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2016 Toyota Prius hybrid

Rating8.0

Ranked #1 in Hatchback

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Starting MSRP 

$24,200 - $30,000

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Key Spec of 2016 Toyota Prius hybrid
fuel economy

54/52/50

fuel type

Regular unleaded

horsepower

121 hp @ 5200 rpm

basic warranty

3 yr./ 36000 mi.

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2016 Toyota Prius hybrid Price, Review, Ratings and Pictures

Updated on: December 28, 2021

Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor

The Prius is Toyota’s first attempt at making an eco-friendly car and they got it so right. Ever since its debut, it has been going up in the sales chart and skyrocketed the fortunes of the Japanese maker. It uses a clever hybrid system to deliver mind-blowing fuel economy figures. The Hybrid system comes as standard regardless of its trims. However, it provides a plethora of trims to choose from.

2016 Toyota Prius hybrid Latest Updates

  • Apr' 12, 2022 : Most Fuel Efficient Midsize Cars On Sale In The US Read More »
  • Mar' 1, 2022 : The 2023 Toyota bZ4X To Come With 1 Year Of Free Charging Read More »
See detailed review
ProsConsWhat's New

Insane fuel efficiency figures

Outlandish looks

Completely redesigned for 2016

Drives well

The rear headroom is a bit cramped for tall folks

Refined and sturdy powertrain

Offset gauges are a tad out of the driver's view

Seats have really been improved

Over All Rating

8.0

Out of 10

Pricing and Features8.00
Features7.50
Engine and Performance8.50
Fuel Economy9.00
Interior7.60
Exterior6.50
Safety8.70
Competition6.00
Notable Rankings

#1 in Hatchback

#1 in Compact Hatchback

Pictures & Videos

Exterior [6]Interior [5]
2016 Toyota Prius hybrid exterior
2016 Toyota Prius hybrid exterior
2016 Toyota Prius hybrid exterior
2016 Toyota Prius hybrid exterior
2016 Toyota Prius hybrid exterior
2016 Toyota Prius hybrid exterior

Trims

Two$24,200 onwards

  • 3 - 1st row LCD monitor
  • AM/FM stereo
  • Automatic Front air conditioning
  • Cloth Seat trim
Build Car

Two Eco$24,700 onwards

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Three$26,250 onwards

  • Navigation system
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Three Touring$28,100 onwards

  • Leatherette seats
Build Car

Four$28,650 onwards

  • 15-inch aluminum Wheels
  • Driver Lumbar support
  • Rain Sensing Windshield wipers
Build Car

Four Touring$30,000 onwards

  • 17-inch aluminum Wheels
  • Front Fog/driving lights
Build Car

Colors and Styles

2016 Toyota Prius hybrid in blizzard pearl color
blizzard pearl

Expert Review, Pricing Analysis and Buying Guide

The Toyota distills everything it learned about the hybrid system in the all-new Toyota Prius which has been completely redesigned for the 2016 model year. It is sensible, thriving, and has become refined over years. The Powertrain is quiet and refined as well. Coming to the exterior design, it still looks a bit controversial and the purists are skeptical about it, but they have improved in the overall exterior design over the years, but it turns out to be a perfect package for people who want to save the ecosystem by reducing pollution. Moreover, it challenges some other compact hybrid cars like Ford C-Max and Chevrolet Volt. 

Features
7.5/10

The Toyota Prius is available in six different trim levels and the Two eco model is the best value for money trim among all those It uses a 1.8-liter inline 4 with electric motors that work underneath to enhance the acceleration in the initial stage. Although you do not get a choice of the manual transmission and have to make do with the CVT transmission, it is a compromise you can make if you need a more fuel-efficient car. The Toyota also puts all sorts of safety features one would need in a compact car and the Four touring trim is the one that does not lose out on any of the safety features, it also gets an intelligent infotainment system. 

Trims

Two

Two Eco

Three

Three Touring

Four

Four Touring

MSRP

$24,200 

$24,700

$26,250

$28,100 

$28,650 

$30,000

Key Features

Tire pressure monitoring system

Auto-off headlights

Vehicle Anti-Theft System

Aluminum Wheels

Blind-spot Monitor and Cross-traffic Alert

Aluminum Wheels

 

Backup camera

Alarm and backup camera

Tires- All-Season

Tires- - Performance

Tires- All-Season

Tires- Performance

 

Keyless Start & Entry

Auto-off headlights and fog lamps

Leather seats

Adaptive Cruise Control

Universal Garage Door Opener

Adaptive Cruise Control

 

