Used 2021 Toyota Prius for Sale near California

Compare 2021 Toyota Prius Trims

The 2021 Toyota Prius offers a range of trims with varying features and fuel efficiency, making it a versatile choice for eco-conscious drivers.

• Starting at $18,783
• Best MPG/MPGe: 58 city / 53 hwy
• Most Popular: LE FWD

Trim Overview

Prices updated weekly from CarGurus listings.

Quick Compare Table

Listing prices sourced from CarGurus — updated weekly. OEM specs from manufacturer data.

Missing data displayed as "—".

Trim Deep Dives

L Eco FWD — "Who It's For"

The L Eco FWD is the pick for shoppers who want the best value without paying for extra features.

• Avg. market price: $18,783 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 58 city / 53 hwy
• Inventory: 48 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View L Eco FWD listings

LE FWD — "Who It's For"

The LE FWD is the pick for shoppers who want a well-rounded package with popular features at a reasonable price.

• Avg. market price: $20,284 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 54 city / 50 hwy
• Inventory: 1,158 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View LE FWD listings

LE AWD-e — "Who It's For"

The LE AWD-e is the pick for shoppers who want all-wheel drive capability without a significant price increase.

• Avg. market price: $21,860 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 51 city / 47 hwy
• Inventory: 49 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View LE AWD-e listings

XLE FWD — "Who It's For"

The XLE FWD is the pick for shoppers who want a premium experience with added comfort features.

• Avg. market price: $22,261 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 54 city / 50 hwy
• Inventory: 340 listings
• View XLE FWD listings

XLE AWD-e — "Who It's For"

The XLE AWD-e is the pick for shoppers who want sporty performance combined with all-wheel drive.

• Avg. market price: $23,703 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 51 city / 47 hwy
• Inventory: 65 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View XLE AWD-e listings

Limited FWD — "Who It's For"

The Limited FWD is the pick for shoppers who want a fully loaded Prius with all the luxury features.

• Avg. market price: $22,095 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 54 city / 50 hwy
• Inventory: 172 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View Limited FWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — LE FWD

With 1,158 active listings, the LE FWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse LE FWD listings

Best Budget Option — L Eco FWD

At $18,783 avg market price — below the lineup median of $21,977 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse L Eco FWD listings

Best for Fuel Economy — L Eco FWD

The L Eco FWD leads the lineup with an impressive MPG/MPGe of 58/53.

Browse L Eco FWD listings

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 8, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

How much does the 2021 Toyota Prius cost?

Prices have held steady compared to this time last year, signaling a stable and predictable market for this model year.

There are 364 listings available, which gives you a modest amount of inventory to compare before you buy.

Is the 2021 Toyota Prius a good car?

Yes — the 2021 Toyota Prius earns a 5/5 user rating and a 6.17/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Cost effectiveness at 9/10.

The Prius fits you best if you want a practical, efficiency-first car for getting from point A to point B with minimal hassle, expense, or discomfort. Its quiet cabin and strong value for money support that mission, while the expert review also points to reliability, safety, economy, and fuel efficiency as core strengths.

The main trade-offs are its potentially polarizing design and sluggish performance. Even so, the model’s 34.3% good or great deal rate suggests there are still worthwhile opportunities in the market.

Is the 2021 Toyota Prius reliable?

Owners rate it 5/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The Prius is described as a car that delivers on reliability, efficiency, safety, and economy, which is exactly the kind of profile you want if you plan to keep a used car for the long haul. The expert review also emphasizes its well-earned reputation for reliability and its role as an affordable, dependable, efficient, safe, and practical daily driver.

It also comes with complimentary scheduled maintenance for the first two years or 25,000 miles, which can help reduce early ownership costs. For used buyers, the main long-term risk is less about mechanical drama and more about whether the car’s efficiency-first design and modest performance match your expectations.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Toyota Prius?

