• Overall
• Prices
• Performance
• Exterior
• Interior
• Safety
• Reliability
• Photos & Videos

Toyota Prius - What the Auto Press Says

The 2010 Toyota Prius ranks 4 out of 24 Affordable Midsize Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 13 published reviews and test drives of the Toyota Prius, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

All new for 2010, the third-generation of the Toyota Prius is the most fuel-efficient car offered by a major manufacturer in the U.S. this year. It can also hold its own against non-hybrid cars.  With more space, more power and better fuel economy than the model it replaces, the all-new 2010 Prius is a solid choice for any midsize car buyer.

The car that came to symbolize eco-consciousness has grown more powerful and larger, but at the same time, more fuel-efficient than ever before.  Entirely new for 2010, the Prius boasts more powerful electric and gasoline motors this year, while its battery pack is smaller but powers the car for longer than the 2009 edition could manage. The car now offers four operating modes, allowing drivers to choose whether to focus on fuel economy or performance.

Inside, the Prius has lost some of the ergonomic quirks that bothered drivers in the old version, and gained both storage and passenger space.  A heavily advertised option, there are even roof-mounted solar panels available for an added cost, though they only serve to power a ventilation fan that cools the car when parked. 

The improved Prius, however, has new competition. The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid challenges the Prius on refinement, and according to some reviewers, offers a better driving experience.  The new Honda Insight, meanwhile, is challenging the Prius on value.

The Prius is available in four trim levels, offering varying equipment levels, known as Prius II, III, IV and V.  Toyota says that a fifth trim, the Prius I, will appear later in the year.  The exact content of the Prius I has not yet been announced, but Toyota says its purpose is to take on the Honda Insight with a base price near $21,000.  With a fully equipped Prius V costing over $32,000, it is possible to configure a Prius for many different budgets.

Shoppers might want to note that the Prius is included in a massive and highly-publicized recall due to a floormat design that can trap the vehicle's accelerator pedal, causing unintended acceleration.  Toyota safety personnel have informed us that customers can currently purchase a 2010 Prius with floormats.  The car will be delivered with the driver's side floormat attached to the track of the driver's seat with zip ties.  Customers are asked not to remove the ties.  Toyota will contact buyers with a recall notice when a permanent fix is available. 

Check out the best Toyota deals for current discounts and incentives on the Prius and other Toyota products.

• "What's most surprising about the Prius is what a fine midsize car it would be even if it didn't get such terrific fuel economy. Granted, its powertrain idiosyncrasies may annoy, but that and some mild visibility issues are Prius' only real drawbacks." -- Consumer Guide
• "When gas prices go back up, you'll wish you had one." -- New York Times
• " It's the same oddly shaped hybrid that almost two million buyers love, but it gets better mileage, looks sharper and is packing more technological whiz-bangery than any vehicle this simple to drive has the right to." -- Autoblog
• "It's a huge improvement over the outgoing model. Not only is the interior vastly improved, the car gets even better mileage: It's now rated at 51/48 mpg city/highway, 50 mpg combined." -- Cars.com
• "The 2010 Toyota Prius is almost all-new in almost every department. It does just about everything the previous Prius did better." -- AutoWeek
• "With the new, third-generation Prius, Toyota is aiming to broaden the car's appeal beyond the green set." -- Automobile Magazine
• "While the new Prius remains far from the top of our Best Driving Cars list, it's also now far from the bottom, where it used to reside. Not only is it the most fuel-efficient vehicle for sale in America, but it combines that newfound efficiency with the dynamics, space and experience of a normal car." -- Jalopnik
• "It created a segment, it changed minds, it validated a technology, it raised awareness. It united blue-collar workers and university professors in a brotherhood and sisterhood of thrift. It's cool. It's dorky. If everyone drove one, we could tell OPEC to kiss our behinds. I'll take mine in red." -- Los Angeles Times

Prius Performance - 8.5 (Very Good)

The 2010 Toyota Prius has more power than the model it replaces. Both its electric motor and its gasoline engine have been upgraded, and reviewers say the car now holds its own against four-cylinder midsize cars.  The steering is still electrically-assisted, but most reviewers say the new car's handling is more natural than in earlier Prius models. The official word says that the new Prius manages 50 mpg in combined driving, but many reviewers have easily beaten that figure. Read More

Prius Exterior - 8.4 (Very Good)

For 2010, the Prius has grown in every dimension.  It has not, however, lost its iconic shape.  It now shares the same hood bulge as other Toyota sedans, and has lost the horizontal bar across the rear window that interfered with visibility in previous editions.  The new body style is even more aerodynamic than the one it replaces, creating the least drag of any car ever measured. Read More

Prius Interior - 8.0 (Very Good)

The passenger cabin of the 2010 Toyota Prius is more mainstream than those of previous generations, but retains the comfort and excellent build quality Toyota is known for.  The center console and shift lever are arranged in a more traditional layout.  A new interface system that allows the driver to change many climate and entertainment functions from the steering wheel is winning positive reviews.  The Prius retains the largest cargo capacity of any hybrid sedan. Read More

Prius Safety - NA

Neither the federal government nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has crash-tested the 2010 Prius. It comes standard with six airbags and electronic stability control.  A new lane departure warning system is available as an option. Read More

Prius Reliability - 10.0 (Excellent)

The 2010 Toyota Prius reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). The 2010 Toyota Prius has basic warranty coverage for the first three years or 36,000 miles, in addition to warranty coverage specific to its hybrid technologies. Read More