Used Toyota Prius cars for sale

The Toyota Prius led the way towards greener motoring, being the world’s first mass-produced hybrid car. It launched in the UK in 2000 as a four-door saloon and featured a specially designed powertrain comprising a 1.5-litre petrol engine and an electric motor. It also boasted technology still used widely today, such as regenerative braking.

Toyota Prius updates and facelifts

The Mk2 model arrived in 2003 with a completely revised design and improved fuel efficiency. This time it took a five-door hatchback form and, with an extended wheelbase, offered more interior space. It introduced further innovative technologies such as Intelligent Parking Assist and steering-assisted Vehicle Stability Control. The Mk3 edition followed in 2009, when the engine size increased to 1.8 litres. It proved a huge success, partly assisted by eco-friendly road tax incentives. In 2012, a plug-in hybrid variant was launched, delivering an all-electric range of around 14 miles.

The Mk4 Prius arrived in March 2016 and was met with praise from critics and motorists alike. In 2017 it won the Best Family Car title at the UK Car of the Year awards, as well as being named Carbuyer’s Best Economical Car. It also won the What Car? Car of the Year 2017 Safety Award.

The fourth generation retained its five-door hatch body style and 1.8-litre petrol engine but was given a more powerful aesthetic. The plug-in hybrid variant arrived in 2017 and received a bigger battery, increasing its all-electric range to 39 miles. Four trim levels are available for this edition: Active, Business Edition, Business Edition Plus and Excel.

A revised Prius arrived in UK showrooms in 2019, offering the option of four-wheel drive. The refreshed model also provided better smartphone connectivity and a cleaner exterior design.

Having sold over five million units worldwide, the Prius remains a popular model despite strong competition from the Lexus CT 200h and Hyundai IONIQ. The Mk5 edition launched in 2023, boasting a 2.0-litre petrol engine option for the hybrid variant in addition to the 1.8-litre unit. Continuing the model’s reputation for innovation, the PHEV variant features a solar charging system that can deliver an additional range of up to 776 miles each year.

Practicality and style of the car

As a practical family car, the Prius offers generous boot space. Capacity with the load cover in place is 343 litres, but if you remove the cover and load the boot fully, there’s 502 litres of space on offer. That’s more than the Hyundai IONIQ’s 443 litres. Fold the rear seats down and there is a 1,558-litre load volume, which is larger than several combustion engine hatchbacks and even some small SUVs.

There are lots of clever storage spaces too. The glovebox is large enough for a one-litre water bottle and there’s a large cubby beneath the armrest between the front seats. The centre console has a tray that is perfect for storing your smartphone, and in the Business Edition trim and above, a wireless phone charger is built in.

If you’re looking to tow with the Prius, you’ll have a maximum of 725kg capacity at your disposal. The towing capability is the same for both braked and unbraked trailers.

Running costs

The Toyota Prius is reasonable to run, occupying groups 11–15 out of 50 for insurance. The PHEV has slightly higher premiums, falling into groups 16–20, which is comparable to other plug-in hybrids.

Whether you choose the hybrid or PHEV variant, models produced before April 2017 are exempt from road tax due to their low emissions. For cars produced thereafter, a standard charge of £170 per year applies

How a used Toyota Prius drives

Both the Mk3 hybrid (2009–2015) and the Mk4 hybrid (2016–2022) have the same basic powertrain: a 97bhp 1.8-litre petrol engine developing 142Nm of torque supported by a 71bhp electric motor developing 163Nm of torque. These combine to produce a total of 121bhp, since the engine and electric motor don’t deliver a peak output at the same time. This is enough to send the Prius from 0–62mph in 10.6 seconds and return a fuel efficiency of up to 217.3mpg, depending on whether you’re driving mostly in town or on the motorway.

The plug-in hybrid variant is fitted with the same 97bhp, 142Nm 1.8-litre engine, but this is paired with a 72bhp motor developing 188Nm. This is supplied by an 8.8kWh battery. The car reaches 62mph from a standstill in 11.8 seconds and can achieve up to 39 miles of range, with total fuel economy peaking at 235.4mpg.

