We all know that hybrid cars get great gas mileage and are good for the environment but I wondered if Toyota Prius can go 0-60 as fast as other cars. In my experience and from my research, there is some compromise in the 0-60 speed (2 – 4 seconds) for the other benefits that hybrids afford.
Prius hybrids average 10.3 seconds to go 0-60mph across all model years and makes. The 2019 Prius Ltd has the best 0-60 time since the first Prius came out in 2010, at 9.8 seconds. By comparison, an average gas-powered mid-size sedan in the U.S. will go 0–60mph in about 6-8 seconds, depending on horsepower and the size of the engine.
0-60 for various Prius models/years
| Year | Model | Type of Hybrid | 0-60mph time in seconds |
| 2010 | Prius | FHEV | 9.7 |
| 2012 | Prius V5 | FHEV | 10.1 |
| 2012 | Prius C4 | FHEV | 10.6 |
| 2013 | Prius V3 | FHEV | 10.3 |
| 2013 | Prius4 | FHEV | 10.1 |
| 2017 | Prius Prime | PHEV | 10.3 |
| 2018 | Prius C4 | FHEV | 11.2 |
| 2019 | Prius XLE | FHEV | 10.3 |
| 2019 | Prius Ltd | FHEV | 9.8 |
Watch this video about Prius going from 0 to 60:
I will share a joke about Prius later on in the article. But, before we get there, watch this video with record breakers for speed over the years.
Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) same as FHEV Full Hybrid Electric Vehicle
Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV)
For a comparison between FHEV and PHEV, read our PHEV vs. FHEV
What 0-60mph times do other similar non plug-in Hybrids have?
2014 Lexus CT 200h F-Sport 10.4
2013 Honda Insight LX Hybrid 10.2
Do plug-in hybrids(PHEVs) have better 0–60mph times than FHEV?
Some plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) do have better 0–60mph times than hybrid vehicles (HEV or FHEV) as this chart illustrates:
| Year | Model | Type of Hybrid | 0-60 mph in seconds |
| 2020 | BMW X5 xDrive45e | PHEV | 5.4 |
| 2018 | Volvo XC60 T8 Inscription | PHEV | 5.2 |
| 2021 | Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE | PHEV | 5.4 |
| 2017 | Toyota Prius Prime | PHEV | 10.3 |
| 2019 | Prius Ltd | FHEV | 9.8 |
| 2020 | Acura NSX | FHEV | 11.2 |
| 2020 | Ford Escape | FHEV | 10.7 |
| 2020 | Honda CRV | FHEV | 7.5 |
Why do Hybrids get slower 0-60 than gas-powered cars?
In order to achieve their great fuel efficiency numbers, hybrids operate from a standing start using only the electric motor, which typically provides much less horsepower and torque than a gasoline-powered engine. As the car increases in speed, the electric and gas-powered part of the engine works together to power the car.
The Prius hybrids does offer three driving modes:
- Eco
- Power
- EV
In Eco mode, the car is most efficient but slower off the mark.
In Power mode the car has more “umph” from a standing start. For example, the 2021 Prius XLE-awd has normal power output of 71 hp with torque of 120 lb-ft, but in the Power Mode it has 96 hp @ 5200 rpm with 105 lb-ft torque.
By comparison, the 2021 gas-powered Toyota Corolla hatchback in standard drive mode has 168 hp @ 6600 rpm with torque of 151 lb.-ft. @ 4800 rpm.
I have an article about PWR mode on Prius here.
The EV mode turns off the gasoline-powered engine altogether and the car operates on battery power alone. This is most widely used in parking lots at low speeds or in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
There is another article here on EV mode and I haven’t forgotten about the joke.
If you want a primer on various Prius generations, go here to read all about it.
Do you feel the “gears” shift with a Prius Hybrid car when accelerating 0-60mph?
Because the Prius has a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)(see below), the driver will not feel the traditional “shifting” of gears as the car accelerates. CVT produces the most efficient engine speed for each driving situation and is constant even if you “punch it” to rapidly accelerate.
