2020 Toyota Prius Review

　　

2020 Toyota Prius Review

byCameron RogersManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　For two decades, the Toyota Prius has been the go-to choice for both eco-warriors and drivers simply looking to save money on fuel costs. But new rivals are debuting every year, and even the mighty Prius must innovate to stay on top. Last year, Toyota made some changes to bolster the Prius' appeal, such as improving the cabin materials and adding optional all-wheel drive. This year, the 2020 Toyota Prius continues the theme of improvement with a revised touchscreen and — finally — the introduction of Apple CarPlay.

　　This generation Prius offers a comfortable ride quality, roomy seating and generous cargo space. Acceleration is no more than adequate, but it might be worth the trade-off if it means you only have to fill up once or twice a month. Though estimates vary slightly by trim, the EPA rates the Prius at 50 mpg or higher in combined driving.

　　Overall, we applaud Toyota's commitment to keeping the Prius fresh. But that isn't to say it's the best. Its sluggish acceleration is no longer the punchline it once was, but rivals are quicker and only marginally less fuel-efficient. We particularly suggest checking out the Honda Insight for its more satisfying performance and more traditional styling. Other options might include the new Corolla Hybrid or the Kia Niro.

　　Notably, we picked the 2020 Toyota Prius as one of zzdcar' Best Gas Mileage Cars for 2020.

　　

What's it like to live with the Prius?

To learn more about the Toyota Prius of this generation, read about our experiences from Best Gas Mileage Cars. After its debut, we went out and bought one, holding onto it for almost four years and racking up more than 30,000 miles. We cover everything from this hybrid's real-world fuel economy to seat comfort and cargo space. Please note that the 2020 Toyota Prius differs from our long-term 2016 model in that the newer model has updated styling and more standard features. It's the same generation, though, so most of our observations still apply.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.3

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

6.5/10

　　How does the Prius drive? You're not buying a Prius to get engaging performance. In zzdcar testing, our all-wheel-drive Prius test car covered 0-60 mph in 10.5 seconds, which is among the slowest cars around, hybrid or not. (Perhaps somewhat paradoxically, the lighter, front-drive Prius was marginally slower.) The Prius is also pretty tepid when it comes to agility and handling precision.

　　We do like the Prius' easy-driving nature and its smooth transitions from electric motor drive to gasoline engine power. Another Prius advantage is its available all-wheel drive. It should be noted, though, that the rear wheels only intervene when the front wheels lose traction. So in most dry-weather scenarios, you'll never feel them working.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Prius? The front seats are softly padded. Most drivers will find them comfortable for the long haul, though taller drivers or those with long legs might find the seat bottoms to be a few inches too short. The cabin is generally quiet unless you floor the gas pedal, at which point the engine gets rather raucous.

　　Another downside is the Prius' ride quality over broken pavement and concrete expansion joints. The impacts from these types of bumps can make the car feel jittery. Since the car is so quiet, these bumps are perhaps more noticeable than they'd otherwise be.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? The Prius is a fundamentally easy car to get into and drive. Aside from the shifter, all other controls will feel immediately comfortable to the majority of drivers. Most drivers should also be able to find a comfortable driving position thanks to the seat's wide range of adjustability.

　　We wish there was more telescoping range in the steering wheel, however, and most of the instrument panel information is not in the driver's line of sight. The 11.6-inch screen on the top-tier Limited model has most of the car's climate control settings and buttons in on-screen submenus. From an ease-of-use standpoint, it seems like a step backward from the dedicated physical buttons on lower Prius trim levels.

　　

Technology

6.5/10

　　How’s the tech? As advanced as the Prius is from a powertrain standpoint, it can seem a little odd that it comes up short in in-car tech. Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa integration is standard across all trims, but Toyota still doesn't offer Android Auto. The standard infotainment system looks and feels dated too. Even the big 11.6-inch screen on the top-tier Limited model seems like a gimmick since Toyota doesn't do much to take advantage of the larger space.

