Electric cars are becoming so popular today but what surprised me the most was, Toyota Prius Generations of cars have been around for nearly two decades now. With officially four generations of Prius available, a thriving community is involved in the discussion, helping, selling and providing support on how to better maintain the hybrid vehicle if you buy one.
If you are an enthusiast of hybrid cars and would like to customize your ride experience, I would strongly suggest you to try out the Prius generations. Each generation of the car from Toyota has specific upgrades, improvements and some shortcomings that can be overcome by replacing a few accessories. The nostalgic yet personalized PHEV is what a Prius is all about.
I would highly suggest a Toyota Prius third or fourth-generation model if you are looking to spend less time customizing your car. Some spares aren’t readily available for older models and it is usually a hunt to buy them from stores located in a different state. However, if you are a hardcore plug-in hybrid lover and like to go all-in, a Prius first or second generation should do as it’s a challenge in itself to buy one and use it on a daily basis.
First Generation Prius
Seeing so much hype surrounding the car, I literally assumed that Toyota was the first manufacturer to make hybrid vehicles with an electric motor. However, the 1st generation Prius released in 2000 is rather late to the party. Originally, they are being produced since 1898 which was shocking to me but Toyota managed a feat. They brought such technology into mass production for everyone to own easily.
The first generation Prius was lot more bulkier in design even though it was a sedan. While it was officially launched in Japan, it took years since the original 1997 launch before it finally hit the U.S. shores by 2001.
1s Gen Highlights
- The first generation model still holds fame for being the mass-produced electric car nearly two decades ago
- The most common complaint related to the 1st generation models since 2012 is the lack of modern battery technology in it
- It is usually difficult to use this car unless you spend money on replacing its older batteries with newer ones
- This generation is usually referred to as the Generation 1.5 edition which is not readily available for purchase these days
Watch this video of a first generation Prius
Second Generation Prius
Compared to the 1st generation model, the 2nd generation is far more contemporary in terms of design. It was mounted on the XW20 chassis and had a very modern sedan design except for the bonnet which resembled something right out of the movie ‘Back to the Future’.
The surprise element was that it was released way back in 2004 and literally innovated the automobile market with more than 500 patents up its sleeve. The car was much more economical, had a high-performance engine and the electric motor could cover more distance albeit it may not be as good as a Chevrolet Bolt or a Tesla from today.
2nd Gen Highlights
The models released till 2009 are usually referred to as Gen 2 and they underwent a major transformation
- Unlike the sedans of the past, the next gen moved onto becoming larger hatchbacks and it is also said to have a lesser strain on the battery to provide better mile range
- The most widely known problem with this generation is that the car wouldn’t start randomly or not shut down
- Another known issue is the 12V auxiliary battery failure and traction battery failure for which replacement is the most ideal solution of them all
Watch this video of a second generations Toyota Prius
Third Generation Prius
The 3rd Generation Toyota Prius refers to the models that were released between 2010 and 2015. They are among the most popular models because of spare availability, used car market and overall support for these variants are much better. Besides, they have better fuel economy and improved battery technology which is being offered in a more value for money proposition for buyers interested in the Prius lineup.
Focusing more on the aspect of fuel efficiency and contributing to the planet, the team at Toyota continued to target the United Kingdom as their launch pad. The third-gen car was revealed in 2009 which provided an increased horsepower of 134bhp and reduced CO2 emissions by at least 14 percent, making it a greener car than previous generations.
I can easily say that the buyers of today will not be buying a Toyota Prius for lower emissions but rather owning a piece of history. But, if you are going to buy one for comfort, the newer models including this generation build on the XW30 chassis is far more comfortable and exceptionally well designed to sport to the public.
3rd Gen Highlights
- The fuel economy in this generation has significantly improved when compared with the first two generations
- Some users mentioned an overheating issue with the car while some report inconsistency in how the engine works or does not work at times
- The charging time on the battery greatly varies based on the model you own and it can also be fixed by changing the battery outright by replacing it with a new one
Watch this video of third generation Pris
Fourth Generation Prius
In my honest opinion, the most potent launch of them all is the 4th generation Prius which is a king among other Prius generations released so far. While we can credit its lithium-ion battery and Toyota’s experience in making hybrid electric cars, it did manage to change the way the automobile industry worked.
The new Toyota Prius was launched during the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show and was delivered to customers from 2016 onwards. I would literally go for the latest version of the Prius despite the high price tag because it allows me to own the brand and is also easier to maintain because it is the newest one available in the market.
4th Generation Highlights
- XW50 is the internal name used for 4th Gen Prius cars
- Models released after 2015 or 2016 often fall in this category
- Prius V refers to the newest generation models available which have very little complaints such as blinking lights, warning lights issue or cooling which are quite minor
- While there are no major flaws, many users do complain about its warning lights suddenly going off on multiple components which should be fixed one by one
Watch this video about fourth generation Prius in action
Prius Prime Generations Vs Competition – What Should be Your Best Bet?
With fully electric cars approaching a peak in the next three or four years, almost every automobile brand wants a piece of the cake. The Camry Hybrid, Chevrolet Spark, multiple Tesla cars besides the upcoming BMW, Volkswagen and Mercedes models will feature plug-in hybrid or other hybrid variants as well.
Any car enthusiast would suggest you to buy a Prius Prime 2020 or 2021 edition. I will probably do the same because Toyota has been making hybrid cars for two decades now. Their expertise in the field will be far more efficient than any other brand could have explored in the past few years.
Here’s a quick overview of why the newest Prius Prime is a great pick for new buyers who are entering the hybrid market.
- Excellent build quality and designed to be rugged for years to come
- Great boot space so you could store everything you need in the back
- Great fuel efficiency
- Extremely low operating costs and maintenance
- Battery saving options are possible if you could tweak the settings
- Great visibility on the door due to the design of the front fascia
- Some things that might put you off include,
- Brakes are supposed to be replaced in a year or two based on usage according to lots of recent Prius owners’ comments
- Lack of Android Auto but only CarPlay will make it tough for Android smartphone users
- Cargo is not as big as a Tesla Model Y or similar cars
- Avoid buying an expensive charger but a 22-240V home charger should be sufficient to keep using the vehicle
On an average day, it is difficult to not come across at least a dozen new launches in the hybrid segment. People love to have a huge touchscreen infotainment system, the automatic driving system which is still in its nascent stages and has little maintenance even if it means paying more at the service center.
Yet, the 2021 Toyota Prime as well as the older models released in the past few years makes a lot of sense. I personally have owned one Prius used model from 2015 and it continues to be the best bet as an all-rounder. The older models seem to be easy on your wallet whereas we are yet to find out how the 2018 and newer generations of Prius fares as the years go by.
Buying an older Prius would require lots of research including ways to save money on taxes and delivery. A similar ordeal is required for the newer models albeit with the higher pricing but they are so unique that you would definitely love your purchase and driving experience.