Both variants are paired to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) automatic gearbox and have a front-wheel drive setup. From 2019, a four-wheel drive option became available for those requiring greater on-road stability and traction.

Engines and official MPG

Please refer to the table below for a comprehensive list of engines and their official MPG figures.

2009 - 2016

Engine	Official NEDC MPG
1.8 VVT-i	70.6–72.4 mpg
Plug-In Hybrid	235.0 mpg

2016 - 2022

Engine	Official NEDC MPG
Hybrid	78.5–83.1 mpg

Plug-in (2017 - 2022)

Engine	Official NEDC MPG
Plug-In Hybrid	134.5 mpg

Features you can expect in a Toyota Prius

Interior

The Toyota Prius is a spacious car, with lots of headroom for the driver and front passenger. In the rear there’s plenty of knee room, and three adults can sit side by side on shorter journeys. The sloping roofline means the back seats are best suited to average-sized adults, so if you have a growing family, the Prius will easily accommodate children and teenagers.

The interior ambience is bright, airy and spacious... The instrument cluster is positioned high on the dash rather than behind the steering wheel, and displays clear information. Clever touches are featured, such as a passenger-side air vent that only operates when it senses the seat is occupied. This helps to conserve fuel when you’re driving alone or with back-seat passengers only.

Technology

The Prius features the Toyota Touch 2 infotainment system. This has a 7-inch touchscreen which offers access to DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity as standard. A reversing camera is included, helping to make manoeuvres and parking easier. Later in the Mk4 edition’s lifespan Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were introduced as standard, enabling you to use compatible smartphone apps on the go. The top two trim levels feature built-in navigation and added connectivity functions.

For your everyday convenience are technological features such as keyless entry and start. This unlocks the vehicle’s driver-side door as you approach, meaning you won’t need to search for the key fob in your pocket or bag. The driver’s seat has electric adjustment, enabling you to find the perfect position . The Business Edition Plus trim offers a head-up display. This projects driving data onto the windscreen, enabling you to view it without having to take your eyes off the road.

Safety

Toyota has an excellent reputation for safety, and the Prius was awarded a full five stars in its 2016 Euro NCAP test. Adult and child occupant protection scored 92% and 82% respectively, which beat the scores for the Hyundai IONIQ (91% adult protection and 80% child protection).

The Toyota Safety Sense system comes as standard, offering a comprehensive range of measures including seven airbags and ISOFIX mounting points in the outer rear seats. Pre-collision brake assist detects potential hazards in low-speed environments and warns you to apply the brakes, and lane departure warning helps prevent you drifting from your lane. Automatic high beam is fitted, which switches between dipped and full beam headlights at night-time. This provides excellent illumination without dazzling oncoming drivers.

Trims available on the Toyota Prius

Toyota Prius Active

The entry-level Toyota Prius Active trim comes with 15-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with automatic high beam function, dual-zone climate control, an electrically adjustable driver’s seat and keyless entry for the driver’s door. Infotainment is provided by the Toyota Touch 2 system with a 7-inch touchscreen, DAB radio and Bluetooth. Technology includes adaptive cruise control, pre-collision assist, autonomous emergency braking, road sign assist and lane departure warning.

Toyota Prius Business Edition

Step up to Business Edition for soft-touch cabin trim, heated seats, a leather steering wheel and a wireless phone charger. You’ll get keyless entry for all doors as well as the boot, an auto-dimming rear view mirror and a colour head-up display. Additional safety features include blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.

Toyota Prius Business Edition Plus

The Business Edition Plus trim offers 17-inch alloy wheels, sat nav and extra connectivity functions to the Toyota Touch 2 system. It features Intelligent Park Assist and front and rear parking sensors.

Toyota Prius Excel

The top-spec Excel comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, a JBL premium audio system, enhanced Toyota Touch 2 system and rain-sensing wipers.

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