2021 Toyota Prius vs 2022 Toyota Camry

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. The interior was equally unconventional, featuring a strip of displays mounted in the center of the dashboard, a toggle lever for transmission controls, and a narrow center console. Gloss-black trim attracted dust and fingerprints, adding to the car's quirky aesthetic. The Prius was available in multiple trims, including L Eco, LE, XLE, 2020 Edition, and Limited, with an optional AWD-e system for the LE and XLE trims. Prices ranged from $24,525 to $32,650, excluding destination charges.

In contrast, the 2022 Toyota Camry TRD turned heads with its eye-catching Cavalry Blue paint, exclusive to the performance-tuned model. This paint color was one of the few updates for the 2022 model year, along with standard heated side mirrors and dual-zone automatic climate control for most trims. The Camry offered 13 different versions, with prices starting just over $26,000 and topping out at nearly $37,000. Our test car, a Camry TRD, featured an aerodynamic body kit, matte-black 19-inch wheels, and red brake calipers, making it stand out even more. The interior had an unusual dashboard layout and driver-oriented center console, but the red gauge illumination and other red accents were considered tacky by some.

The 2021 Toyota Prius focused on fuel efficiency, with the L Eco version achieving an impressive 56 mpg in combined driving, according to the EPA. Other front-drive models earned 52 mpg, while AWD-e versions managed 49 mpg. Our test vehicle, the Prius 2020 Edition, averaged 47.5 mpg. The Prius combined a 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a 53-kilowatt electric motor, producing a total of 121 horsepower. Despite its modest power, the Prius felt lively off the line due to the electric motor's near-instantaneous 120 pound-feet of torque. The car featured Eco, Normal, and Power driving modes, as well as an EV Mode for electric-only driving at speeds under 25 mph. The TNGA platform provided a lower center of gravity, making the Prius surprisingly agile on curvy roads, though it was not without its drawbacks, such as powertrain drone and lifeless steering.

The 2022 Toyota Camry TRD, on the other hand, boasted a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 301 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The car averaged 24.8 mpg during testing, slightly below the EPA's 25 mpg estimate. The TRD model featured track-tuned driving dynamics, including stiffer sway bars, TRD shocks, and bigger brakes. The car's torsional rigidity was enhanced with thicker underbody braces, and it rode on 19-inch matte-black alloy wheels with summer performance tires. The Camry TRD felt solid and planted, with excellent brake pedal feel and modulation. However, the FWD setup made it easy to break the front wheels loose, and the car's nose-heavy design could cause understeer in tight corners.

The 2021 Toyota Prius offered more interior space than one might expect, comfortably seating up to five people. Our test vehicle featured an eight-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the low seating position made entry and exit challenging, and the SofTex synthetic leather upholstery tended to trap sweat. The rear seats provided adequate foot room, legroom, and headroom but lacked air-conditioning vents. Cargo space varied by trim, ranging from 24.6 to 27.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and up to 50.7 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2022 Toyota Camry TRD had front seats with red accent stripes, red stitching, and embroidered TRD logos, but no additional bolstering compared to the standard Camry SE. The low-slung, sporty driving position and fabric seat inserts kept occupants in place during spirited driving. The back seat comfortably accommodated two adults but lacked air vents and a 60/40-split folding feature due to the car's enhanced structural rigidity. The trunk offered 15.1 cubic feet of cargo space, smaller than some competitors, but the Camry made up for it with generous in-cabin storage, including a large bin under the center armrest.

The 2021 Toyota Prius came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring stereo-volume and tuning knobs, and shortcut buttons. Standard features included Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, Safety Connect, and WiFi Connect. 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 a natural voice recognition system, paired with an 11.6-inch portrait-style touchscreen. Unfortunately, this system did not support Android Auto.

The 2022 Toyota Camry TRD also featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with volume and tuning knobs and shortcut buttons. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM satellite radio, along with Safety Connect and WiFi Connect. An optional 9-inch touchscreen display added Remote Connect and Service Connect subscription plans and a 9-speaker JBL premium audio system. While the JBL system was bass-heavy, it was decent for the price point. The Camry TRD did not offer dynamic connected navigation or voice recognition technology, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provided alternative solutions.

The 2021 Toyota Prius came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, 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 also standard, offering automatic collision notification, emergency assistance, roadside assistance, and a stolen vehicle locator. The Prius received favorable marks from the IIHS but lacked a crashworthiness rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Toyota Camry featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, which included adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assistance, and other essential safety features. The Camry TRD came standard with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. While the lane-departure warning system could issue false warnings, and the lane-centering assistance could be overly insistent, the adaptive cruise control system generally performed well. Safety Connect was standard, offering a free trial for the first year. The Camry received a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings in all NHTSA evaluations.