2016 Toyota Prius
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2016 Toyota Prius Overview
The 2016 Toyota Prius is one of the most fuel-efficient cars on the road. It also has roomy seats, user-friendly cabin tech, and above-average cargo space.
Pros & Cons
- Superb fuel economy
- Outstanding cargo space
- Composed ride and handling
- Hushed cabin
- White plastic in upper-trim cabins may not appeal to everyone
Notable for 2016
- Fully redesigned
Toyota Prius Rankings and Research
The 2016 Toyota Prius ranking is based on its score within the 2016 Affordable Small Cars category. Currently the Toyota Prius has a score of 8.5 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 20 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Scorecard
| Overall: | 8.5 |
| Critics' Rating: | 8.7 |
| Performance: | 8.0 |
| Interior: | 8.2 |
| Cost to Own: | N/A |
| Safety: | 9.3 |
| Reliability: |
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Rankings
- #19 in Used Small Cars $14K and up
- #5 in Used Hybrid Cars $20K and up
- #7 in 2016 Affordable Small Cars
- #3 in 2016 Hybrid Cars
2016 Toyota Prius Pictures
2016 Toyota Prius Review
- Full Review
- Photos
- Prices
- Specs
- Performance
- Interior
- Safety
- Reliability
The 2016 Toyota Prius is one of the most fuel-efficient cars on the road. It also has roomy seats, user-friendly cabin tech, and above-average cargo space.
Is the 2016 Toyota Prius a Good Used Car?
The 2016 Toyota Prius is a good used car and an excellent choice for families. It's efficient, and it has a spacious interior, including plenty of cargo space.
Used 2016 Toyota Prius Performance and Interior
The Toyota Prius features a four-cylinder engine and two electric motors that put out a combined 121 horsepower. A continuously variable automatic transmission is standard. The engine doesn't feel that powerful, but it gets the job done. When it comes to gas mileage, the Prius is elite. It earns 54 mpg in the city and 50 mpg on the highway. Though not sporty, the Prius does have sharp handling and steering. The ride is cushioned, and the regenerative brakes operate smoothly.
Read more about Prius performance »
The Toyota Prius is quiet and has mostly quality materials, though the white plastics in higher trims may not appeal to everyone. The Prius seats five. The front seats are comfortable and spacious. The rear seats have ample room for tall adults. There are two full sets of LATCH car-seat connectors. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the Prius' LATCH system a Good+ rating (the highest possible) for ease of use. The Prius also has excellent cargo space compared to most other cars in the class.
Standard features in the Prius include automatic climate control, a USB port, voice recognition, Bluetooth, Siri Eyes Free, and the Entune infotainment system with a 6.1-inch touch screen. Notable options include a moonroof, wireless smartphone charging, satellite radio, a 10-speaker JBL audio system, and an upgraded infotainment system with a 7-inch touch screen, navigation, and smartphone app integration. The dash controls are easy to use, and the touch screen has sharp graphics.
Read more about Prius interior »
Used 2016 Toyota Prius Prices
The price of a used 2016 Toyota Prius ranges from about $19,600 for a base model Two to around $24,300 for the Four Touring trim. Prices vary depending on the vehicle's condition, mileage, features, and location.
We Did the Research for You: 20 Pieces of Data Analyzed
We want you to feel confident when you head to the dealer for your next car, which is why we thoroughly research all of the vehicles we review. For our 2016 Toyota Prius review, we analyzed 20 pieces of data, including crash test results, cost of ownership, reliability ratings, and other professional reviews.
Why You Can Trust Us
Our team has been ranking cars, trucks, and SUVs for a decade, and we have more than 75 years of combined experience in the automotive industry. We craft expert, unbiased reviews. To ensure that our content remains unbiased, our editorial staff does not accept expensive gifts or trips from automakers. Additionally, all advertising on our site is handled by a third party.
How Reliable Is the 2016 Toyota Prius?
J.D. Power and Associates gives the 2016 Toyota Prius a predicted reliability rating of four out of five. That's a good rating in general (three is considered average), and it's one of the best ratings in the class.
Read more about Prius reliability »
How Safe Is the Prius?
The Prius earned excellent ratings in crash tests. It received a perfect five-star overall rating by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named it a Top Safety Pick+.
The only standard active safety feature in the Prius is a rearview camera. Available driver assistance features include adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, pedestrian detection, rear cross traffic alert, parallel park assist, automatic pre-collision braking, and blind spot monitoring.
Should I Consider Another Used Prius?
The 2016 Toyota Prius was the first model year of the vehicle's fourth generation, which also includes the 2017 Prius. The 2017 models include more standard driver assistance features than the 2016, but you'll pay new-car prices for them. You can save money with a previous generation model, but you'll miss the improved performance and fuel economy that came with the 2016 redesign, as well as several added features and new styling.
Compare the 2016 and 2017 Prius »
Which Used Toyota Prius Is Right for Me?
There are six Toyota Prius trims: Two, Two Eco, Three, Three Touring, Four, and Four Touring. The highest trims come with the most standard features and have the nicest cabin materials, but they also cost significantly more. The best value trims are the Three and the Three Touring, which don't cost as much as the top trims but come with most of the features the Prius offers.
Toyota also has a certified pre-owned vehicle program. Toyota provides a one-year/12,000-mile limited warranty on all of its certified pre-owned vehicles, and it extends the original new-car powertrain warranty to seven years or 100,000 miles. Each CPO Toyota must pass a 160-point inspection. Additional benefits like towing and roadside assistance may be available, so read the Toyota warranty page carefully.
Read more about certified pre-owned vehicles »
Read more about the Toyota certified pre-owned program »
2016 Toyota Prius and Other Cars to Consider
Which Is Better: 2016 Toyota Prius or 2016 Ford C-Max Hybrid?
Among hybrids, the Ford C-Max Hybrid delivers some of the best driving dynamics. Its sharp steering handles winding roads easily, and its brakes are strong and smooth. Along with a sporty ride, the C-Max feels comfortable and is quiet on the highway. The C-Max's good-looking interior is well-built with high-quality materials, and the high driver's seat position offers an expansive view of the road. Both the front and back seats have good head- and legroom, even for tall adults, and its seats have plenty of space. The C-Max comes with a unique MyKey feature that allows you to set speed and audio volume limits (especially useful if there are teenage drivers in the house), and it can be equipped with a parallel park assist system that is easy to use. Fuel estimates for the C-Max are great for a wagon or compact car, though they're lower than the Prius'.
Which Is Better: 2016 Toyota Prius or 2016 Mazda3?
While it's not a hybrid car, the Mazda3 has some of the best nonhybrid fuel estimates in the compact car class. It earns 29 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway. The Mazda3 is also about $3,000 cheaper than the Prius, depending on the trim. The Mazda3's incredibly zippy handling makes it one of the most fun-to-drive compact cars, and its soft suspension keeps its ride smooth over rough pavement. The Mazda3's interior is also one of the most upscale in the class, with top-notch materials and a slick dashboard design. Its infotainment system is also easy to use. The 2016 Mazda3 performed slightly better than the Prius in a frontal crash test by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Like the Prius, it also earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
