero to 62mph acceleration takes 10.6 seconds, and average fuel economy is as high as 68.3mpg. The best efficiency comes from Active and Business Edition models with 15-inch wheels – both with sub-100g/km CO2 emissions. 
• Toyota Prius 1.8 VVT-i hybrid AWD-i petrol: It’s worth noting that you can get an all-wheel-drive version of this Toyota Prius generation. It uses the same petrol engine and CVT transmission, and is only marginally slower to 62mph. Even this model is super-efficient, emitting less than 110g/km CO2, hardly any different to higher-grade front-driven versions. 

What used Toyota Prius trim levels are available?

Toyota offers a clear four-level trim structure for the Toyota Prius, all with generous equipment. The specs make it easy to shop the classifieds and find out what you’ll get as standard. 

• The Toyota Prius Active is the entry-level version and potentially the most efficient, thanks to its fuel-saving 15-inch alloy wheels. It still has full LED lighting, climate control air-con and a 7.0-inch touchscreen that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. 
• The Toyota Prius Business Edition adds some useful extras, such as a head-up display, heated seats and wireless smartphone charging. It retains the low-CO2 15-inch alloys of the Active grade. 
• The Toyota Prius Business Edition Plus brings 17-inch alloys and the notable extra of standard sat-nav. It also has a tyre repair kit instead of the space-saver spare fitted to the lower level Toyota Prius trims. 
• The Toyota Prius Excel is the most luxurious model, with leather upholstery, a JBL premium audio system and a fully-connected online infotainment system.

Used Toyota Prius dimensions and boot size

The Toyota Prius’s exterior dimensions are: 

• Length: 4,540mm
• Width: 1,760mm
• Height: 1,470mm
• Ground clearance: 123mm

The Toyota Prius’s boot space is:

• 457 litres with temporary spare wheel, 502 litres with tyre repair kit
• 1,633 litres with rear seats folded

Used Toyota Prius road tax

Find an early Toyota Prius of this generation that was introduced in 2016 and you could pay zero for annual road tax. That applies to the two-wheel drive registered up until 1 April 2017, while the all-wheel drive version of the same age will pay £20 per year. Any Toyota Prius registered after 1 April 2017 will pay the standard rate of £180 per year for road tax.

How much is it to insure a Toyota Prius? 

The Toyota Prius is surprisingly affordable to insure. Entry grades have a group 13 (out of 50) insurance rating, with better-equipped versions only rising to group 14. This means it undercuts family hatchbacks such as the Vauxhall Astra, adding further to its cost-saving credentials. It’s also potentially more affordable to insure than a Toyota Corolla. 

Read our full Toyota Prius review