4th gen Toyota Prius 2016–2022 XW50

Overview

Engines

1.8L hybrid, 1.8L plug-in hybrid

On record

3 warnings, 8 recalls

Sold as Prius Prime (2017–2022)

The story

The 4th gen, shown in Las Vegas in September 2015, reached North America in January 2016. Built on Toyota's new global platform, it has double wishbone rear suspension, standard LED headlights and a drag coefficient of 0.24. Toyota, a published reference

The Prius Prime, shown in New York in March 2016, went on sale in November 2016 in all 50 states, unlike the plug-in before it. For 2019 the Prius added an all-wheel-drive model, AWD-e, with a motor on the rear axle. A published reference

Rare and special

• Titanium Glow
• Blue Magnetism

Colors

• Titanium Glow An owners' registry (unofficial) Rare4X1, 2017–2022
• Blue Magnetism An owners' registry (unofficial) Rare791, 2017–2022
• Wind Chill Pearl An owners' registry (unofficial)089, 2021–2022
• Blue Crush Metallic8W7, 2016–2018
• Hypersonic Red3T7, 2016–2019

Interiors

• BlackCloth, years not known
• Harvest BeigeCloth, years not known
• MoonstoneCloth, years not known

Sources: Toyota, Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)

Rare colors and interiors

• Rare

  Titanium Glow Color

  Prius Prime only An owners' registry (unofficial)

• Rare

  Blue Magnetism Color

  Prius Prime only An owners' registry (unofficial)

Specs

Badges

• Prius Prime (2017–2022): 1.8L plug-in hybrid, Front-wheel drive A published reference

Engines

• 1.8L hybrid 2ZR-FXE A published reference

  With a 0.75 kWh lithium-ion battery, or a 1.2 kWh nickel-metal hydride battery on AWD-e cars

• 1.8L plug-in hybrid 2ZR-FXE Toyota, a published reference

  With an 8.8 kWh battery; the EPA rated 25 miles on electricity and 133 MPGe · 2017–2022

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

• One (2016–2018) Edmunds, a published reference
• Two (2016–2018) Edmunds, a published reference
• Two Eco (years not known) Edmunds, a published reference
• Three (2016–2018) Edmunds, a published reference
• Three Touring (years not known) Edmunds
• Four (2016–2018) Edmunds, a published reference
• Four Touring (years not known) Edmunds
• L (2019–2022) A published reference
• LE (2019–2022) A published reference
• XLE (2019–2022) A published reference
• Limited (2019–2022) A published reference
• Prime Plus (2017–2019) A published reference
• Prime Premium (2017–2019) A published reference
• Prime Advanced (2017–2019) A published reference

Packages

• 2020 Edition (2021) A published reference
• Nightshade Edition (2022) Toyota, an owners' registry (unofficial)

Figures

• Economy: EPA 54 mpg city, 50 highway and 52 combined; 58, 53 and 56 for the Eco A published reference
• Drag coefficient: 0.24 A published reference
• Motors: 31 hp and 71 hp at the front, and 6.7 hp at the rear on AWD-e A published reference

Years and what changed

1. 2016

   Launched on Toyota's new platform, with a lithium-ion battery under the rear seat. Toyota, a published reference

2. 2017

   The Prius Prime plug-in was added. Toyota, a published reference

3. 2018

   No change recorded

4. 2019
   Refresh

   Refreshed: new front and rear styling. AWD-e was added, and the trims were renamed L, LE, XLE and Limited. Toyota, a published reference

5. 2020

   The Prime gained a fifth seat, Apple CarPlay and SiriusXM, and its trims were renamed LE, XLE and Limited. A published reference

6. 2021

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

7. 2022

   The Nightshade Edition was offered. Toyota

Watch out

Faults owners and the press report, and how to spot each one.

• Cracked windshield All years

  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)

• Wiring harness near the hybrid controller 2016–2018

  Check: Ask whether recall 18V579000 was done.

  Part of the engine wiring harness at the hybrid power control unit can rub through on its cover and short, raising the risk of fire. NHTSA

• Brake booster pump 2019–2020

  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

Recalls

Newest first. Ask the seller for proof the work was done, or check the VIN with NHTSA.

• 2022 Recall 21V734000

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

• 2019 Recall 19V876000

  A short circuit in the instrument cluster can blank the speedometer, odometer and fuel gauge. NHTSA

• 2019–2020 Recall 19V544000

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

• 2016–2018 Recall 18V579000

  Part of the engine wiring harness at the hybrid power control unit can rub through on its cover and short, raising the risk of fire. NHTSA

• 2016 Recall 18V085000

  Airbag pressure or acceleration sensors may fail, so the side, curtain or front airbags may not deploy in a crash. NHTSA

Checked against NHTSA records on November 2, 2026.

Owning

What owners and buyers say

• 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

• Sought after

  Rated by its owners 2018

  One source so far

  On Edmunds, an unofficial source, the 2018's page of owners' reviews, which mixes in other 4th-gen years, shows 86 reviews averaging 4.6 of 5. Owners' reports (unofficial)

• Avoid

  2016

  Less sought after

  SlashGear says to avoid the 2016 for windshields that crack. CarComplaints.com, an unofficial source, counts 47 complaints for the 2016, the most of the 4th gen. SlashGear, owners' reports (unofficial)

Maintenance

• Engine oil and filter 2017–2022

  Replace every 10,000 miles or 1 year Toyota

  Only with 0W-20 oil on 2017–2018 cars and 0W-16 on 2019–2022 cars

  Ask the seller: Ask for oil change records.

• Cabin and engine air filters 2017–2022

  Replace every 30,000 miles or 3 years Toyota

• Engine coolant 2017–2022

  Replace first at 100,000 miles or 10 years, then every 50,000 miles or 5 years Toyota

• Inverter coolant 2017–2022

  Replace first at 150,000 miles or 15 years, then every 50,000 miles or 5 years Toyota

• Spark plugs 2017–2022

  Replace every 120,000 miles Toyota

Warranty when new