Rear Spoiler

Compact Spare Tire

Driver Illuminated Vanity Mirror

Fog Lamps 

Rain Sensing Wipers

Fog Lamps 

 

A trip computer

Back-Up Camera

Smart Device Integration

Smart Device Integration

Optional Automatic Parking

Lane Keeping Assist 

 

Cruise control

Heated mirrors

Optional Lane Departure and Lane Keeping Assist

Leatherette Upholstery

 

 

Optional Premium Sound System 

Leatherette Upholstery 

 

Wireless cell phone hookup

Climate control

Optional Adaptive Cruise Control 

Optional Adaptive Cruise Control 

Heated front seats

Unique Bumper Stylin

We Recommend:

We recommend the two eco variants for their fuel efficiency and economical cost. It only costs you an additional $500. It is the right blend of practicality and fuel efficiency. If you are after something more than basic and more luxury and safety options, then opting for the Four touring unlocks some additional luxury interior and exterior features with more Safety that comes in handy. The top trim would cost you around $30,000 which is quite a bargain considering the fact it offers a lot more features than you’d expect.

Engine and Performance
8.5/10

The 2016 Toyota Prius comes equipped with a peppy 1.8-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine with electric motors across all the trims. The Electric motors boost up the initial acceleration. It comes paired with a standard CVT transmission, which keeps the engine in the right gear at all times and allows smooth gear shifts. The 1.8-liter engine is however tuned to deliver more fuel efficiency and therefore the compromised performance, it puts out 121 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque.

 Moving on to the performance figures, the 0-60MPH run in the Prius takes 9.7 seconds which is the slowest in its class. When it comes to quarter-mile time, it manages to do a quarter-mile run in 17.4 seconds and goes all the way to a top speed of 110 mph which isn’t adequate enough for people who seek engaging driving experience. The other drawback seems to be the lack of a manual gearbox for the inline 4 engine.

Models

2016 Toyota Prius

2016 Ford C-Max

2016 Chevrolet Volt

MSRP

$24,200

$24,170

$33,170

Engine

1.8-liter Inline-4/Electric motors

2.0-liter Inline-4/Electric motors

1.5-liter Inline-4/Electric motors

Drivetrain

FWD

FWD

FWD

Transmission

CVT

CVT

1-speed automatic

Power

121 hp

188 hp

149 hp

Torque

105 lb-ft

129 lb-ft

294 lb-ft

0-60 MPH (seconds)

9.7

7

8.4

Quarter mile (sec)

17.4

N/A

15.6

Top Speed (MPH)

110

115

108

Albeit having a smaller inline 4 engine, the Chevrolet Volt makes more power than the Toyota Prius, it puts out 149 hp and 294 lb-ft of torque which is on par with the segment. However, the top speed is similar to the Toyota Prius which has a bigger 1.8-liter NA inline-4 engine. The most astonishing thing about the Ford C-Max is the power output. It is more powerful than the other two cars by a substantial margin and it produces 188 hp and 129 lb-ft and it clearly reflects in its performance as it turns out to be the fastest hybrid car in its class.

Fuel Economy
9.0/10

This is where the Toyota Prius comes into its own. Delivering World-class fuel efficiency is what it is built to do and it does it quite well. The 2016 Toyota Prius’s fuel economy standards are overwhelming and impressive. The Toyota Prius manages to return 54 miles per gallon in the city and puts down up to 50 miles to the gallon on the highway. As a result, it offers a combined fuel economy figure of 52 MPG, which, surprisingly, is a colossal figure. The Prius also comes with a modest 11.3-gallon fuel tank, this is where Mazda manages to edge over its rivals with the larger fuel tank in terms of range. The 11.3-liter fuel tank allows the car to traverse 560 miles in the city and 610 miles on the highway before the next fuel stop.

Model

2016 Toyota Prius

2016 Ford C-Max

2016 Chevrolet Volt

MPG (city)

54

42

43

MPG (Highway)

50

36.8

42

MPG (Combined)

52

39.2

42

Fuel Capacity

11.3

13.5

8.9

Range (City/highway)

560/610.2

496.8/567

373.8/382.7

Among the competition, the Ford C-max and the Chevrolet Volt offer nearly the same fuel economy figures in the city and differ only when it comes to highway and combined mpg. However, the Toyota Prius smashes its rivals in the fuel economy test with a mileage of 54 mpg in the city and 50 mpg on the highway which is a lot more than the other cars. On the other hand, the Chevrolet Volt has the smallest tank of the lot. Hence, the Toyota Prius clearly stands as the winner when it comes to fuel efficiency.

