The 2018 Toyota Prius has a generous standard features list and an expansive cargo area, but its sluggish highway power and limited rear-seat space keep it mired in the middle of our compact car rankings.
The 2018 Toyota Prius is ranked:
Is the 2018 Toyota Prius a Good Used Car?
Yes, the Toyota Prius is a good used compact car and a great option for shoppers looking for fantastic fuel efficiency. However, this hybrid isn't the best option if you regularly carry more than one passenger or spend lots of time on the interstate.
The 2018 Prius has several strengths:
It also has some weaknesses:
Why You Can Trust Us
We've analyzed 31 Toyota Prius reviews, as well as performance specs, interior dimensions, fuel economy ratings, and more, to give you all the information you need to make a smart car-buying decision.
U.S. News & World Report has been reviewing cars, trucks, and SUVs since 2007, and our Best Cars team has more than 75 years of combined automotive industry experience. To remain impartial, we do not accept extravagant gifts from automakers, and an outside source handles our advertising.
How Much Is the 2018 Toyota Prius?
Based on listings for the 2018 Toyota Prius on our site, the average price is $23,900, which is slightly above average for the class. Prices range from $19,500 to $29,800 and vary depending on the vehicle's condition, mileage, features, and location.
How Much Does the 2018 Toyota Prius Cost to Own?
The 2018 Prius' five-year costs for fuel, insurance, repairs, and maintenance are projected to be about $18,590, or $3,718 per year. That's below average for a compact car.
Is It Better to Buy a Used or New Prius?
Prices for the new 2019 Toyota Prius start at starts at $23,770. For 2019, Toyota refreshed the Prius' styling, made all-wheel drive available, and changed some trim names. Otherwise, it's nearly identical to the 2018 model. Unless you want all-wheel drive or love the design changes, stick with the 2018 Prius.
The 2018 Prius is part of a generation that debuted for the 2016 model year. For 2017, Toyota Safety Sense became standard. This suite of safety features, previously only available as options, includes lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, and automatic high-beam headlights. An available 11.6-inch touch screen was the only major addition to the 2018 Prius. To guarantee a model with the Toyota Safety Sense features, we recommend shopping for 2017-and-newer models.
How Reliable Is the 2018 Toyota Prius?
J.D. Power gives the 2018 Toyota Prius a predicted reliability rating of three out of five, which is about average.
2018 Toyota Prius Recalls
At the time of writing, there is one recall for the 2018 Toyota Prius:
Before buying any used vehicle, make sure all recalls have been addressed.
See more information on Toyota Prius safety recalls »
Which Used Toyota Prius Trim Is Right for Me?
The 2018 Toyota Prius comes in seven trims: One, Two, Two Eco, Three, Three Touring, Four, and Four Touring. We recommend the Prius Three. It comes with all of the base trim's features, as well as technology and safety upgrades like a 7-inch touch screen, navigation, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert. All models come with a four-cylinder engine, an electric motor, and a continuously variable automatic transmission.
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How Safe Is the Prius?
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the Prius a 2018 Top Safety Pick. It earned the highest rating of Good in five crash tests and the second-highest rating of Acceptable in the small overlap front passenger-side test. All Prius trims received an Acceptable rating for how well their headlights illuminate the road ahead. The standard Safety Sense pre-collision system earned the Prius a top rating of Superior for front crash prevention.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2018 Prius an overall safety rating of five out of five stars. It earned five stars in the side crash test and four stars in the frontal crash and rollover evaluations.
Standard advanced safety features:
Available advanced safety features:
2018 Toyota Prius Versus the Competition
Which Is Better: 2018 Toyota Prius or 2018 Ford C-Max Hybrid?
The 2018 Ford C-Max Hybrid is a wagon. Not surprisingly, it has more rear-seat space than the Prius. What may surprise is how much stronger its powertrain is. Both the C-Max Hybrid and Prius are quick from a stop, but the Ford has more passing power on the highway. The C-Max Hybrid has available Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration technology and a lower average list price, while the Prius scores with more standard safety features and lower fuel and projected ownership costs. Go with the model that best suits your needs and budget.
Which Is Better: 2018 Toyota Prius or 2018 Toyota Prius Prime?
The 2018 Toyota Prius Prime is the plug-in hybrid version of the Prius, and it has a 25-mile all-electric range. The Prime can help you save on annual fuel costs, but its purchase price is much higher than the Prius', on average. There's little difference in features and performance between these two Toyotas. Choosing between them may come down to whether you prefer a regular hybrid or a plug-in hybrid.
2018 Prius Performance
How Does the 2018 Toyota Prius Drive?
The 2018 Toyota Prius has plenty of power for city driving, but this hatchback takes a while to accelerate when it's pushed on the open highway. The transition from gas to electric power is smooth. The Prius maintains a comfortable ride with agile handling, direct steering, and minimal body roll around corners.
Does the 2018 Toyota Prius Get Good Gas Mileage?
The 2018 Toyota Prius has some of the best gas mileage figures for a compact car.
2018 Prius Interior
How Many People Does the 2018 Prius Seat?
The 2018 Prius seats five people in two rows. This Toyota features quality materials that are soft to the touch, and its seats are comfortable. However, its rear seats don't have much space, so they're best left for smaller occupants.
Standard seating features:
Available seating features:
How Many Child Car Seats Fit in the 2018 Toyota Prius?
The 2018 Prius has two complete sets of LATCH car-seat connectors on the rear outboard seats and an upper tether on the rear middle seat. The middle seat provides the ability to borrow lower anchors from the adjoining seats. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave this LATCH system the highest rating of Good for ease of use.
2018 Toyota Prius Features
The Prius features a standard Entune infotainment system that has responsive, easy-to-use controls. However, it's paired with the clumsy Entune app suite instead of smartphone integration technology like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. An upgraded system with a larger touch screen is available.
2018 Toyota Prius Dimensions
Toyota Prius Cargo Space
There is 24.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats of the Prius One, Two, Three, and Three Touring trims. Prius Two Eco, Four, and Four Touring trims have 27.4 cubic feet. No matter the trim, the Prius has one of the largest cargo areas in the compact car class. Its standard 60/40 split-folding rear seat helps make it easy to transport larger items.
These cargo dimensions are for comparative purposes. There is no substitute for visually examining the storage area in any car you're considering.
2018 Toyota Prius Length and Weight
Where Was the 2018 Toyota Prius Built?
Toyota built the 2018 Prius in Mexico.
Read the full 2018 Toyota Prius review on U.S. News & World Report for more details, photos, specs and prices.
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