Toyota Prius vs Yaris – which is best?

In the yellow corner, we have the Toyota Prius. Famous for bringing hybrid cars to the mainstream, the latest model has had a dramatic makeover with swoopy lines and – dare we say it – a desirable image?

Meanwhile, the compact Toyota Yaris is also a mainstay of the brand's lineup – though it's only been available with hybrid power for the last few years.

We'll compare the Prius and Yaris here side-by-side so you can pick your favourite. Both of these cars and many more besides are available as nearly new and used cars for sale at Motorpoint.

Toyota Prius vs Yaris compared

Styling and design

No one could've predicted that the Toyota Prius would ever be praised for its styling. Older versions had a rounded, slightly blobby profile, giving them a low drag coefficient for improved efficiency. The new Prius has a similar silhouette, but it's just… better! Its angular, modern LED lights make the front end more distinctive, while the carefully sculpted metalwork helps it feel more like a four-door coupe than an economy box.

The Yaris is now a few years old and doesn't look as cutting-edge as the Prius. That said, it still has a certain charm, with a rounded roofline that neatly mirrors the rounded rear wheelarches – a feature that's highlighted on several trim levels by a black contrast roof. At the front, you'll find angular oversized headlights framing its gaping maw of a front grille.

Since they compete in different segments, even the most casual onlooker could easily tell the Prius and Yaris apart. As well as styling that's a generation newer, the Prius has its distinctive elongated hatchback bodyshape. It's also sized like a family car at nearly 4.6 metres long. Meanwhile, the Yaris is a traditional 'two-box' hatchback shape and is less than four metres long.

Interior and practicality

Stepping inside these cars also shows that the Prius is a generation ahead of the Yaris. There's nothing outlandish here, but you'll instantly spot the Prius' distinctive driver's screen, which is mounted far back, almost at the base of the windscreen. The central infotainment screen is also wider, making on-screen controls bigger and easier to hit. Material choices are mostly understated but overall build quality is solid as a rock. We're not fans of the Prius' stubby electronic gear selector, however, which is a bit fiddly and unsatisfying to use.

Get behind the Yaris' wheel and you'll spot that the design is just a touch more old-fashioned. That includes more traditional driver's dials in the binnacle, plus its chunky old-school automatic shifter, which feels much nicer than the Prius' equivalent. The quality is essentially the same, however, with durable materials and faultless build quality.

The Prius and Yaris compete in very different size segments. The Prius is designed to rival other large 'C-segment' family hatchbacks, such as the Honda Civic or Peugeot 408. Meanwhile, the Yaris is a straight 'B-segment' small hatchback, or 'supermini', so its rear seats and boot are fine for occasional use, but definitely too small for family duties.

Size and dimensions

You can see that the Prius is a much longer car than the Yaris. Its 4.6-metre length is comparable to many mid-sized family cars. Meanwhile, the Yaris' four-metre length makes it one of the shorter cars in the small-hatch class. The Yaris is also a little narrower as you'd expect, but it's actually 80mm taller than the svelte Prius.

The comparison takes an odd turn in the cargo area. Despite being larger, the Prius' boot is actually a fraction smaller than the Yaris, with the culprit being its much larger plug-in-hybrid battery pack hidden under the boot floor. As a result, parents with pushchairs might want to double check all their gear fits before committing to a Prius.

Engines and performance

This is another big difference between these two cars. The Prius is only available in the UK with a plug-in-hybrid engine, while the Yaris is only offered as a self-charging hybrid. That means a big part of the decision process between these two simply comes down to whether you can charge your car at home or not.

Assuming you can, you can make the most of the Prius' extra capability. It's much faster than the Yaris, with 223hp and a sub-seven-second 0-62mph time. Plus, the big battery pack means you can drive nearly 50 miles on electricity alone, or average more than 170mpg if you make the most of both power sources. You'll also find that the Prius' larger four-cylinder engine is smoother and quieter than the Yaris' three-cylinder unit.

By these on-paper metrics, the Yaris seems like the loser here. However, you still have to commend its hybrid setup as it's so well suited to the job. Quick responses from the hybrid motor mask the fairly limited power output, especially around town. Meanwhile, to achieve average economy around 70mpg running solely on the fuel in the tank and no recharging is technically very impressive.

Driving

You don't get into a Toyota Prius expecting a finely honed driving experience. And, while this latest model still isn't set up for thrills, it's generally a very composed and predictable car to cover ground in. The body feels ultra stiff and the light controls make the car feel deceptively agile. Having all that extra power is welcome too, with the engine having to join in less frequently to get you up to speed.

As a far smaller, lighter car, driving the Yaris naturally feels quite different. It has the same accurate and easy control setup as the Prius, but the suspension is just a bit firmer, which makes the car bounce and judder over poor surfaces. We're hugely positive about the function of the Yaris' 1.5-litre hybrid setup, with its responsive acceleration and excellent efficiency, though it's quite a bit noisier any time you accelerate hard.

Value for money

In practice, the Prius and Yaris are in two different pricing conversations. The latter is priced from under £25,000 as a brand new car, while you'll need an extra £13,000 to consider the Prius. Obviously, you get more performance, space and capability with the Prius, so you'll be the best judge of which model best fits your needs.

On the used market, expect both the Prius and the Yaris to carry a slight 'Toyota tax' versus other comparable mass-market brands. This is broadly because the market appreciates Toyota's famed durability – a fact underscored by Toyota's 10-year service-activated warranty.

Which is best?

Your choice here will be driven by your budget and needs. If you have a family to cart around and the ability to recharge your car at home, the Prius is more powerful, more practical and has the option of electric-only driving.

However, the Yaris still benefits from Toyota's hybrid know-how, but in a much more affordable, accessible package. So, if you don't need the space, you can save yourself a lot of money by picking the Yaris.

High-quality hybrids at low prices

Shop used Toyota hybrid cars for sale at Motorpoint. That includes used Toyota Prius cars and used Toyota Yaris cars.