2021 Toyota Prius

The 2016-2022 Toyota Prius is the fourth generation and the first built on Toyota's TNGA-C platform, which brought a lower center of gravity, a stiffer body, and a double-wishbone rear suspension in place of the previous torsion beam. The 1.8-liter 2ZR-FXE four-cylinder carries over with a substantially revised hybrid system, driving the front wheels through a power-split continuously variable transmission. All-wheel drive with a rear electric motor, marketed as AWD-e, was added for 2019.

This generation was a significant improvement in ride and handling over its predecessor and pushed combined fuel economy into the mid-fifties for the Eco trim. Some trims moved to a lithium-ion battery pack in place of nickel-metal-hydride. The polarizing exterior styling was toned down in the 2019 facelift. The fifth generation that followed for 2023 brought a major increase in power and a complete visual redesign.

As a used buy, the fourth-generation Prius resolves the main mechanical complaints of the generation before it while retaining the very low running costs the model is bought for. The EGR issues that defined the third generation were addressed in this engine's revision. Reliability records for this generation are strong across the board, and the main buying decisions are trim level, whether all-wheel drive is needed, and battery chemistry. This is generally the value sweet spot in the Prius range.