2021 vs 2022 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.

2021

Nothing that 2022 lacks.

2022

Nothing that 2021 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

2021

Nothing that 2022 lacks.

2022

Nothing that 2021 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

2021

Nothing that 2022 lacks.

2022

  • 21V734000 2022

    The engine computer software may wrongly detect a fault and shut down the hybrid system, cutting drive power. NHTSA

What changed between

After 2021, up to and including 2022.

  1. 2022The Nightshade Edition was offered. Toyota

What it came with

2021

Packages
2020 Edition (2021) A published reference

2022

Packages
Nightshade Edition (2022) Toyota, an owners' registry (unofficial)

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

2021

Nothing that 2022 lacks.

2022

Nothing that 2021 lacks.

Both years

  • Super White 040, 2016–2022 Toyota, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Wind Chill Pearl 089, 2021–2022 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

2021

  • 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

2022

Nothing that 2021 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