You will notice the RPM, or engine speed, increase but you don’t feel the “shifting” as the engine moves up gears, like with a traditional automatic transmission. This type of transmission allows the car to quickly adapt to changing driving conditions without the constant need to change “gears” as it were.
Toyota Prius Top Speed
Priuses get an average of no less than 51/47 mpg city/highway across all models. They consistently have the largest cargo capacity of the electric/hybrid car class. They can seat up to five people.
The newer Prius models include
- options for a 7 to 11.5-inch touch screen
- Android and Apply Car Play
- 3 USB ports
- moon-roof
The 2020 Prius received an overall safety rating of five out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
What is the price range on Toyota Prius models?
The 2020 Toyota Prius models start around $24,500 and the top-of-the-line model starts at $32,600.
The model choices include:
- L Eco
- LE
- XLE
- 2020 Edition
- Limited.
The ECO package is pretty bare bones with cloth upholstery and a 6-ich touch screen.
Starting with the LE package, models will include blind-spot monitor and cross traffic alert.
At the XLE level, models will add more comfort features like heated front seats.
The 2020 Edition includes only 2,020 cars with options like blacked out wheels and exclusive white and red colors.
The Ltd edition has heads up display and the 11.6 inch touch screen.
(For more information on Toyota Prius models check out https://www.toyota.com/
)
Other contributing factors for Prius 0-60
The 2020 Toyota Prius models average 58 mpg in the city and 53 mpg on the highway for a combined gas mileage of 56 mpg.
The Prius has an 11.3-gallon fuel tank, giving drivers a maximum driving range of 655 miles in the city and 598 miles on the highway, depending on driving behavior and vehicle condition.
Even at the low end of the fuel efficiency ranges of 51/47 you are looking at 576 miles in the city and 531 miles on the highway.
What kind of engines does a Prius Hybrid have?
All the Prius model hybrids have a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), with a 4-cylinder gas-powered engine. This means the car is powered by an internal combustion engine (gas) and an electric motor, which uses energy stored in batteries.
The battery power takes over at slow speeds and when the car is idling while stopped.
What is a Power Split Device on a Prius?
The power split device is the heart of the Toyota Prius. It allows the car to operate like a parallel hybrid — the electric motor can power the car by itself, the gas engine can power the car by itself or they can power the car together.
But, the power split device also allows the car to operate as a series hybrid — the gasoline engine can operate independently of the vehicle speed, charging the batteries or providing power to the wheels as needed.
(For more information on the power split device, check out Toyota Power Split device)
How are all-electric vehicles different from hybrids?
An electric vehicle has a larger battery and a more powerful electric motor than a hybrid.
This combination gives the electric car the advantage of a longer mile range and better performance (faster) than a hybrid without the need to include a gas-powered engine. However, if you use up all your battery with no charging station onsite, you could end up stranded.
Are All–Electric Vehicles faster than Hybrids?
All-electric vehicles (EV) are faster than hybrids but also more expensive.
| Cost | Vehicle | 0-60mph in seconds |
| $100,000+ | 2020 Tesla X Performance w/ Ludicrous mode – EV | 2.6 |
| $184,000 | 2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo S – EV | 2.4 |
| $41,000 | 2019 Chevy Bolt Premier – EV | 6.4 |
| $32,650 | 2019 Prius Ltd Hybrid – Hybrid (HEV) | 9.8 |
Prius 0-60 Joke
As I mentioned earlier, all the models of Prius get around 9-10 seconds for 0-60. But here is a picture of a Prius claiming 2.3 seconds making the rounds on various websites. Can you spot the joke in the picture?
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Parallel hybrid has a fuel tank that supplies gasoline to the engine and also to a set of batteries that supply power to the electric motor. Both the engine and the electric motor can power the transmission at the same time, and the transmission then turns the wheels.
A series hybrid has a gasoline engine that turns a generator, and the generator can either charge the batteries or power an electric motor that drives the transmission. Thus, the gasoline engine never directly powers the vehicle in a series hybrid.
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and full hybrid electric vehicles (FHEV) are essentially the same. They are powered by an electric motor and a gas engine. HEVs and FHEVs start off using the electric motor, then switch to the gasoline engine as speed increases.