Toyota Prius 2016-2022: what to know before you buy?

The pioneer of hybrid cars is now over a quarter of a century old, and remains both an industry benchmark and an icon for the green movement. Now that the fifth-generation Toyota Prius has arrived on the market and has just been crowned North American Car of the Year, we shouldn't forget its predecessor, which, despite its polarizing design, was just as fuel-efficient.

Here's what you need to know about the 2016-2022 Toyota Prius...

First, let's talk about the conventional Prius. Longer, wider and lower than before, the fourth-generation hybrid sedan was also designed to be more fuel-efficient, thanks to a new 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle engine. Combined with the electric motor, it develops 121 hp, which is nothing to sneeze at. However, the efficiency of Toyota's system, combined with a continuously variable transmission, translates into an average fuel consumption of just 4.5 L/100 km. That means you could drive over 950 km between service station stops!

Starting in 2019, Toyota has added the option of automatic all-wheel drive. Called "AWD-e", it uses an independent magnetless electric motor to drive the rear wheels from 0 to 10 km/h and then, when the situation requires, up to 70 km/h. This system, which imposes an average penalty of 0.2 L/100 km, provides the rear wheels with the power required for a standing start. In other words, it's an auxiliary aid that's mainly useful in urban environments, for example, to get out of a snow bank. Click here to find out more.

For its part, the Prius Prime is a plug-in hybrid that appeared in 2017 and employs the same combustion engine. Capable of covering almost forty kilometers in electric mode, this traction-only variant has an 8.8 kWh battery that recharges in around 2 hours 30 minutes via a 240V terminal. Its front and rear sections are different from those of the Prius, and for three years, it offered only four seats instead of five. Its 561-liter trunk is also smaller than that of the Prius, which is 697 liters.

For the 2020 model year, every version of the Prius received Apple CarPlay as standard, as well as an enhanced multimedia system. Some have also benefited from Toyota's connected services. For its part, the Prius Prime got black trim instead of white, and eliminated the rear center console to accommodate a fifth passenger.

A year later, both models have benefited from several technology updates, such as the addition of the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 safety system. Android Auto has also joined Apple CarPlay.

By the way, the old Prius is an extremely reliable and safe vehicle. On the other hand, some drivers deplore the lack of soundproofing, light steering and restricted rear visibility (the absence of a rear wiper on the Prius Prime doesn't help). What's more, the dashboard is not positioned in front of the steering wheel, but in the center of the cabin, and the gearshift lever is rather unusual.

Finally, the list of recalls should not be overlooked. Among other things, a software problem with the electronic control module on some Prius models could cause the hybrid system to deactivate if the gearshift position is changed while driving. Check that all the fixes recommended by Toyota have been applied to the model you're interested in and, as always, make sure a proper inspection is completed.

Happy shopping!