Here’s The Most Efficient And Safest Used Hybrid Car Under $30,000

The Toyota Prius may not be the Japanese brand’s most popular vehicle in terms of sales, but it remains an important and crucial part of the company’s global lineup. For decades, the Prius badge has not necessarily been the most aspirational, but it has consistently represented a favorable balance of efficiency and affordability without compromising overall safety.

Base Trim Engine

2.0L Inline-4 Hybrid

Base Trim Transmission

Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT)

Base Trim Drivetrain

Front-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

194 hp

Base Trim Torque

139 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm

Fuel Economy

52/52-57/56 MPG

Make

Toyota

Model

Prius

0-60 MPH

7.2 seconds

Infotainment & Features

8 /10

Manufacturers have been able to consistently improve modern HEVs by finding a better balance between performance and efficiency without compromising comfort and cost. The Toyota Prius is a Japanese hybrid hatchback that masters low fuel costs and high driving ranges in between refuels better than any other HEV that you can purchase today. Unfortunately, the new model has become a bit of an expensive commodity, which is why the Corolla Hybrid now outsells it by a massive margin. Thankfully, one-year-old models can be had for less than $30,000, making them viable considerations if you’re on a tighter budget.

2024 Toyota Prius – Class-Leading EPA Estimates Across The Range

It Will Also Cover 644 Miles On A Single Tank

Credit: Toyota

The current-generation Toyota Prius is the best option for you to consider if you want a hybrid that benefits from low fuel costs and high estimated range capabilities. The most frugal of the lot is the front-wheel-drive base trim model, which is on a city/highway/ combined cycle and covers 644 miles on a single tank. You can expect to save as much as $4,500 on fuel over five years and $850 a year on fuel.

This model will also cost you $1.42 to drive 25 miles and $37 to fill up the 11.3-gallon tank. The XLE and Limited’s larger wheels worsen consumption to 52/52/52 MPG and reduce range to 588 miles. Your five-year fuel cost savings will decline to $4,000, while your annual fuel cost increases to $950. A 25-mile drive will have you spending $1.56 on fuel.

2024 Toyota Prius Fuel Cost Figures

If you upgrade to the optional all-wheel-drive configuration, you can expect the drivetrain to return 53/54/54 MPG and cover 567 miles on a single tank, partly because this model adopts a smaller 10.5-gallon tank to make space for the additional rear motor.

Credit: Toyota

The XLE and Limited models suffer from the worst consumption and range estimates, but they are still pretty impressive by hybrid vehicle standards. You can expect these to return 49/50/49 MPG and cover 514 miles on a single tank. Expect to save $3,750 in fuel costs over five years and spend $1,000 on gasoline every year, or $1.65 to drive 25 miles.

The Toyota Prius Produces Up To 196 Horsepower

Credit: TOYOTA

The Toyota Prius range is only available with the brand’s Dynamic Force M20A-FXS naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder Atkinson cycle gasoline engine. In isolation, the engine produces 150 horsepower and 139 pound-feet of torque, but power increases to 194 horsepower when the powertrain works with the permanent magnet motor located in the eCVT. Opting for the electronic on-demand all-wheel drive system grants a marginally increased 196 horsepower output thanks to an additional motor that the brand places on the rear axle.

Toyota Prius Hybrid Performance And Specifications

As per Toyota’s claims, the front-wheel drive model will accelerate from 0 to 60 MPH in 7.2 seconds, while the all-wheel drive option shaves this time down to 7.0 seconds. Both drivetrains are electronically limited to a top speed of 112 MPH. The front permanent magnet motor generates 111 horsepower, and the optional rear motor a more modest 40 horsepower. These motors are operational in full EV mode, but only under very specific conditions and low speeds.

World-Class Safety Standards

Toyota Ensures Safety For All Passengers

Credit: Toyota

The Toyota Prius range comes standard with a comprehensive list of standard features, from eight airbags covering the driver and passenger, sides, curtains, and knees. The package also includes ABS with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, as well as traction and stability control. This equipment level grants it the IIHS’s prestigious Top Safety Pick+ award.

Toyota’s Comprehensive Sense 3.0 Safety Suite

Credit: Craig Cole | TopSpeed

The Prius range comes standard with the company’s Toyota Sense 3.0 safety suite, which, pretty much, covers almost every aspect of advanced safety features. This equipment includes a front pre-collision system, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and assist, lane tracing assist, road sign detection, automatic high-beam assist, and proactive driving assist. Blind Spot Monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, and a vehicle proximity notification system are also included in the package.

• Pre-collision system with pedestrian detection,
• Full-speed range dynamic adaptive cruise control.
• Lane departure alert with steering assist.
• Lane tracing assist.
• Automatic high beams.
• Blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert.

Front and rear parking assist with automatic braking is optional on the base trim, but standard on the XLE and Limited. You can only fit the Limited with the Panoramic 360-degree view monitor and Advanced Park system via the Limited Premium package.

How Much A One-Year-Old Toyota Prius Costs

Credit: Toyota

According to J.D. Power, a 2024 Toyota Prius currently sells for anywhere between $24,517 and $38,039, depending on condition, specification, and range. Edmunds suggests that the base 2024 LE model year currently sells for $26,238 on average. You can also expect to spend $38,571 on a Toyota Prius LE over five years. This includes the maintenance, which will cost around $5,247, while you can expect to spend $6,896 on insurance.

2024 Toyota Prius LE Five-Year Cost Breakdown

iSeeCars indicates that the model will lose $10,085 or 35.6 percent of its value after five years or 60,000 miles. Additionally, it awards the 2024 Prius with an 8.8/10 reliability score, indicating that it will last for 12.8 years or 175,527 miles without experiencing any noteworthy mechanical issues, together with a 33.4-percent probability of it reaching 200,000 miles.

The Toyota Prius’s Comprehensive Warranty

Credit: Toyota

On the reliability front, the Prius features a relatively new powertrain , so long-term dependability is difficult to ascertain, even with the brand’s bulletproof reliability reputation. Having said that, the model has not yet been subjected to any recalls relating to core mechanical components. In the long run, it’s likely to cost much less than a conventional EV, mainly because you don’t have to deal with an expensive battery pack replacement after about 15 years of regular use.

2024 Toyota Prius Hybrid Standard Warranty

The Prius range comes standard with the company’s comprehensive warranty package. Toyota also covers all hybrid components for 96 months or 100,000 miles, while the battery features a class-leading coverage of 120 months or 150,000 miles. You have the option of extending the basic warranty package up to 10 years or 125,000 miles via Toyota. J.D. Power holds the 2025 Prius in very high regard, with its 75/100 quality and reliability, 76/100 driving experience, and 90/100 resale value scores, resulting in a 79/100 consumer-verified overall ranking.