8 Cars Like the Toyota Prius: Similar Rides Worth Checking Out
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When you hear the word hybrid, surely the first place your mind goes is to the 2022 Ford Maverick pickup truck, right? Oh, no, it still goes to the trusty Toyota Prius. It was the first hybrid vehicle to really experience much success in America, and it has largely been able to maintain that success for the last 20 years. But that success has also led to plenty of copycats, and the hybrid market has experienced a renaissance in the last five or so years.
A bevy of small sedans and hatchbacks have been converted or built from the ground up as hybrids, and so have SUVs these days. Pickup trucks are even getting into the game this year and next as manufacturers work to reduce the average emissions of their fleets and the public comes to widely accept hybrids. With that in mind, we’ll take a look at the hybrids and even electric cars similar to the Toyota Prius.
1. Honda Accord Hybrid
One of the best-selling and most beloved sedans of all time is also available as a hybrid. In the same places where it shines as a regular car, it still excels as a hybrid; only now you can get up to 48 miles per gallon. While this mileage is not as good as the Toyota Prius (which is rated for up to 58 miles per gallon), it is still excellent for daily driving, helping the environment and your wallet.
What sets the Accord apart is all the small things. It has a surprisingly spacious interior with materials that feel much nicer than you would expect at its price point. Unlike the notoriously humdrum performance of the Prius, the Accord Hybrid still offers exciting acceleration off the block and snappy handling. If you’re looking for a great car and a great hybrid, the Accord Hybrid is tough to beat.
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2. Nissan Leaf
An EV still might not be practical for where you live. If you have to travel long distances or don’t have access to charging stations, then a hybrid is a great way to be environmentally conscious in a way that works for you. But, if you just need a car for getting around town and have access to charging, the Nissan Leaf is a great EV at an affordable price.
The base model only has a range of 149 miles, while the upgraded S Plus trim offer 226 miles on a single charge. These both pale in comparison to premium EVs such as the Tesla Model S or Model 3, but the Leaf is much less expensive, and with tax breaks, can actually be a great price. If you don’t need long-range out of your ride, the Nissan Leaf is a great all-electric alternative to the Prius.
3. Toyota Camry Hybrid
Toyota decided to use their hybrid know how to make an even more efficient version of the Camry. It still comes with the smooth ride and cushiony suspension, comfortable and well-appointed interior, and impressive set of safety features that have made the Camry one of the best-selling vehicles of all time. And it still gets impressive acceleration.
You can feel comfortable driving a Toyota hybrid, knowing that mechanics familiar with the Prius for the last two decades will have little trouble adjusting to another Toyota hybrid. If you love Toyota and love their hybrid technology but don’t like the look of a Prius, the Camry Hybrid is a great alternative.
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4. Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
Hyundai has relatively quietly been offering a great hybrid sedan for the last decade. And after its most recent redesign, the Sonata has a bold new look inside and out. The exterior has flowing organic lines that are both aerodynamic and easy on the eyes. Inside, the design is very modern, sleek, and streamlined, and you could easily mistake it for a more expensive luxury vehicle at the higher trims.
It gets an excellent 50mpg in the city and 54mpg on the highway. Additionally, Hyundai offers the best powertrain and bumper-to-bumper warranty out of all the major car brands.
5. Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
While the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid doesn’t have quite the fuel efficiency of the Prius, its mileage ratings are still better than most conventional subcompacts and far better than your average small SUV. It is rated for 41mpg in the city and 38mpg on the highway.
This is a remarkable rating for a small SUV that has plenty of utility and versatility to offer. The cabin has plenty of space for you and up to four of your passengers, plus plenty of cargo space to boot. It all comes with a very pleasant ride and snappy performance in a much larger package than you would typically picture for a hybrid.
6. Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid
If you’re looking for another hybrid SUV, Hyundai offers the excellent Santa Fe as a hybrid. It isn’t the most fuel-efficient, but it offers much better than most SUVs of its size and even better than most sedans. But what you get is a hybrid SUV with tons of space inside for passengers and cargo, a very luxurious interior, and a stylish exterior. Like the Sonata Hybrid, it comes with Hyundai’s industry-leading warranties.
7. Honda Insight
As the original competitor to the Toyota Prius, the Honda Insight still stands as a great competitor to the trusty Prius. Like Toyota, Honda has added to their lineup of hybrids over the years and has plenty of great options. But like the Prius, the Insight is still a great option with incredible fuel efficiency. It isn’t quite as efficient as the Prius, but the 54mpg city and 49mpg highway are still exceptional, and the Insight has plentiful safety features, a comfortable ride, and a nice interior.
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8. Hyundai Elantra Hybrid
If you’re looking for great fuel efficiency at a great bargain, the Elantra Hybrid is a great choice. While its 53mpg in the city isn’t as high as the Prius, it beats it on the highway with 56mpg. It even comes in at a lower starting price than the Prius but still comes with Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.
The inside doesn’t feature the most luxe materials, but it is well designed, comfortable, and still comes with plenty of standard safety features such as blind-spot monitoring and lane departure assist and entertainment features such as wireless CarPlay and Android Auto. If you’re looking to save money and get a more conventionally styled car, the Elantra Hybrid is a great alternative to the Prius.
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