Toyota Prius: Which Should You Buy, 2022 or 2021?
Most significant changes: New Nightshade Edition trim; 2020 Edition discontinued; newly standard rear-seat reminder
Price change: $170 increase for XLE; all others unchanged
Which Should You Buy, 2021 or 2022? With prices for all but the XLE unchanged for 2022 amid additional (if modest) new technology, the 2022 Prius is likely the way to go unless you find discounts on the 2021.
On sale: Now
Toyota’s long-serving Prius hybrid enters the 2022 model year with minimal changes. Most significant is the addition of a blacked-out Nightshade Edition trim, joining the various — and sundry — other Nightshade-trimmed Toyotas already in the automaker’s lineup. Otherwise, the other main update is the addition of a standard rear-seat reminder to help prevent leaving passengers, pets or other important items in the back when leaving the car.
Related: 2021 Toyota Prius Review: High Mileage, for a Price
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Shop the 2022 Toyota Prius near you
All versions of the Prius except the Prius Prime, a plug-in hybrid, are powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with electric-motor assist, producing a combined 121 horsepower and 105 pounds-feet of torque. All-wheel-drive versions add an additional electric motor at the rear axle with another 7 hp and 40 pounds-feet of torque. Likely more important than the Prius’ power statistics are its fuel economy ratings, with an EPA-estimated 49 mpg combined with AWD, 52 mpg with FWD or 56 mpg for the efficiency-optimized Prius Eco.
Pricing by Trim
With minimal changes to the car itself, it’s no surprise that the price of a Prius also remains mostly unchanged for 2022. The XLE is the only one to see any increase at all, in fact, and even then, the price only rises by $170 for both FWD and AWD versions. Full pricing is below, including the new Nightshade Edition, and all prices include a $1,025 destination fee — up $30 as of Aug. 1, but applying to both the 2021 and 2022 Prius.
- L Eco: $25,550
- LE: $26,760
- XLE: $29,770
- Nightshade Edition: $30,470
- Limited: $33,675
- LE AWD: $28,160
- XLE AWD: $30,600
- Nightshade Edition AWD: $31,600
As with all vehicle purchases, dealer-level pricing remains a key deciding factor. Assuming the price of a 2021 Prius equals a 2022 model of the same trim, buyers would be wise to consider the 2022 and its few additional features. If, however, prices on 2021 model-year examples fall amid the incoming 2022 model year — and you can pass up the blacked-out Nightshade Edition — the 2021 is likely a better choice.
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