The new Toyota Prius continues to have the brand’s leading hybrid technology and a household name.
Arguably for the first time ever, it’s now desirable too, with wedgy and eye-catching styling. Whisper it: the Prius is now cool.
However, it might not be the car for you. Maybe its boot isn’t big enough or you want more electric range than the Prius offers. Either way, here are the best cars that are similar to a Toyota Prius – and you’ll find them all for sale as used cars from Motorpoint.
Toyota Corolla
Better than the Prius for: not needing to plug in
The new Toyota Prius is only available as a plug-in hybrid in the UK, which won’t suit you if you don’t have a driveway or can’t recharge the battery from the mains. Thankfully, Toyota sells a lot of ‘self-charging’ hybrid cars that still keep your fuel costs low. We’d pick the Corolla: it’s a bit easier to park than the swoopy Prius and you can get a high-spec version for less than the cost of a Prius. As an added bonus, the Corolla is built in Britain.
Shop used Toyota Corolla cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Toyota Corolla review
Audi A3 TFSI e
Better than the Prius for: a longer electric range
Just a few years ago, the Prius’ all-electric range of 53 miles would’ve been very impressive. But now, it’s not enough to make our list of the longest-range plug-in hybrids – which is where you’ll find the Audi A3 TFSI e. Its 88-mile range (for cars built since 2024) means you can save the petrol engine for only your longest journeys, so you can enjoy better refinement and lower running costs while having a petrol engine as a back up.
If you love the sleek shape of the Prius, consider the Audi A5 e-Hybrid too – it’s a bit more expensive than the Prius but manages 67 miles on battery power.
Shop used Audi A3 cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Audi A3 review
Mercedes CLA
Better than the Prius for: pure electric driving
In many cases, a plug-in hybrid is a stepping stone for drivers going from fuel to electric power. But now we’re at a point where electric cars offer a similar driving range to petrol, and without costing drastically extra. The Mercedes CLA 250+ officially achieves 483 miles of range (please don’t try to drive that far without stopping for the toilet!). What’s more, a 10-minute top-up at a sufficiently powerful charger will add 200 miles of charge back into the battery.
Read more about the new Mercedes CLA here
Toyota C-HR
Better than the Prius for: having a higher driving position
Part of the Prius’ impressive efficiency comes from its low, sharky shape, but that might be a dealbreaker if you find it tricky to get in and out. The Toyota C-HR comes with the choice of hybrid or plug-in-hybrid engines – the latter being the same as the one in the Prius – and you still get a 41-mile range in the C-HR PHEV. Just as appealing to look at as the Prius, the C-HR gives you a higher driving position and a better view of the road ahead.
Shop used Toyota C-HR cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Toyota C-HR review
Lexus ES
Better than the Prius for: a luxury interior
Lexus is Toyota’s luxury arm and you still get a frugal full-hybrid engine – so the ES looks a million dollars but certainly won’t cost very much to run. The interior is trimmed in nicer materials than the Prius, which you’ll appreciate if you’re spending a lot of time in the car. Being much longer than the Prius also means the ES is more spacious. The ES isn't in production any more, so you'll be looking for a lightly used example.
Shop used Lexus ES cars for sale at Motorpoint
BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe
Better than the Prius for: keen drivers
As sporty as the Prius looks, it would prefer that you take things steady and drive in a relaxed way. If you’d rather take the car by the figurative scruff of the neck on a twisty road, you’ll want something a bit more engaging. There’s either the petrol 4 Series Gran Coupe (with a hatchback tailgate like the Prius) or the more familiar 3 Series saloon – which can be had with a plug-in-hybrid engine like the Toyota.
Shop used BMW 4 Series cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our BMW 4 Series review
Honda Civic
Better than the Prius for: boot capacity
The Honda Civic boasts a similar shape to the Toyota Prius and you won’t have to leave some of your luggage at home. For its size, the Prius’ 284-litre boot isn’t enormous – it’s dwarfed by the Civic’s 410-litre capacity. The Civic is another hybrid that doesn’t need to be plugged in, but you’ll still see over 55mpg even in spirited driving.
Don’t need to use the rear seats at all? Check out the related Honda Prelude coupe.
Shop used Honda Civic cars for sale or read our Honda Civic review
Skoda Octavia
Better than the Prius for: rear-seat space
The new Prius is no longer the default choice for taxi or private hire drivers. One reason why is that the rear-seat space isn’t really something to write home about. The coupe-like roofline cuts into headroom so tall adults will feel a bit cramped. If you need to consider rear-seat space, it’s worth looking at something more sensible than the Prius – and there’s nothing more sensible than a Skoda Octavia. Here, everyone has plenty of room to stretch out, while the ownership experience is solid with an assured driving experience and economical engines.
Shop used Skoda Octavia cars for sale or read our Skoda Octavia review
BYD Seal U
Better than the Prius for: popularity with taxi drivers
As we’ve covered, the new Prius isn’t the pin-up for ride-hailing drivers any more. If you are buying as a professional driver, the BYD Seal U SUV makes a lot of sense – there’s a lot of rear-seat space and a very techy interior. Whether you’re on proper taxi plates or simply being mum or dad’s taxi, you’ll enjoy the BYD’s plush materials and superb standard equipment list. The Seal U is a plug-in hybrid with between 43 and 78 miles of electric range.
Shop used BYD Seal U cars for sale or read our BYD Seal U review
Peugeot 408
Better than the Prius for: infotainment
The Prius’ infotainment system isn’t at all bad – it’s simple to operate and features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Peugeot’s infotainment system has more to fiddle with but, crucially, it’s very configurable – the row of i-Toggles beneath the main screen are linked to each driver’s profile and stop you having to dive through multiple menus just to switch the radio station.
Shop used Peugeot 408 cars for sale or read our Peugeot 408 review
