Overview

What's New for 2020

There are six trim levels for the Prius: Two, Two Eco, Three, Three Touring, Four and Four Touring. Standard equipment for the Two includes automatic LED headlights, 15-inch alloy wheels, LED taillights, LED running lights, heated side mirrors, keyless entry/ignition, a 4.2-inch driver information screen, automatic climate control, cruise control, an adjustable steering wheel, cloth upholstery, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, rearview camera, a 6.1-inch infotainment touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, voice controls, six speakers, CD player, USB port and an auxiliary input jack.

For greater efficiency, the Two Eco features two-tone wheel covers, ultralow-rolling resistance tires, a lithium-ion battery that's lighter, a tire inflation kit instead of a spare tire and illuminated keyless entry. The rear wiper is deleted as well.

Going with the Prius Three adds a vinyl steering wheel, white accent pieces, a charging pad, a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, navigation, satellite radio, HD radio, real-time traffic/weather, and smartphone app integration.

Prius Four models feature rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, automatic wipers, front seat heaters, leatherette upholstery with accent stitching, a power-adjustable driver's seat and a cargo cover.

Both the Three Touring and Four Touring come with the same standard features as the Three or Four trim and adds 17-inch allow wheels, LED clearance lights, foglights, a unique rear bumper, blue stitching, adaptive cruise control, a pre-collision warning system, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams.

An Advanced Technology package is available for Three and Four trims, adding a sunroof, heads-up display, and the same safety features as the Touring trims.

The Premium Convenience package for the two Touring options adds a self-parking system, a JBL sound system with 10 speakers and Safety Connect telematics.

A Prius comes with an MSRP of about $26,000. The Two Eco trim level adds about $1,000 to the vehicle’s MSRP, while the Three tacks on about another $1,000. The Three Touring increases the MSRP about an additional $1,500 and the Four adds about $1,500 on top of that. Finally, the Four Touring comes with about a $1,000 increase as well. When you go to your Certified Dealer, remember that being a member means you don't have to put up with the usual hassle of shopping for a car.

The Prius interior has received a substantial update. Now the car looks and feels more conventional, which many shoppers might welcome readily. Among the practical new items is a center console with some storage, cupholders and an integrated armrest. Still, the shifter with a park button is still in the mix, while the gauge cluster is positioned in the middle of the dash and high, which can throw some people off.

Most of the physical buttons are large, but they're flush with the surrounding surface and so difficult to find when driving. The touchscreen is quick to respond and the menus are fairly intuitive. It's also easier to connect a smartphone to leverage more features.

Materials used by Toyota are a mixed bag of some soft surfaces, plus hard plastics. Not everyone will be a fan of the trim pieces added in some versions of the car. The seats were made to be more comfortable, allowing for a little more recline and increased padding. The rear seat area lost about 2 inches of legroom, making it feel less spacious. The tradeoff is an even bigger cargo area with 27.3 cubic feet of space.