Interior
7.6/10

Unlike the exterior, the Toyota has done a fantastic job inside the car. Everything inside the car looks neat and well-appointed. They have managed to bring the best out of a minimalistic and simple design. The instrument cluster is placed in the center of the dashboard so that the passenger can also see the speed and other information of the car. The AC vents are designed so elegantly and premium. On the downside, you can find a lot of hard plastics on the dashboard. 

The gear shift knob is placed in an absurd place but it’s a very clever move. It is so small which makes it look like another button in the center console. It is one of the coolest things you can find inside the cabin. The seats in base trim are made of cloth trim but the higher trims do offer leather bolstered seats that look absolutely premium. The Toyota Prius has a total seating capacity of 5 passengers, which is also the segment standard. While the front legroom has abundant space, the headroom does feel a bit cramped measuring only 39.4 inches when compared to its rivals. In terms of cargo capacity, the Prius sports the largest trunk in its segment measuring 24.6 cubic feet.

Model

2016 Toyota Prius

2016 Ford C-Max

2016 Chevrolet Volt

Seating Capacity

5

5

5

Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)

39.4/55/43.2

41/55.9/43.1

37.80/56.50/42.10

Second Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)

33.4/53/33.4

36.5/55.2/36.5

34.70/53.20/34.70

Cargo capacity (cubic Ft)

24.6

24.5

10.6

In comparison, the front row space of the Toyota Prius and Chevrolet Volt are nearly the same with microscopic differences. However, Impressively the Ford C-Max has the highest headroom, shoulder room, and legroom space overall measuring 41 inches, 55.9 inches, and 43.1 inches in the front, respectively. Some of the interior standout features are:

  • Digital Display
  • SofTex Seat Trim 
  • Urethane Gear Shifter Material
  • Front Center Armrest and Rear Center Armrest
  • Day-Night Rearview Mirror

How intuitive is the 2016 Toyota Prius Hybrid’s infotainment system?

The Toyota Prius comes with a seven-inch touchscreen display which also features a navigation system. It also has an energy monitor feature for a versatile user experience. The system is quite user-friendly and would not take much time for the customers to get used to it. It gains a six-speaker sound system, a head-up display, wireless device charging, and the Entune app suite. Standout infotainment features are listed down

  • Smart Device Integration
  • Apple CarPlay
  • Android Auto
  • Navigation System
  • CD Player
  • Wireless Cell Phone Hookup
Exterior
6.5/10

The 2016 Toyota Prius gets a complete makeover for 2016 and its looks and design cues of the car are polarizing, some would like it or some would not. The headlights are sharp and sleek with projector lights in the center. The front grille is so slender which reminds you that it’s a hybrid car. The Toyota logo on the front is surrounded by blue paint which adds to the looks. It uses the conventional body shape of the Prius with a few tweaks to it.

 The taillights however are not as good as the headlights. It doesn’t grab much attention. However, it has an upside, it weighs the lightest in its segment weighing over 3000 lbs. Furthermore, it has decent exterior proportions and dimensions. It measures 178.7 inches long, 69.3 inches wide, and 58. Inches tall. It also happens to have the highest wheelbase of 106.3 inches. Nevertheless, ground clearance is not available for the Prius.

Model

2016 Toyota Prius

2016 Ford C-Max

2016 Chevrolet Volt

Curb Weight (lbs)

3075

3607

3543

Length (in.)

178.7

173.6

180.4

Width (in.)

69.3

72

71.2

Height (in.)

58.1

63.9

56.4

Ground clearance (in.)

N/A

5.5

N/A

Wheelbase (in.)

106.3

104.3

106.1

Among the competition, the Toyota Prius and Chevrolet Volt have identical wheelbases, but the difference in the measurements and curb weight explains how the automakers have utilized the space and weight balance. The lightweight nature of the Prius gives us a hint as to why it has such good fuel efficiency figures. The Ford C-Max also has a ground clearance of 5.5 inches, whereas the ground clearance of the other two cars is unknown. Standout exterior features are

  • Light Tinted Glass
  • Variable Intermittent Wipers
  • LED Brakelights
  • Body-Colored Power Heated Side Mirrors
Safety
8.7/10

oyota never really compromises when it comes to the overall safety of the car. They have given equal thought to safety as well. The NHTSA gave the Toyota Prius a full five-star overall safety rating, and it also gained the title of ‘2016 Top Safety Pick+’ by IIHS. The safety scores of the car make sure that it is very strongly built and durable. Some of the outstanding safety features include:

  • Side Impact Beams
  • Low Tire Pressure Warning
  • VSC Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
  • ABS And Driveline Traction Control
  • Back up camera
Final Verdict

The new Toyota Prius definitely lives up to expectations in many aspects. It is the only car on the road to offer tremendous mileage figures. It is one of the most eco-friendly compact sedans on the market right now. The interior looks pretty amazing but there are negatives too. To start with, the engine is a bit lazy and doesn’t really want to go fast until the top end and the design of the car could have been better. It sure looks distinct but it isn’t so appealing to all. Otherwise, it is such a nice car and delivers oodles of range. With the Prius, long journeys are not a fuss anymore. If you want a compact car that delivers refined performance and unbelievable mileage figures, the 2016 Toyota Prius is definitely the one for you.

