Toyota Prius

What is the Toyota Prius?

The Prius is a passenger car built around Toyota’s petrol-electric hybrid system. It became the world’s first mass-produced hybrid passenger car when it launched in 1997, and helped establish hybrid technology as a central part of Toyota’s engineering. Plug-in hybrid versions later joined the range, allowing some driving on electric power before the engine and hybrid system take over.

The Prius has changed shape over its generations. The second generation introduced the distinctive, sloping silhouette associated with the model, while the third adopted a 1.8-litre engine. The fourth was the first Toyota model based on the Toyota New Global Architecture. The fifth-generation range includes hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions.

Prius generations and power

The generations covered here are the first (2001–2003), second (2004–2009), third (2010–2015), fourth (2016–2022) and fifth (2023–today).

In EU registrations, engine sizes range from 1.8 to 2.0 litres and power from 37 kW (50 PS) to 111 kW (151 PS). UK records cover 1.5 to 2.0-litre engines, with power from 72 kW (98 PS) to 223 kW (303 PS). These ranges reflect versions recorded in each market.

How economical is the Toyota Prius?

In the EU, the lowest listed consumption for conventional hybrid versions is 4.3 L/100 km on WLTP. For plug-in hybrids, the lowest figure is 0.7 L/100 km WLTP. That official weighted figure assumes that part of the driving is electric. In the UK, the corresponding figures are 1.2 L/100 km and 1 L/100 km on NEDC. France lists 3.9 L/100 km for hybrids and 2.1 L/100 km for plug-in hybrids, also on NEDC.

In the USA, the EPA’s lowest listed figure is 4.1 L/100 km, with a best combined rating of 57 MPG. Canada lists 4.4 L/100 km under the NRCan 5-cycle test. European WLTP and NEDC, US EPA and Canadian 5-cycle tests use different procedures, so their results are not directly comparable.

Where was the Prius sold?

The Prius appears in EU, UK, French, US and Canadian records. The recorded year spans begin in 2001 in the USA and Canada, and continue through 2025 in EU registrations, 2026 in the UK and Canada, and 2027 in the USA.