Used 2019 Toyota Prius

America’s best-selling hybrid moves to solidify its position, adding new features to keep it one step ahead of competitors like the Hyundai Ioniq, Kia Niro, Chevy Volt and Honda Insight, not to mention larger hybrid sedans like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Adding to the 2019 Toyota Prius’ impressive reputation for safety, reliability and fuel economy is the availability of all-wheel drive (AWD), a first for a hybrid car in this class and one that promises to make the Prius a better year- round companion. Although no longer the fuel-mileage king, the Prius’ futuristic design helps it stand out from more traditionally styled hybrids, and with four trim levels from which to choose, there’s a Prius to fit just about every taste and budget.

Smooth and precise, the 2019 Toyota Prius is comfortable, quiet and easy to drive. It’s also agile. It’s not a sports car by any stretch of the imagination, but it offers surprisingly sporty handling, which could not be said of previous versions. Body roll in the corners is kept to a minimum, and the steering, although not on par with the Mazda3 or Honda Civic, is light and fairly precise. The ride is agreeable, even on choppy urban boulevards, and it’s very happy on the highway, feeling more substantial than its predecessors, which lacked stability especially in windy conditions. There’s also a satisfying burst of power off the line, which makes the Prius feel quicker than it is. Its zero-to-60-mph time of about 10 seconds isn’t going to thrill, but there’s more than enough power when you need it. And the fuel economy is exceptional, which is of course the point. Drive it like Burt Reynolds in Smokey and the Bandit and you’ll still average over 45 mpg.

Toyota’s Prius for 2019 gets an interior makeover, with more upscale features like Piano Black trim on the steering wheel and center console, and a reimagined Tesla-like 11.6-inch touch-screen display on the new Limited trim. The seats are wide and supportive, with an impressive amount of legroom both front and rear. The traditional Prius dash concept remains to this day, with the center-mounted instrument cluster placed high up at the windshield’s base. The wireless charging pad is now larger, and the heated-seat buttons moved to a position just forward of the cup holders. Faux leather is offered on higher trims and is also used on the steering wheel that is now heated on XLE and Limited trims.

Priuses of the past were considered boring to look at. They weren’t unattractive, but they didn’t excite either. This time Toyota’s design team took a few chances and the exterior design of the 2019 Toyota Prius is anything but uninteresting. No, it probably won’t win any beauty contests, but its futuristic lines and avant-garde lighting certainly stand out in a crowd. This Prius has presence. It’s larger too, longer, lower and wider than previous models, and more aerodynamic. Its low hoodline doesn’t just cheat the wind to improve fuel economy, it also improves visibility for the driver, which helps in tight parking lots.

AWD-E SYSTEM
The Prius’ AWD-e system employs an electric motor at the rear wheels to deliver traction-enhancing all-wheel drive at speeds under 43 miles per hour. At speeds up to 6 mph, the system is fully engaged, helping with acceleration and traction, after which the Prius reverts to front-drive until wheel slippage brings the AWD back on line.

TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE P
At Toyota, safety is a priority, which is why unlike its competitors, every Prius regardless of trim level comes standard with Toyota’s Safety Sense P technology. The system includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams plus lane-departure warning and assist.

The feature list for the basic Prius L Eco makes it clear that “basic” does not mean “stripper” for this car: Witness the dual 4.2-inch customizable color information displays, 6.1-inch color touch screen, 6-speaker AM/FM/CD Entune audio, 2.0 USB port, Bluetooth streaming, Siri eyes-free, 15-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and push-button start, cruise control, tilt/telescope steering column, heated outside mirrors, rearview camera, stability control, traction control and eight airbags. Toyota’s Safety Sense P has full-speed dynamic cruise control, capable of bringing the car to a complete stop. The system also includes a pedestrian-detection feature, lane-departure warning and steering assist, which will make small steering corrections for you, and automatic high-beam headlights.

Options vary by trim and most are grouped into packages. Among the more attractive features are a power tilt/slide moonroof with a sliding sunshade, color head-up display, upgraded touch screen, navigation, Entune 10-speaker JBL audio, advanced voice recognition, as well as the standard Prius LE and XLE features, and a good many others. This year a massive 11.6-inch HD Multimedia Display, which is rivaled only by those in more expensive Teslas, now comes standard on the top-of-the-line Prius Limited. All-wheel drive is available but only on the LE and XLE trims.

Powering the 2019 Toyota Prius is Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive, which has been adapted to a number of the company’s vehicles. It’s also been licensed to other carmakers. It consists of a 95-horsepower 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine, which runs on old-fashioned gasoline, an electric motor and an automatic transmission. Combined output is a respectable 121 horsepower, but it’s the powertrain’s smooth function and delivery that impress, and of course its industry-leading fuel economy. An all-wheel-drive option pairs this powertrain with an electric motor that powers the rear wheels at speeds up to 43 mph. AWD-e is permanently engaged at speeds up to 6 mph, after which it becomes a part-time system only coming online when it senses the front wheels slipping. The additional electric motor adds seven horsepower and 40 lb-ft of torque to the standard Prius’ output. The Prius runs on regular-grade gasoline to keep operating costs low. This is a traditional hybrid; if you’re looking for a plug-in hybrid, Toyota offers the Prius Prime.

1.8-liter 4-cylinder
95 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
105 lb-ft of torque @ 3,500 rpm
Permanent magnet AC electric motor
71 horsepower, 120 lb-ft of torque
Magnet-less electric motor (AWD)
7 horsepower, 40 lb-ft of torque
Total system output: 121 horsepower (FWD), 128 horsepower (AWD)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 54/50 mpg, 58/53 mpg (L Eco), 52/48 mpg (AWD)