2024 Toyota Prius

After four generations, we all thought we knew what the Prius was about. Then this fifth generation launched last year and a reappraisal was necessary. No longer the slow, odd-looking compact hatchback with good fuel economy, the latest Prius is quick and sleek — yet still has superb fuel economy. Better than its predecessor, in fact, despite having noticeably more power.

The Prius has always been a special car for Toyota, now it shines even more brightly. Here at Kelley Blue Book, we’ve been impressed enough to make it our top hybrid car.

Reviewed separately, the Toyota Prius Prime plug-in hybrid is rated to travel up to 44 miles on electricity alone.

After entering an all-new generation last year as a radically redesigned vehicle, the Prius returns for 2024 with no major changes.

The only other hybrid in this price range with a hatchback, the Kia Niro Hybrid, starts at $26,840. The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid and Toyota Corolla Hybrid small sedans are more in the mid-20s. For anyone who wants to cut their emissions even further, the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid begins in the low-to-mid 30s.

Before buying a new Prius hybrid, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Sparing with gasoline, while enjoying Toyota’s build quality and reliability, the Prius has a justifiable reputation for retaining its value well. Toyota is a multiple winner of our Best Resale and 5-Year Cost to Own awards for mainstream marques.

On-Sale Date

The 2024 Prius is slated to arrive in dealerships beginning in November 2023.

A 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and an electric motor propel the Prius with a total of 194 horsepower. Unless it’s the all-wheel-drive version, in which case there’s an extra electric motor and output rises modestly to 196 horsepower. Once notoriously lackadaisical, the Prius can now get a hustle on. It used to take 9.8 seconds to saunter from standstill to 60 mph — this generation of Prius can manage the dash in a downright lively 7.2 seconds.

Coming back to a halt is similarly impressive. In the early days of hybrids, their regenerative braking systems felt odd compared with conventional cars and took some getting used to. But no one does this better than Toyota. We’ve found the brakes in the Prius to feel natural, smooth, and confident.

The steering requires virtually no effort, which is an asset when maneuvering. The car also feels quite nimble and composed through the corners, yet the ride quality is completely comfortable.

Outward vision is hampered by a small rear window. There is a remedy for this, though. Blind-spot monitoring is standard, and a digital rearview mirror comes with the XLE and Limited trims. It shows a clear image of what’s behind the car, courtesy of a rear-facing camera. Technology like this has enabled Toyota to push the design envelope, unrestricted by small compromises.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and researching the current collection of hybrid cars including the Toyota Prius.

Fuel Economy

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this latest generation of Prius achieves a remarkable 57 combined mpg (57 city, 56 highway). That’s for the base LE trim with front-wheel drive, and is 3 miles per gallon better than its most fuel-sipping rival, the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid in Blue trim.

The higher XLE and Limited versions return 52 combined mpg (52 city, 52 highway). If all-wheel drive is in the picture, the LE is rated at 54 combined mpg (53 city, 54 highway), while the XLE and Limited equivalents run to 49 combined mpg (49 city, 50 highway).

Hooray. Toyota has finally put the driver information display in front of the driver. As opposed to the top of the center console. It’s only taken five generations.

The dashboard as a whole echoes the car’s front end — clean and modern. We also like the 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen available in the higher trims, as well as the wireless charging location. This is a secure spot just ahead of the center armrest, big enough to take an iPhone 13 Pro Max in a case.

The low roof means tall adults will be arguing about who gets to sit up front. The new Prius comes with 36.4 inches of rear headroom and 34.8 inches of rear legroom. If this is a concern, look instead at the Corolla Hybrid sedan, or the even more spacious SUV-like Kia Niro Hybrid.

It’s a shame that those places where elbows usually come to rest are woefully under-padded. The usual Toyota aversion to using adequate sound deadening is also evident. Road noise blends with the noticeable thrum of the hybrid system.

Cargo space behind the rear seats is decent: 23.8 cubic feet with LE trim, 20.3 cubic feet with XLE and Limited trims. A couple of golf bags will fit with room to spare.

We understand Toyota’s wish for the Prius to be distinct. Over the years, it’s been a torch-bearer for a different kind of driving and a correspondingly different kind of driver. We could argue that this approach hasn’t always been successful from an aesthetic angle.

This time around, the Prius remains singular. But now it’s sleek as well. From almost any viewpoint, it looks as if it was sculpted in a wind tunnel. The lines seem simple, like the taillight bar going across the rear end, but they’re effective in their proportions and minor details.

Compared with the previous Prius, the roof is 2 inches lower and the body is an inch wider. It’s amazing how such apparently small increments can make such a visual difference.

Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Phone integration in a convenient cable-free format comes as standard with every new Prius hybrid.

Infotainment systems
The base LE has an 8-inch touchscreen. A 12.3-inch display is optional in the XLE, standard in the Limited. Six USB-C ports are standard, and the Prius can receive over-the-air upgrades.

All-wheel drive
For people who live in areas where winter tires are probably a good idea, then adding this option brings extra reassurance. Yet fuel economy remains thrifty.

Digital key
Accessing the Prius can be done by phone. This is optional in the XLE, standard in the Limited, and enables functions like remote locking/unlocking.

Powered tailgate
Exclusive to the top Limited trim, a powered rear hatch/tailgate/liftback/whatever-you-want-to-call-it adds a touch of luxury.

Advanced Park
This is a hands-free parking system for parallel and perpendicular spaces, available as an option in the Limited model.

The gasoline/electric hybrid system in the Prius consists of a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and an electric motor, making a total of 194 horsepower. Front-wheel drive is the default setup. All-wheel drive is optional, adding an extra electric motor to drive the rear wheels, while total output rises to 196 horsepower. Either way, that’s a good 50 horsepower more than its closest rivals.

In response to the recent rise in catalytic converter thefts, Toyota offers steel shields as a dealer-installed accessory. Depending on where you park your Prius, this could be well worth considering.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Toyota’s basic new-car warranty is for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first, with powertrain coverage of five years or 60,000 miles. This is typical among mainstream car companies. Hybrid-related components have their own warranty of eight years or 100,000 miles, while the hybrid battery is covered for 10 years or 150,000 miles. Toyota also includes two years or 25,000 miles of free maintenance.

Safety Ratings

The latest Toyota Prius hybrid has stellar safety ratings. It earns the lauded Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Crash testing from the federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is still to be performed. All Prius models come standard with safety features including forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrians/cyclist/motorcyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and Lane Tracing Assist which helps keep a safe distance to a vehicle in an adjacent lane. This could be really helpful when passing an 18-wheeler on the freeway.