Rank
Pros
Cons
What's New for 2025?
The Prius gets a new Nightshade trim package that's based on the XLE trim and adds various black exterior accents to impart "a dark moody feel," according to Toyota. The Nightshade is also exclusively eligible for a vibrant new yellow-orange paint color called Karashi. In other news, the plug-in-hybrid Prius Prime has been renamed to simply "Prius Plug-In Hybrid," mirroring the RAV4 PHEV's nomenclature changes this year.
2025 Prius Selector
2025 Toyota Prius
FAST FACTS
"We're throwing the Prius into this bucket, too, even though its natural home is with the hybrids. Why? Because hybrid powertrains are proliferating across conventional segments (witness the new-for-2025 Civic Hybrid Hatchback), but also because the current Prius is just plain cool. Those words had never been uttered until the latest redesign, but just look at this thing. It's cool! You also get far better acceleration than any previous Prius provided, along with the extraordinary fuel economy you expect to see. Notably, there's also the plug-in-hybrid Prius Prime, which has no real competitors and adds 45 miles of all-electric range for a $5k premium on top of the base Prius's price."—Ranked #1 out of 6 Compact Hatchbacks
"Boasting head-turning styling — yes, we just said that about a Prius — and respectably swift acceleration (another Prius first), Toyota's iconic hybrid hatch stands out in this segment and competes closely with the hatchback version of the Civic Hybrid. The Honda is quicker, but the Toyota is the undisputed fuel-economy champ, and we'd give it the edge in the looks department, too. The Prius also has the advantage of literally decades of proven hybrid reliability on its side, which is a lot for any upstart to overcome. Shoot, it even offers all-wheel drive, and although the pricier Prius Plug-In Hybrid comes only with front-wheel drive, it compensates with slightly more power (220 hp vs 194) and an impressive 45 miles of electric range."—Ranked #1 out of 4 Compact Hybrid Cars
MotorDonkey's proprietary vehicle data identifies every significant version of each model so that you can compare and decide. Ordered by price from low to high, here are the versions of the 2025 Toyota Prius that you need to be aware of, along with our expert analysis and recommendations.
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The Prius underwent a revolutionary redesign for '23, swapping arguably its ugliest body yet for one that wouldn't look out of place in a Tesla showroom. Some interior space was lost in the bargain, particularly in the backseat, but this is still a highly practical car with its hatchback trunk and flip-down rear seatbacks. Note that the cargo space cited here is for the LE only; higher trims drop to 20.3 cubic feet (and Toyota doesn't provide a figure for any trim with the seatbacks folded).
As much as we like the Prius, we'd think twice about adding AWD. It drives up the weight by more than 130 pounds, and you don't get any extra power from the additional electric motor positioned at the rear axle. Front-wheel drive's good enough in the snow, isn't it? We'd keep that $1,400 premium in our pocket.
The Prius Prime is a very appealing PHEV, especially now that it has a 6.6 kW onboard charger, which doubles the charging speed of its predecessor. If you're like most people and happen to do a lot of your driving around town, the Prime could limit your refueling stops to a handful of times a year, if that. Note that the fuel economy figure cited here (52 mpg combined) is for the base SE trim with its 17-inch wheels; step up to the XSE or XSE Premium and you'll get 19-inch wheels and 48 mpg combined, as well as 40 miles of electric range versus 45. We'd rather pay less to get more, but the Prime is a great machine either way.
What are the different versions of the 2025 Prius, and how much do they cost? Select a version below or just hit the button to see our full 2025 Prius specs and model data.
| Version | Price | Fuel | MPG | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Toyota Prius Front-Wheel Drive ✅ our pick | $28,350 | Hybrid | 57 | 194 hp | N/A |
| 2025 Toyota Prius All-Wheel Drive | $29,750 | Hybrid | 54 | 196 hp | N/A |
| 2025 Toyota Prius Prime (Plug-In Hybrid FWD) | $33,375 | Plug-In Hybrid | 52 | 220 hp | N/A |
Publisher and Donkey-in-Chief
Josh has been reviewing cars professionally since joining Edmunds.com fresh out of grad school in 2008. Prior to founding MotorDonkey, he spent 15 years shaping Edmunds' expert automotive content in various capacities, starting as an associate editor and ultimately serving as a senior editor before wrapping up with a five-year term as the company's first-ever director of content strategy. Josh is a card-carrying member of the Motor Press Guild and a lifelong car nut who has driven, compared and critiqued thousands of cars in his career. Helping people find their perfect car never gets old—seriously!
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