At 69.8% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if the listing price looks unusually attractive. Focus on body condition, panel alignment, and signs of prior repair work, since accident history matters more when you’re shopping a car that’s meant to be a low-hassle ownership choice.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The lineup includes L Eco, LE, XLE, 2020 Edition, and Limited. The base L Eco is the efficiency play, while the Limited adds the most upscale equipment, including the unique 11.6-inch portrait-style touchscreen and premium audio. The 2020 Edition is a limited-run appearance package with blacked-out trim, black 17-inch wheels, a body-color rear spoiler, and special paint colors.
• Powertrain: The Prius pairs an Atkinson-cycle 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with a 53-kilowatt electric motor and an e-CVT. Front-drive models are tuned for efficiency, while AWD-e versions use a rear electric assist motor and trade some fuel economy for added traction.
• Safety package: Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 is standard across the lineup and includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high beams, and road-sign recognition. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is included on LE and higher trims.
• Infotainment: All trims get a 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, Safety Connect, and WiFi Connect. The Limited upgrades to an 11.6-inch portrait-style touchscreen, navigation, natural voice recognition, and a 10-speaker JBL system, but it does not get the Android Auto upgrade.
• Fuel efficiency: The L Eco is rated at 56 mpg combined, other front-drive models at 52 mpg combined, and AWD-e versions at 49 mpg combined. The 2020 Edition returned 47.5 mpg on the testing loop.

Which 2021 Toyota Prius trim should I buy?

The 2021 Toyota Prius is offered in 5 trim levels: L Eco, LE, XLE, 2020 Edition, and Limited.

Here's the short version:

• L Eco: This is the efficiency-first choice, and it’s the trim to target if your priority is maximizing fuel economy above all else. It delivers the best combined rating in the lineup and makes the most sense if you want the lowest running costs.
• LE: This is the best-value trim for most shoppers because it adds more everyday usability while keeping the Prius’s core efficiency mission intact. It also unlocks blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, which makes it a smart step up from the base model.
• XLE: Choose this if you want a more comfort-oriented version without jumping all the way to the Limited. It keeps the Prius formula intact while giving you a more upscale middle ground.
• 2020 Edition: This is mainly for you if you want the commemorative appearance package and limited-production appeal. It’s more about exclusivity and styling than added capability.
• Limited: This is the most feature-rich trim, with the 11.6-inch portrait-style touchscreen, navigation, natural voice recognition, and JBL audio. It’s the right pick if you want the most tech and premium equipment, but it also comes with the infotainment trade-off of not getting Android Auto on that unique system.

Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 is standard on every trim, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert starts on LE and higher.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Toyota Prius?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop patiently but still move quickly on the right car.

• Deal availability: 34.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 364 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have held steady compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 69.8% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $19,737, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Toyota Prius's resale value?

The current average of $20,865 sits slightly below last year's $21,065.

That small decline suggests the Prius is holding value fairly steadily rather than swinging sharply in either direction. For a future seller, that kind of stability is helpful because it points to a market that remains predictable and easier to price against.

The Prius’s strong efficiency, practicality, and reputation for reliability should continue to support demand from used-car shoppers who want low running costs. Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 5/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Toyota Prius safe?

The 2021 Toyota Prius earns favorable marks from the IIHS.

It earns an 8/10 safety score from our experts.

Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 is standard on every trim and includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and road-sign recognition. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is included on LE and higher trims.

One caveat is that the lane-keeping and lane-centering systems can make the steering feel more artificial, and the lane-departure warning can be intrusive.

Should I buy a 2021 Toyota Prius or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 34.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 69.8% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have held steady compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• Toyota made Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 standard across the lineup and added Android Auto as standard, except in the Limited’s unique infotainment system.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $21,118, the 2020 costs more than the current year's $20,865 average.
• It remains a benchmark hybrid with strong versatility, technology, and an available all-wheel-drive variant.

The bottom line: If you want the better-balanced buy, the 2021 is the cleaner choice because it combines stable pricing, strong satisfaction, and standard safety tech. If you’re mainly comparing on price, the 2020 can still make sense, but only if you find a compelling listing and the condition justifies the higher average cost.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 6, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.