2021 Toyota Prius vs 2022 Lexus ES

The 2021 Toyota Prius retained its iconic boomerang-shaped hood and roofline, a design choice that had been part of its identity for over 15 years. Despite advancements in aerodynamic vehicle design, the Prius continued to sport this look, which many found unappealing, even in the trendy 2020 Edition with blacked-out trim. Inside, the Prius featured a unique layout with a strip of displays mounted in the center of the dashboard, a toggle lever for transmission controls, and a narrow center console. The gloss-black trim was a magnet for dust and fingerprints, adding to the car's unconventional interior aesthetics.

In contrast, the 2022 Lexus ES had a more refined and elegant design. The latest generation, launched in 2018, featured the Global Architecture-K (GA-K) platform, shared with models like the Lexus RX and Toyota Camry. The ES had a sleek, almost fastback roofline and a prominent spindle grille, which was a matter of taste. The interior was well-assembled with crisp, even gaps, and the F Sport model added bold two-tone leather seating. However, the asymmetrical dashboard and small analog chronometer gave the interior a somewhat cluttered look.

The 2021 Toyota Prius was all about fuel efficiency. The L Eco version achieved an impressive 56 mpg in combined driving, while other front-drive models earned 52 mpg, and AWD-e versions managed 49 mpg. The Prius 2020 Edition averaged 47.5 mpg on the testing loop, slightly below EPA estimates. It paired a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with a 53-kilowatt electric motor, producing a total of 121 horsepower. The Prius excelled in urban and low-speed driving, thanks to its electric-only driving capability at speeds under 25 mph and various driving modes like EV, Eco, Normal, and Power. The Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform provided a lower center of gravity, enhancing its handling on curvy roads, though hard acceleration resulted in powertrain drone and lifeless steering.

The 2022 Lexus ES offered three powertrain options. The ES 250 AWD featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, achieving 25 mpg city/34 mpg highway/28 mpg combined. The ES 350 came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 307 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, with a 0-60 mph time of 6.6 seconds and fuel economy ratings of 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway/26 mpg combined. The ES 300h hybrid combined a 176-hp four-cylinder engine with a 39-hp electric motor, achieving 43 mpg city/44 mpg highway/44 mpg combined. The ES 250 AWD, while smooth and predictable, felt slow compared to its siblings, and the four-cylinder engine's noise was uncharacteristic for a luxury sedan.

The 2021 Toyota Prius offered more interior space than expected, accommodating up to five people. The seats were comfortable, though the SofTex synthetic leather tended to trap sweat. The test vehicle featured an eight-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. Rear seats provided adequate foot room, legroom, and headroom but lacked air-conditioning vents. Cargo space varied by trim level, ranging from 24.6 to 27.4 cubic feet behind the back seat and up to 50.7 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2022 Lexus ES had a generous 13.9 cubic feet of trunk space, unaffected by the hybrid battery in the ES 300h. The second row in the ES 250 and ES 350 folded flat, allowing for larger items like a big-screen TV. The ES sedan offered better handling, fuel economy, and maneuverability compared to its SUV counterpart, the Lexus RX. Inside, the ES featured ample storage, including big bottle pockets, cupholders, and a spacious center console. The dashboard layout, while not aesthetically pleasing, was functional, with a prominent volume knob for the audio system.

The 2021 Toyota Prius came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Toyota’s Safety Connect and WiFi Connect were also standard. However, the sound quality of the standard stereo was poor, and road noise often overwhelmed it. The Limited trim offered a 10-speaker JBL premium sound system, navigation, and an 11.6-inch portrait-style touchscreen, though it lacked Android Auto.

The 2022 Lexus ES featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa+Lexus compatibility. The base model included a 10-speaker Pioneer sound system, while upper trims upgraded to a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system. The ES also offered a 10-inch head-up display and a Panoramic View Monitor with Intuitive Parking Assist. Lexus Enform connected services provided various trial memberships, including Safety Connect, Service Connect, Remote, and WiFi.

The 2021 Toyota Prius came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and road-sign recognition. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Safety Connect services were free for the first three years. The IIHS gave the Prius favorable marks, though it lacked a Top Safety Pick rating due to headlight and front-passenger protection issues. The NHTSA had not rated the 2021 Prius.

The 2022 Lexus ES received top safety ratings from both the IIHS (Top Safety Pick+) and the NHTSA (five-star rating). The Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 included a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, road-sign assist, Enhanced Lane-Tracing Assist, adaptive cruise control, and Intelligent High Beam Control. Standard features also included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, 10 airbags, and three years of Lexus Enform Safety Connect service.