2014 vs 2015 Toyota Prius

vs

Both years are the same generation, so most of what they offer is shared.

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

2014

  • Oil burning 2010–2014

    What to check: Ask how much oil it uses between changes, check the level on the dipstick, and ask whether Toyota's piston and ring repair was done.

    Toyota's bulletin T-SB-0169-16 fixes oil burning in the 1.8-liter engine of 2010–2014 cars with new pistons and rings, under the powertrain warranty of five years or 60,000 miles, which has ended. On CarComplaints.com, an unofficial source, 137 owners of the 2010 report it at about 110,350 miles on average, and 14 of them had the engine replaced.

    Toyota, owners' reports (unofficial)

2015

Nothing that 2014 lacks.

Both years

  • Brake booster and pump All years

    What to check: Watch for brake warning lights when starting and on a test drive, and ask whether the brake booster or its pump was replaced.

    Toyota's program ZJB extended cover for the brake booster and its pump, whose faults light the brake warning lamps, to ten years or 150,000 miles, so on a car first sold more than ten years ago it has ended. Toyota also recalled 2010 cars for brakes that could feel inconsistent after the ABS worked, and some for nitrogen leaking into the brake fluid.

    Toyota, NHTSA

  • Clogged EGR valve All years

    What to check: Listen for a rough idle or a rattle on a cold start, and have the codes read for P0401.

    Toyota's program ZF3 covered sticking EGR valves on 2010–2012 cars for ten years or 150,000 miles, which has ended. Jalopnik says the 3rd gen's EGR system can clog past 100,000 miles, causing misfires, and that head gaskets can leak.

    Toyota, Jalopnik

  • Inverter shutting down All years

    What to check: Ask whether recalls 14V053000 and 18V684000 were done, and on a 2013 to 2015 car 20V369000 too, and watch for warning lights.

    Toyota recalled 2010–2014 cars twice for the power module inside the inverter, which could put the car in limp mode or shut the hybrid system down while driving, and 2013–2015 cars not covered by the second recall.

    NHTSA

Rare catches

2014

Nothing that 2015 lacks.

2015

  • Rare Absolutely Red Color

    Only on the 2015 Persona Series An owners' registry (unofficial)

Both years

  • Rare Clearwater Blue Metallic Color

    Prius Plug-in Hybrid only An owners' registry (unofficial)

Recalls

2014

  • 14V053000 2010–2014

    Transistors in the power module inside the inverter can be damaged by heat, putting the car in a limp mode with warning lights, or shutting down the hybrid system. NHTSA

  • 18V684000 2010–2014

    Too much voltage in the power module inside the inverter may shut down the hybrid system, and the car can stall while driving. The software update is needed even on cars updated under 14V053000. NHTSA

2015

Nothing that 2014 lacks.

Both years

  • 20V369000 2013–2015

    Too much voltage in the power module inside the inverter may shut down the hybrid system, and the car can stall while driving. NHTSA

What changed between

After 2014, up to and including 2015.

  1. 2015A second Persona Series Special Edition was offered, with dark 17-inch wheels, heated mirrors with turn signals, and an Absolutely Red paint of its own. Toyota, an owners' registry (unofficial)

What it came with

2014

Nothing that 2015 lacks.

2015

Packages
Persona Series Special Edition (2015) (2015) Toyota, an owners' registry (unofficial)

Both years

Engines
1.8L hybrid A published reference, 1.8L plug-in hybrid (2012–2015) A published reference
Transmissions
Planetary power-split (eCVT) A published reference
Drivetrains
Front-wheel drive A published reference
Trims
Two Edmunds, a published reference, Three Edmunds, a published reference, Four Edmunds, a published reference, Five Edmunds, a published reference, Plug-in (2012–2015) A published reference, Plug-in Advanced (2012–2015) A published reference

Colors

2014

Nothing that 2015 lacks.

2015

  • Absolutely Red 3P0, 2015 An owners' registry (unofficial) Rare

Both years

  • Super White 040, 2010–2015 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Blizzard Pearl 070, 2010–2015 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Classic Silver Metallic 1F7, 2010–2015 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Winter Gray Metallic 8V1, 2010–2015 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Black 202, 2010–2015 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Barcelona Red Metallic 3R3, 2010–2015 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Sea Glass Pearl 781, 2012–2015 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Nautical Blue Metallic 8S6, 2012–2015 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Clearwater Blue Metallic 8W1, 2012–2015 An owners' registry (unofficial) Rare

What owners and buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

2014

Nothing that 2015 lacks.

2015

Nothing that 2014 lacks.

Both years

  • Sought after: 2014–2015 One source so far

    SlashGear names the 2014 and 2015 among the best used Prius years, and notes that the 2015 has a rear camera on several trims. SlashGear