No question, Toyota wrote the book on gasoline/electric hybrids with its very successful Prius line. Introduced into North America in 2000, it quickly caught on and more than 100,000 copies have been sold in Canada since. Toyota has grown the Prius family into several different models. It’s now in its fifth generation and in this review we’ll take a look at the fourth generation of the regular non-plug-in used Prius sold between 2016 and 2022.
Used Toyota Prius 2016-2022 engine options and trims
The Toyota Prius came in three trim levels; Prius, Prius Touring, and Prius Touring Technology. All shared the same 1.8 L 4-cylinder gasoline engine mated to two electric motor/generators and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) along with suspension and steering and general platform. The Touring and Touring Technology models brought improved infotainment, navigation, a personal electronics’ charging pad, power seats, collision mitigation, and a power sunroof along with larger tires and wheels.
Used Toyota Prius 2016-2022 price range
Advertised asking prices for the 2016-2022 used Prius range from $18,000 to $36,000.
Toyota Prius 2016-2022 interior and practicality
The fourth generation brought a lower, more streamlined look but interior space was still generous for a small hatchback. It was built to handle small families and it does the job well. Front-wheel drive combined with the weight of the hybrid’s battery pack and its low centre of gravity means a very sure-footed drive with predictable and accurate handling no matter the road or weather conditions. As with most vehicles in this class, rear seat room in the Prius is fine for two average-sized adults and few owners ever complained of either front or rear seat legroom.
Used Toyota Prius 2016-2022 running costs
With an NRCan rating of 4.5 L/100 km combined, you won’t find any other vehicle in this class that’s as cheap at the pumps as a used Toyota Prius. Oil changes require synthetic oil but still won’t break the bank. While the braking system is a little beefier due to its ability to pump electricity back into the drive battery via regenerators, they still are average in terms of parts’ pricing at less than $800 for a complete set of pads and rotors.
Problems in Used 2016-2022 Toyota Prius
Common, model-wide problems were few but some were extremely annoying. Owners reported severe echoing being experienced by incoming callers when using the hands-free phone system. Window regulators had more than their share of issues, so check the operation of each when shopping. Interestingly enough, the hybrid drive system and battery pack doesn’t show up on anyone’s complaint list. These batteries are covered by an eight-year warranty from the automaker, so transferring that coverage into the next owner’s name is definitely a good idea.
Toyota Prius reliability
The Prius comes with the same legendary reliability that Toyota products are known for, so with regular maintenance you should expect relatively trouble-free driving for 10 years or more. In terms of recalls, the 2022 model was recalled for a loss of drive power which was handled by an ECU software update. The 2019 models were recalled thrice — for loss of braking assist, electrical issue causing the main display to go blank and for text on load capacity label. The 2018 model was recalled once for a risk of fire due to a short in the wiring harness. The 2017 model had three recalls for the parking brake mechanism, faulty wiring harness and the spare tire. The 2016 model was recalled once for an airbag inflating unintentionally and once for failing to deploy in a crash!
Which used Toyota Prius should you buy?
The 2021 or 2022 model is the best bet, due to the availability of Toyota’s upgraded Safety Sense system known as TSS 2.0.
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