Toyota Prius Hybrid

Toyota Prius - What the Auto Press Says

The 2010 Toyota Prius ranks 3 out of 21 Affordable Midsize Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 13 published reviews and test drives of the Toyota Prius, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

While the all-new for 2010 Toyota Prius wins plenty of praise, Toyota's recent recalls have raised questions about the brand's quality.

Recall Update

Toyota insists that 2010 Prius models now on dealer lots are problem-free. However, if you purchased a 2010 Prius before the summer, check with your dealer about two recalls that may affect your vehicle (one involving a braking system problem and another involving a faulty floor mat design). For more information, see our Toyota recall page.

Toyota Prius: Review

The last generation of the Toyota Prius proved that a fuel-efficient hybrid car can be a viable alternative to an ordinary midsize sedan for many buyers. For 2010, it’s been redesigned completely -- and the automotive press unanimously agrees that the change is positive. “It's a huge improvement over the outgoing model,” says Cars.com. “Not only is the interior vastly improved, the car gets even better mileage: It's now rated at 51/48 mpg city/highway, 50 mpg combined.” Great fuel economy usually means poor performance or tight spaces, but the fuel economy boost in the Prius hasn’t come with a penalty. A more spacious cabin and increased cargo capacity make it easier to live with, while added power makes it easier to drive.

Still, the Prius faces stiff competition. Shoppers looking for a hybrid that can replace a family sedan have more options this year than ever before. The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid recently won the 2010 North American Car of the Year award for its refined ride, upscale interior and 41/36 mpg rating. The Fusion Hybrid is expensive by Affordable Midsize Car standards, but priced fairly close to a well-equipped Prius. On the other end of the price scale, the all-new Honda Insight hybrid challenges the least expensive Prius trims on value. The Insight’s 40/43 mpg rating doesn’t quite match up to the efficiency of the Prius, but its bargain price makes it the least-expensive hybrid car in America.

Still, reviewers say that buyers looking for a high-mpg, low-maintenance car might not find a better fit than the Prius. It features more power than previous generations of the car, making the driving experience relatively similar to that of a non-hybrid car. Its interior is built of high-quality materials, with solid craftsmanship. A high-tech theme, complete with an innovative “touch tracer display” designed to allow the driver to adjust climate and entertainment functions without taking their eyes off the road, gives it a unique personality. "What's most surprising about the Prius is what a fine midsize car it would be even if it didn't get such terrific fuel economy,” Consumer Guide says.

Of course, there are some complaints. Visibility issues remain, and though its cargo space is competitive with the rest of the Affordable Midsize Car class on paper, it’s not the same as a conventional car in practice. But overall, reviewers say the redesigned Prius offers the experience of owning a well-built family car, with lower fuel costs and a smaller carbon footprint than anything else in it class.

Toyota Prius: The Details

The 2010 Prius is larger, inside and out, than the car it replaces. Its gasoline and electric motors are more powerful than before, offering acceleration that now rivals a conventional four-cylinder sedan. Yet its battery pack is smaller, allowing for a class-competitive 15.7 cubic feet of cargo space. The car now offers three operating modes, allowing drivers to choose whether to focus on fuel economy or performance. There are even roof-mounted solar panels available for an added cost, though they only serve to power a ventilation fan that cools the car when parked.

The Prius is available in four trim levels, offering varying equipment levels, known as Prius II, III, IV and V. Toyota has told the press that a bargain edition, the Prius I, will appear later in the year to take on the Honda Insight’s low price, but has not given a date for that model’s arrival. With a fully equipped Prius V costing over $32,000, it is possible to configure a Prius for many different budgets.

Check out the best Toyota deals for current discounts and incentives on the Prius and other Toyota products.

• "When gas prices go back up, you'll wish you had one." -- New York Times
• " It's the same oddly shaped hybrid that almost two million buyers love, but it gets better mileage, looks sharper and is packing more technological whiz-bangery than any vehicle this simple to drive has the right to." -- Autoblog
• "The 2010 Toyota Prius is almost all-new in almost every department. It does just about everything the previous Prius did better." -- AutoWeek
• "With the new, third-generation Prius, Toyota is aiming to broaden the car's appeal beyond the green set." -- Automobile Magazine
• "While the new Prius remains far from the top of our Best Driving Cars list, it's also now far from the bottom, where it used to reside. Not only is it the most fuel-efficient vehicle for sale in America, but it combines that newfound efficiency with the dynamics, space and experience of a normal car." -- Jalopnik
• "It created a segment, it changed minds, it validated a technology, it raised awareness. It united blue-collar workers and university professors in a brotherhood and sisterhood of thrift. It's cool. It's dorky. If everyone drove one, we could tell OPEC to kiss our behinds. I'll take mine in red." -- Los Angeles Times

Prius Performance - 8.5 (Very Good)

The 2010 Toyota Prius has more power than the model it replaces. Both its electric motor and its gasoline engine have been upgraded, and reviewers say the car now holds its own against four-cylinder midsize cars. The steering is still electrically-assisted, but most reviewers say the new car's handling is more natural than in earlier Prius models. The official word says that the new Prius manages 50 mpg in combined driving, but many reviewers have easily beaten that figure. Read More

Prius Exterior - 8.4 (Very Good)

For 2010, the Prius has grown in every dimension. It has not, however, lost its iconic shape. It now shares the same hood bulge as other Toyota sedans, and has lost the horizontal bar across the rear window that interfered with visibility in previous editions. The new body style is even more aerodynamic than the one it replaces, creating the least drag of any affordable midsize sedan. Read More

Prius Interior - 8.0 (Very Good)

The passenger cabin of the 2010 Toyota Prius is more mainstream than those of previous generations, but retains the comfort and excellent build quality Toyota is known for. The center console and shift lever are arranged in a more traditional layout than earlier models. A new interface system that allows the driver to change many climate and entertainment functions from the steering wheel is winning positive reviews. The Prius retains the largest cargo capacity of any hybrid sedan. Read More

Prius Safety - 9.3 (Excellent)

The federal government gives the Prius four out of five stars in most safety tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety was more impressed, giving the car its highest possible score in almost all of its tests. The Prius comes standard with six airbags and electronic stability control. A new lane departure warning system is available as an option. Read More

Prius Reliability - 10.0 (Excellent)

The 2010 Toyota Prius reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). The 2010 Toyota Prius has basic warranty coverage for the first three years or 36,000 miles, in addition to warranty coverage specific to its hybrid technologies. Read More