There is a reason why the Toyota Prius is one of the most popular full hybrid cars. They are one of the most fuel-efficient and economical vehicles available. But, there are many out there that you can choose from, so we are here to help you determine which one is best for you.
The best Toyota Prius to buy is the 2020 model year. With so many innovative features with the latest designs, Toyota has set the standard for its competitors. In addition, this car is a safe purchase, and it has not had many problems reported.
Now, let’s get more into the depth of why buying a Toyota Prius is the right choice and which years are safe to buy, and also talk about the issues and bad years of Toyota Prius.
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Best Year for Used Toyota Prius
If you are looking into saving some money, buying an older version of the car might help, but what helps, even more is purchasing a used car. Purchasing a used vehicle will save you some money along with your purchase.
The best year for a used Toyota Prius is the 2002 and 2003 versions if you are looking into saving some money, but if you are looking into buying an innovative performance, we recommend the 2020 model year. They are all very reliable and worth your money.
Buying a used car is significant; if you have experience and know what to look for, you can get a great vehicle that is almost like new.
Is It Worth Buying a Used Toyota Prius?
Used cars will not only save up your money upfront but also along the years of using them because the insurance rate will be much lower for a used car than for a new one.
Yes, it is worth buying a used Toyota Prius. They are very safe and economical since they won’t break a lot and will have an excellent fuel economy. But, if you are not sure about your skills in determining if the car is worth your money, we don’t recommend going alone.
Buying a used vehicle on your own can be a bit scary if you don’t have experience or don’t know a lot about cars, because in this case, you never know what you will end up with. So, if this is the case with you, we would like to recommend taking a mechanic with you to help you determine if the vehicle is good or not.
Is Toyota Prius a Reliable Car?
Reliability is determined by the customer’s reports and their experience in owning a particular car. So, knowing if your vehicle is reliable or not is very important. That’s why we wanted to tell you all about Prius’ reliability.
Yes, Toyota Prius is a reliable car. They have proven to be one of the most reliable cars available on the market in the past few years. And we can confirm that only 6,8% of owners had a bad experience with their Prius in the first year of owning the vehicle.
The critics rating for this car is an impressive 7.7 out of 10; they also have an excellent interior rating of 7 out of 10. So, when you buy a Prius, you know that you will be getting a comfortable and reliable car.
What Year Is the Most Reliable Toyota Prius?
In general, most Toyota Prius’ have a very high-reliability score, which makes the choosing part even more difficult. That’s why we are here to help.
The most reliable Toyota Prius’ are any model years from 2013 to 2016. They have a perfect reliability score of five out of five, and we assure you that there is nothing wrong that can happen with any of these Prius’ if they are treated right.
Of course, as you may know already, reliability can also be very subjective, and you can’t expect a car to be reliable if you don’t treat it right. So, we suggest you treat your Prius right, and it will serve you right in return.
Best Year for Toyota Prius for Gas Mileage
Toyota Prius is a well-known vehicle for good fuel economy. But, which is excellent, you know that your spendings won’t be high and your new car won’t cost you a lot.
The best year for Toyota Prius for gas mileage is the 2016 model year, which had a record-breaking 52mpg overall, the best gas mileage ever recorded. EPA also estimated Toyota Prius is getting 54mpg in the city and 50mpg on a highway.
So, who doesn’t want to get a vehicle that will save your money up? Now, let’s find out how good Prius is in holding its value.
Does Toyota Prius Hold Their Value?
When you buy a new or used car and think that you would want to sell it in future years, it is essential to know that you will resell it for a reasonable price. So, do Toyota Prius’ do an excellent job in holding their value?
Yes, Toyota Prius holds its value well. For example, the average price drop for a Toyota Prius is 41% in the first five years. So, this price drop is significant since most hybrids are not so good at holding their value, and an overall average price drop is around 50%.
Of course, to have this low price drop, you will have to treat your car with respect in the years of owning it. For example, your Prius will have to be accident-free, and you will have to have less than 12,000 miles spent per year.
How Much Is a Used Toyota Prius?
Here are all the average prices listed for Toyota Prius.
| Year | Average Price |
| 2010 | $7,500 |
| 2011 | $8,998 |
| 2012 | $11,450 |
| 2013 | $12,998 |
| 2014 | $13,900 |
| 2015 | $15,450 |
| 2016 | $17,997 |
| 2017 | $20,985 |
| 2018 | $22,800 |
| 2019 | $23,995 |
| 2020 | $28,999 |
| 2021 | $31,450 |
Why Are Used Toyota Prius So Expensive?
When searching for a good car, you have to be ready to pay the bucks for it. You can’t expect to get a fantastic vehicle for a meager price; there must be something wrong there. If you wonder why Prius has such a high price tag, you are about to find out.
Toyota Prius’ high price tag is because of its fantastic reliability and excellent fuel economy. You can expect nothing less but an enjoyable and comfortable ride with Prius. But, you have to be ready to pay for it.
They are also very safe and have many innovative features to keep you and your family safe along the ride, which adds to its price.
Where to Buy a Used Toyota Prius?
Buying a used car can be difficult, especially because you have so many stores available and online shops that it is challenging to determine which one is safe to buy your car from. And that’s why we wanted to help you.
The best websites to buy your Toyota Prius from are Edmunds, CarMax, and CarGurus. These are all legit websites, with a 100% guarantee you won’t get scammed.
And although you have the right website to buy your car from, if you are not confident in your skills of determining whether the vehicle is good to buy or not, we still recommend contacting the mechanic to help you do it.
What Problems Does Toyota Prius Have?
Here are some of the problems you can expect to face along the years of using Prius.
Excessive Oil Consumption- Prius owners often experience the problem of excessive oil consumption after 100k miles. This usually happens to versions like 2010 and 2011. So if you are looking into buying a Prius, we recommend avoiding these model years.
Lighting Problem- The problem with lights includes the lights going off then replacing them, and they would again go out. Toyota will cover the first two replacements, but later, you will have to replace them on your own.
Piston Rings Getting Clogged- The 2010-2015 model years have thinner piston rings and updated designs that have been bad for Prius. As a result of changing this, Toyota Prius’ pistons get clogged often. To solve this problem, you can replace the piston.
What Years Are Bad for Toyota Prius?
Apart from knowing what years to go for, you must know what years you should avoid. Unfortunately, some years have gone wrong for Prius.
The worst years for Toyota Prius are the 2007, 2008, and 2010 model years which have the most complaints; they are also known for having the worst reliability score when it comes to Toyota Prius.
Now, with all the information gathered, you are ready to buy your new Toyota Prius; we hope that this article helped you along the way.