Features

vehicle bio
base price

$30000

body style

4dr Hatchback

engine type
displacement

110 cu in

horse power

121 hp @ 5200 rpm

torque

105 lb.-ft. @ 3600 rpm

transmission

Continuously Variable Transmission

dimensions
length

179 in

wheelbase

106 in

width

69 in

curb weight

3080 lbs

Height

58 in

Ground Clearance

5 lbs

capacity
passenger volume

93.1 cu ft

cargo volume

27.4 cu ft

passenger capacity

5 Seats

fuel economy
city/combined/highway

54/52/50 mpg

highway range

565.0 mi

warranty
basic warranty

3 yr./ 36000 mi.

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2016 Toyota Prius hybrid User Reviews

3.0

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Kinley Bowen

2016 Toyota Prius hybrid

Four 5dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

4

User Overall Rating

Posted On: April 27, 2022

Crappy car.

Pros - Nothing

Cons - Laggy engine, Steering issues, Interior

Problems with the steering wheel. I regret buying my Toyota Prius. The engine feels underwhelming in terms of power. It doesn't feel quick enough in any RPM. The steering, on the other hand, has some issues. It makes screeching noises while turning. Moreover, the dashboard and the door panels have started to fade within just 5 years. Not impressed with the interior quality. I am really unha...

4/10
Features
5/10
Interior
6/10
Design
5/10
Safety
4/10
Reliability
5/10
Deal Value
4/10
Dealer Review
Read more »
S

Steven

2016 Toyota Prius hybrid

Three Touring 5dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

7

User Overall Rating

Posted On: March 2, 2022

Economical and practical hybrid hatchback

Pros - Ample cargo space, composed ride and handling, excellent fuel economy along with a hushed cabin.

Cons - Less rear seat legroom.

Affordable Hybrid car with poised handling. I've had the Prius since August of 2016. My wife and I both adore this vehicle. We drove this automobile cross-country last summer; it was really pleasant and we had no problems. In mixed driving circumstances, it achieves an astounding fuel economy of more than 50 mpg. The accurate steering and smooth-acting brakes provide for a great driving experienc...

7/10
Features
6/10
Interior
7/10
Design
7/10
Safety
8/10
Reliability
8/10
Deal Value
9/10
Dealer Review
Read more »
W

William

2016 Toyota Prius hybrid

Two 5dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

8

User Overall Rating

Posted On: January 11, 2022

A Unique Suburbanite!

Pros - Easy handling, Refined CVT, Jaw-dropping mileage, Comfortable driving position

Cons - Grisly exterior styling, Interiors feels cheap at places

Remarkable mileage range I gifted this car to my wife and she loves it! The Toyota Prius is a unique suburbanite with a jaw-dropping mileage range of 50+mpg. I rarely refill gas and the rides are quiet even while driving at 80+mph. She drives it effortlessly since the CVT completes the job with minimal fuel consumption. The seats are well-spaced and the driving position feels comfortable for long...

8/10
Features
9/10
Interior
7/10
Design
8/10
Safety
9/10
Reliability
9/10
Deal Value
8/10
Dealer Review
Read more »
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4/10

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Crappy car.

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by Kinley Bowen

7/10

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8/10

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by William

7/10

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by Caroline Dickens

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Nothing apart from the space

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Toyota Prius hybrid 5 year Cost To Own

Cash Price(MSRP)
$27,413
5 Year Cost To Own
$36,693
Total 5 year Cost To Own -  $36,693
Year 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5total
Depreciation$5,705$1,671$1,560$1,858$1,765$12,559
Insurance$1,234$1,357$1,327$1,395$1,438$6,751
Fuel$818$902$908$925$968$4,521
Maintenance$25$536$513$1,037$1,957$4,068
Repairs$-7$-33$83$285$426$754
Financing Interest$1,739$1,420$1,066$644$263$5,132
Taxes and Fees$2,286$211$137$126$148$2,908
Total Cost-To-Own$11,800$6,064$5,594$6,270$6,965$36,693
Read more about Cost-To-Own »