2020 Toyota Prius Pros vs Cons

The 2020 Toyota Prius is a plug-in hybrid with a very affordable base price. Toyota is a company that is known for the quality and durability of its vehicles. This reputation has no doubt helped the Prius to be one of the best-selling electric vehicles on the market today. As more electric and hybrid cars are introduced each year, it can be difficult to decide which model is right for you. Here are ten of the best reasons to select a Prius.

What's New For 2020?

When the Prius first rolled off of assembly lines in the late 90s, it was as a four-door sedan. Starting in 2003, the car was offered as a five-door liftback. This is sort of a cross between a standard sedan and a hatchback. This body style has been Toyota's style of choice for the Prius ever since.

For 2019, the Prius received a major change in appearance. It also offered all-wheel drive on all models. These recent changes carry over to the 2020 models. Toyota has added on their Safety Connect system for every trim level. Apple CarPlay and Alexa connectivity has been added on to the infotainment system this year. You will also see larger, 7-inch touchscreens as standard for 2020.

Ten Reasons You May Like the 2020 Toyota Prius – The Pros

1. It's Good for the Environment

Perhaps the best reason to own a hybrid vehicle is because they're environmentally friendly. Your Toyota Prius will emit significantly lower amounts of carbon dioxide into the air. You will be buying a lot less gasoline too. This could ultimately help to ween us off of the need for fossil fuels. If you are concerned about environmental issues, choosing a Prius is a great option.

2. Fuel Efficiency

The 2020 Toyota Prius is one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the road. A lot of money can be saved at the gas pumps when you own a Prius. With a full charge and a full tank, you should get a combined fuel-economy rating of around 56 miles-per-gallon. That's 58 miles-per-gallon on the highway and 53 miles-per-gallon during city commutes. The Prius has a range of 25 miles on electric-only power and over 600 miles with a full tank of gasoline.

3. Reliability

Year after year, Toyota's keep proving to be the most reliable cars on the road. At any given time, there are generally more old Toyota still running than comparable models from other manufacturers. That kind of reliability gives every Toyota a high resale valie as well. While there are no hard statistics on such a new model as the 2020 Prius, the 2019 models were largely the same. Those versions of the Prius had an excellent record of being problem free.

4. Nice Handling

The 2020 Toyota Prius offers surprising nice steering dynamics. The handling is better than it's ever been for the Prius. These hybrids were never known for their performance. You shouldn't expect athletic performance and track-ready acceleration here. Still, Toyota has improved the steering accuracy and feedback dramatically over previous models of this car. Tight curves can even be tackled with ease and very little body roll.

5. Great Array of Standard Features

The Prius comes loaded with a ton of nice standard features for its price point. On the outside, you get heated mirrors that quickly defrost in cold weather. You also get LED headlights, taillights and fog lamps. On the inside, even the base model comes stock with heated front seats. These are just a few examples of the array of standard features offered here.

6. It's a Safe Vehicle

The 2020 Toyota Prius is a safe vehicle for you and your loved ones. Up front, you get Toyota's Advanced Airbag System. This includes standard, side, cushion and knee airbags. For the rear seats, you get front- and rear-curtain-shield airbags. An engine immobilizer helps to protect your vehicle from theft.

Toyota includes their Safety Connect system on all models. This gets you in touch with emergency services in the event of an accident or breakdown. Toyota Safety Sense provides a number of driver-assist programs such as Pre-Collision Detection and Lane-Departure Alert. You also get a Tire-Pressure Monitoring system and anchoring tethers for child-safety seats.

7. The Comfortable Cabin

The interior of the Prius offers plenty of head and legroom for the front and rear passengers. The seats are nice and supportive. The fabric is top notch at every trim level. You even get heated front seats as a standard feature. The ride quality is fairly smooth and is also very quiet thanks to the quiet power-plants for this hybrid.

8. The Technology

The 2020 Toyota Prius is big on modern technology. The infotainment system comes with a large touchscreen and a powerful audio system. Connectivity is better than ever with Apple CarPlay being added this year. An integrated navigation system is included. For the best music experience, you can select a premium system from JBL.

