Used 2016 Toyota Prius for Sale near San Francisco, CA

Does the new Prius “shatter expectations” as Toyota boasts? More important, does it retain its vaunted hybrid crown?

About 10 years ago, if you looked at hybrid sales, they would be closely tied to the price of fuel. As gas prices rose, so did sales of fuel-saving hybrids. As they fell, people were more likely to buy gas-guzzling trucks. But as the years went on, the hybrid market gained traction, and despite still representing a small portion of the total market, the hybrid segment has, in fact, demonstrated staying power.

The standard bearer for this growth has to be none other than the Toyota Prius. The first-generation Prius may have been a slightly anonymous little hybrid. But when the second generation dropped in 2004, that unmistakable Prius profile turned heads and had the fuel-saving capabilities to match. The rest, as they say, is history.

Flash-forward to 2016 and the Prius continues to be the heart and soul of the hybrid market. Since that second-generation version, the Prius has risen to icon status and is now rightfully among the most recognizable. For 2016, the Prius enters its fourth generation, with many of the hallmarks that have made it so popular and a few new tricks as well. Is it enough for the Prius to retain its place as the Hybrid King? Also, does it “shatter expectations,” as Toyota says? Read on to find out.