2020 vs 2021 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.

2020

  • Brake booster pump 2019–2020

    What to check: Ask whether recall 19V544000 was done, and watch for brake and stability control warning lights.

    On the 2019 Prius and the 2019–2020 Prius Prime, the brake booster pump may fail, switching off stability control and brake assist.

    NHTSA

2021

Nothing that 2020 lacks.

Both years

  • Cracked windshield All years

    What to check: Look over the windshield for cracks, and ask whether it has been replaced and with what glass.

    On CarComplaints.com, an unofficial source, 25 owners of the 2016 report a cracked windshield at about 18,350 miles on average, most after a small stone, some with no impact they knew of, and some cracking again after replacement. Jalopnik also names windshield cracks.

    Jalopnik, owners' reports (unofficial)

Rare catches

2020

Nothing that 2021 lacks.

2021

Nothing that 2020 lacks.

Both years

  • Rare Titanium Glow Color

    Prius Prime only An owners' registry (unofficial)

  • Rare Blue Magnetism Color

    Prius Prime only An owners' registry (unofficial)

Recalls

2020

  • 19V544000 2019–2020

    The brake booster pump may fail, switching off stability control and brake assist. NHTSA

2021

Nothing that 2020 lacks.

What changed between

After 2020, up to and including 2021.

  1. 2021The 2020 Edition was offered, based on the XLE. A published reference, an owners' registry (unofficial)

What it came with

2020

Nothing that 2021 lacks.

2021

Packages
2020 Edition (2021) A published reference

Both years

Engines
1.8L hybrid A published reference, 1.8L plug-in hybrid (2017–2022) Toyota, a published reference
Transmissions
Planetary power-split (eCVT) A published reference
Drivetrains
Front-wheel drive A published reference, All-wheel drive (AWD-e) (2019–2022) Toyota, a published reference
Trims
L (2019–2022) A published reference, LE (2019–2022) A published reference, XLE (2019–2022) A published reference, Limited (2019–2022) A published reference

Colors

2020

  • Blizzard Pearl 070, 2016–2020 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)

2021

  • Wind Chill Pearl 089, 2021–2022 An owners' registry (unofficial)

Both years

  • Super White 040, 2016–2022 Toyota, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Classic Silver Metallic 1F7, 2016–2022 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Magnetic Gray Metallic 1G3, 2016–2022 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Midnight Black Metallic 218, 2016–2022 Toyota, Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Supersonic Red 3U5, 2019–2022 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Sea Glass Pearl 781, 2016–2022 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Electric Storm Blue 8X7, 2019–2022 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Titanium Glow 4X1, 2017–2022 An owners' registry (unofficial) Rare
  • Blue Magnetism 791, 2017–2022 An owners' registry (unofficial) Rare

What owners and buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

2020

Nothing that 2021 lacks.

2021

Nothing that 2020 lacks.

Both years

  • Sought after: The most reliable Prius All years One source so far

    Jalopnik ranks the 4th gen first of five for reliability, noting that Consumer Reports rated two of its seven model years excellent and the other five well above average. Jalopnik

  • Sought after: 2018 and 2021 2018–2021 One source so far

    SlashGear names the 2018 and 2021 among the best used Prius years, saying CarComplaints.com had only four owners' reports for the 2018. SlashGear