　　The Prius, however, comes with a full suite of advanced driving aids standard. Most of them work well, and the adaptive cruise control can bring the Prius to a complete stop. But you shouldn't use it in stop-and-go traffic. It tends to be too conservative on acceleration and too aggressive on braking. The driver behind you won't be a fan of this herky-jerky style.

　　

Storage

8.5/10

　　How’s the storage? Thanks to its cavernous hatchback cargo area and fold-down rear seatbacks, the Prius is quite useful for carrying luggage, groceries or whatever else you want to put back there. Up front, there's enough in-cabin storage for the daily odds and ends, and the cupholders securely hold beverages under the circumstances in which most Priuses are typically driven.

　　

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The Prius is known for its frugal use of gasoline. The EPA estimates a range of up to 56 mpg in combined city/highway driving for the Eco trim level or down to 50 mpg with all-wheel drive. In our own fuel economy testing of a couple of Prius test cars, we've been able to verify that the EPA's estimates are achievable in real-world driving.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the Prius a good value? The Prius' interior feels well-built even if some cabin materials are a little too plasticky. It's still one of the best vehicles for fuel economy, and the AWD version delivers some extra assurance for drivers who live in snow country.

　　As for warranties, Toyota gives you its regular coverage, which includes a longer duration (eight years or 100,000 miles) for the hybrid components. You also get Toyota's two free years of scheduled maintenance.

　　

Wildcard

7.0/10

　　The Prius isn't exciting to drive or filled with luxury features. Instead, the Prius is all about being easy-to-drive, practical, comfortable and, of course, saving on gas.

　　

Which Prius does zzdcar recommend?

The base L Eco is value-heavy, with a healthy list of features for a reasonable price. That said, we think the next-level LE is the smart pick. The LE doesn't cost much more than the L Eco and includes thoughtful additions, such as a cargo cover, rear wiper, a blind-spot monitor, and parking sensors. Automated parallel parking is also equipped, which is an extraordinarily rare feature at this price level.

　　

2020 Toyota Prius models

The 2020 Toyota Prius is a four-door hatchback hybrid that seats five passengers. The front-wheel-drive model is available in four trim levels: L Eco, LE, XLE and Limited. The Prius AWD-e is offered in the LE and XLE trims.

　　Power for the Prius comes from a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and a pair of electric motor-generators. Their combined 121 horsepower is sent through a continuously variable automatic transmission to the front wheels. The AWD-e models add an electric motor for the rear axle.

　　The L Eco trim is equipped with ultra-low-rolling resistance tires, a lighter hybrid battery, and an inflation kit instead of a spare tire. Those features help contribute to the L Eco's impressive 56 mpg combined rating. The other Prius trims are rated at 52 mpg or 50 mpg (AWD-e).

　　Standard features for the L Eco include 15-inch wheels, automatic LED headlights, heated mirrors, keyless entry (driver door only) and ignition, automatic climate control, adaptive cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, and a 60/40-split folding rear seat.

　　Also standard is a 7-inch touchscreen display, a six-speaker audio system, and Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa integration. Standard safety features include Toyota's Safety Connect emergency communications, automatic high beams, forward collision mitigation with automatic braking, and lane departure warning and intervention.

　　The LE trim adds a rear window wiper, a cargo cover, parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and an automated parallel parking system.

　　Stepping up to the XLE trim gets you features such as 17-inch wheels, automatic wipers, keyless entry for the front passenger door and rear hatch, SofTex simulated leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver's seat, and a wireless charging pad. The Advanced Technology package further adds a head-up display and adaptive headlights.

　　The top-trim Limited includes the sunroof and Advanced Technology package, plus a navigation system, an 11.6-inch touchscreen and a premium JBL audio system.

　　zzdcar Latest Toyota Prius News

　　zzdcar Top Rated 2024: These Cars, Trucks and SUVs Won Our Highest Honor

　　

2020 Prius Highlights

Trim: L EcoLELE AWD-eXLEXLE AWD-eLimitedL Eco

　　

Base MSRP	$24,325
Engine Type	Hybrid
Combined MPG	56 MPG
Cost to Drive	$68/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	27.4 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles