How much does the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime cost?

Prices have softened 1.64% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 278 listings available, which suggests a modest amount of inventory for shoppers to compare.

If you find a listing below $20,924.08, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime a good car?

Yes — it earns a 5/5 user rating and a 6.5/10 expert rating. The model scores 8/10 across Form and function and Safety.

The 2021 Toyota Prius Prime stands out for packaging, standard equipment, and the efficiency qualities plug-in hybrid shoppers want. It also brings standard advanced safety features and an impressive electric range, which makes it a strong fit if you care most about everyday usability and fuel savings.

The trade-offs are clear: the infotainment system is hard to use, the ergonomics are poor, and acceleration is slow. Those drawbacks matter most if you want a car that feels polished in daily driving rather than one that simply maximizes efficiency.

With 33.5% of listings marked as good or great deals, there are still some attractive opportunities if you shop carefully.

Is the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime reliable?

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

The Prius Prime is built around Toyota’s hybrid expertise, and its efficiency-focused design is paired with a strong warranty package. Its plug-in hybrid setup also gives you a useful electric-driving range without giving up the flexibility of a gasoline engine.

Toyota’s coverage includes a long hybrid battery warranty and hybrid-related components coverage, which helps reduce some ownership anxiety. For used buyers, the main long-term risk is less about the powertrain and more about whether the car has been maintained well and treated carefully over time.

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

At 72.7% 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 car has had any bodywork or electrical repairs. Pay close attention to cabin usability, infotainment operation, and whether the car’s efficiency-focused hardware is functioning as expected. Condition matters a lot here because the Prius Prime’s value proposition depends on the car still feeling efficient, usable, and well-kept.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The cabin is largely unchanged across trims, but the XLE and Limited grades add technology features while also bringing the most frustrating infotainment setup.
• Powertrain: The car uses a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, front-wheel drive, and an e-CVT; it is efficient, but acceleration is slow and all-wheel drive is not available.
• Safety package: Every version gets Toyota’s Star Safety System, plus automatic emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, road-sign assist, and Lane Tracing Assist automated lane centering.
• Infotainment: The standard setup includes a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, and a WiFi hot spot; an 11.6-inch touchscreen is available, but the larger system is tied to the most frustrating controls.
• Fuel efficiency: It delivers an EPA-estimated 133 MPGe in electric mode, plus 55 mpg city, 53 mpg highway, and 54 mpg combined in hybrid mode.

Which 2021 Toyota Prius Prime trim should I buy?

The 2021 Toyota Prius Prime is offered in 3 trim levels: LE, XLE, Limited.

Here's the short version:

• Base trim: The LE gives you the core efficiency and safety package, but it skips the more upscale tech add-ons found higher up.
• Sweet-spot trim: The XLE is the better value if you want more convenience and tech, but you should be ready for the more complicated infotainment experience.
• Premium/top trim: The Limited adds the most equipment and the largest touchscreen, but it does not solve the cabin’s usability issues.

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

This is a moderate market for selective buyers, with enough inventory to shop carefully and enough deal activity to find value.

• Deal availability: 33.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 278 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 1.64% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 72.7% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $20,924.08, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime's resale value?

The current average of $22,701 sits slightly below last year's $23,080.

That softer pricing suggests the market has become a bit more favorable for buyers, which can put some pressure on future resale if you sell soon. Even so, the Prius Prime’s efficiency-focused appeal and strong standard equipment help it remain relevant to shoppers who want a plug-in hybrid with practical range.

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 Prime safe?

The 2021 Toyota Prius Prime earned a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and IIHS gave it all "Good" crashworthiness ratings except in the small-overlap front-passenger side test, where it earned an "Acceptable" rating.

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

Every version comes with Toyota’s Star Safety System, plus automatic emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, road-sign assist, and Lane Tracing Assist automated lane centering. That gives you a broad standard safety package, though the IIHS headlight rating is only acceptable and the passenger-side small-overlap result is a notable caveat.

Should I buy a 2021 Toyota Prius Prime 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:

• 33.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 72.7% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 1.64% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• Toyota’s packaging, standard equipment, and electric range make this year especially appealing for efficiency-focused shoppers.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $22,835, the 2020 costs more than the current year's $22,701 average.
• It is framed as a strong value-first plug-in hybrid with a clear efficiency focus.

The bottom line: If you want the better current-market price and a strong mix of efficiency, safety, and standard equipment, the 2021 is the better starting point. If you are shopping strictly on price and want a similar efficiency-first ownership story, the 2020 is worth a look, but the 2021’s softer pricing makes it the more compelling buy for most used-car shoppers.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 21, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.