9. Cargo-Space Versatility

The Prius offers a good deal of cargo space. It can be expanded up to 62.7 cubic-feet of space with the rear seats properly configured. The Prius rear seats offer a 60-40 split feature to give you options when it comes to hauling around your goods.

10. Available All-Wheel-Drive

The 2020 Toyota Prius is one of the few hybrids on the market to offer all-wheel drive. Best of all, you can get all-wheel drive as an option for any trim package. If you live in an area that is prone to lots of rain or snow, the Prius may be your best option for a hybrid car. The improved traction makes it a safer vehicle to drive during rough weather conditions.

Reasons You May Not Like the 2020 Toyota Prius – The Cons

1. Underwhelming Engine Performance

The Toyota Prius has never been known as a sporty vehicle. It's overall performance is not impressive when it comes to power and acceleration. Still, the 2020 models do steer and handle nicely, so the driving experience isn't at all bad. The main draw of the Prius, however, has always been its efficiency. If you're looking for speed, this isn't going to satisfy you. If you want cheap gas fill-ups and environmental friendliness, the Prius can't be beat.

2. There are Now Cheaper Alternatives

The 2020 Toyota Prius is no longer the cheapest hybrid on the market. There are now several competitors in this class that offer lower base prices. The positive with the Prius is that it retains its resale value better than most other cars in its class. This is generally true of all Toyota vehicles. When you also factor in the reliability of the Toyota brand, the Prius may still be the best value.

3. Basic Interior Materials

The Toyota Prius provides solid, comfortable chairs and a nice infotainment system. You even get a lot of standard convenience features. Unfortunately, the interior materials include a lot of plastics. This gives the interior a bit of a cheap look and feel. It screams basic, budget transportation. The thing is, for many drivers, that is exactly what the Prius will be. It's cheap. It's economical. It's designed for basic transportation that won't cost you much at the has pumps. If you need luxury appointments and fancy ornamentation, look elsewhere.

4. A Bland Exterior

The 2020 Toyota Prius isn't a bad-looking vehicle by any stretch of the imagination. It's also not the most exciting vehicle around. The exterior is kind of bland. You probably won't turn many heads as you drive, unless you happen to drive by environmentally-conscious people who admire your wise choice of a vehicle. Toyota has designed the Prius with practicality in mind, but that's not exactly a bad thing.

How It Stacks Up to the Competition:

When comparing vehicles that are direct competition to a car, one usually compares vehicles in the same size, price-range and class. When it comes to buying an electric car or hybrid, your best alternatives may not always fall into neat classifications like "sedan," or "crossover SUV." The main selling point here is the efficient, electric motor. The Prius faces its main competition from Honda's Insight, the Nissan Leaf and the Kia Niro.

The Honda Insight has a lot going for it. It provides a slightly better driving experience than what you get in the Prius. The overall ride quality is smoother. The Prius, however, actually wins out when it comes to steering and handling. The Prius is quieter and also offers all-wheel drive. If you need to drive in rough weather on a regular basis, the Prius may be the better choice here.

When comparing the Prius to Nissan's Leaf, the Prius is once again the only choice with available all-wheel drive. It's one of the things that really sets the Prius apart from its competitors. What makes the Leaf so interesting is that it's an all-electric vehicle. If you want to be free of gasoline use altogether, this is your best bet. The downside is that you only have a 151-mile driving range. With the Prius, you'll be able to go well over 600 miles before stopping to refuel and recharge.

The Kia Niro is a sharp-looking hybrid hatchback. It is comparatively priced in the same ballpark as the Toyota Prius. The Prius offers much better fuel economy and the previously mentioned all-wheel drive. Toyota gives you a lot more standard features here and has a better track record when it comes to reliability.

Conclusion:

The 2020 Toyota Prius is an excellent choice for anyone interested in getting a hybrid vehicle. Toyota has been making the Prius for over two decades now. They've got the science of building hybrid engines down better than just about any manufacturer. Toyota vehicles also rank among the best when it comes to longevity and reliability. The Prius is packed with safety features and driver-assist systems. This car is a safe bet and an all-around good investment.