Used Toyota Prius Buying Guide: Tips for Shoppers from Alan Jay
When it comes to the Toyota Prius, it has made its mark on the automotive industry, even being referred to as the “gold-standard hybrid” by MotorTrend. The Prius was consistently one of the best vehicles on the market, and when taking a closer look at them, it’s no wonder. This article is the essential buying guide for used Toyota Prius models to help give you a better understanding about what you would want.
Key Takeaways:
- If you’re wanting a Prius that gives the best efficiency, then look for the fourth generation.
- The Prius is always looking for a way to be greener than other vehicles on the market, and the third generation made even more of an effort with plant-based bioplastics.
- In the later generations, you can find more than one drivetrain option for you to pick from.
Second generation (2003-2009)
This is the newest generation for the new millennium. For this generation you can look for a more environmentally friendly vehicle, and even more room. This generation saw the Prius become a compact liftback, which is a change from the original design. This generation is also more aerodynamic, giving even greater fuel efficiency.
Third Generation (2010-2014)
This generation saw the introduction of 3 user selected drive modes. The modes you can see are the EV mode, this is for when you’re going at lower speeds. Eco mode for best fuel efficiency. While the last mode, called Power mode, gives you better performance. When looking at these, you may wonder why it’s such a big deal. That’s because you can always make sure that when you’re behind the wheel, you’ll always have the optimal range, and power.
While they’re not standard, you may be able to find the following features on used Prius’.
- Solar-PV Roof Panels
- Intelligent Parking Assist
- Lane Keep Assist
- Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
In an effort to further improve efficiency, this generation’s design features even less drag. With Toyota wanting to make sure that the vehicle is greener than others, you will find that it comes with plant derived bioplastics. But what does that mean for the environment? It means that when you’re on the road in your Prius, you have done your part to help lower emissions.
Fourth generation (2015-2021)
This generation of Prius focused on the overall structure of the vehicle. Coming with the Toyota New Global Architecture, this has a lower center of gravity, and is more rigid than the generations prior.
This generation also saw a partial redesign in 2018. This change was to the headlights and tail lights. The biggest change was the introduction of an all-wheel drive model. 2022 also saw a new edition that is named “Nightshade”. This edition brings black paint to exterior trim pieces, while being available in 3 colors. This edition also came in both FWD or AWD-e powertrains for you to pick from.
Fifth generation (2022-Present)
This is the most recent generation that you can find. While other generations did their best to reduce drag, this generation had it increase. That’s not the only area where the vehicle had made some sacrifices. The fifth gen has a lower frontal area, and comes with less cargo volume.
What is the main difference in generations? The main differences include how each generation tends to try and be better than the ones before, with a few exceptions.
When it comes to the Prius, we have them here at Alan Jay. Come on by and we’ll show you our inventory!