Trims and Powertrain

The four grades of the ’22 Toyota Prius are called L Eco, LE, XLE, and Limited; each can be ordered with the debuting Nightshade appearance package. Their hybrid powertrain is made up of a 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and an electric motor that combine to produce 121 horsepower; their partner under the hood is an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (ECVT). Front-wheel drive comes standard, but all-wheel drive is offered on the LE and XLE trim levels. The EPA has officially estimated the L Eco’s fuel economy at 58 mpg in city driving and 53 mpg on the highway. With FWD, the other grades achieve 54 city/50 highway, while the available AWD will adjust those numbers to 51 city/47 highway.

Standard Equipment and Options

Even the base L Eco is stacked with desirable features, getting heated exterior mirrors, LED headlights, keyless entry (driver’s door), push-button start, automatic cabin temperature control, 15-inch wheels, a 12V power outlet, and a 60/40-split fold-down rear seatback with a center armrest. The LE adds a rear window wiper and a cargo area cover to keep valuables out of sight. The XLE upgrades to 17-inch wheels and adds heated front seats, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry for both front doors and the rear hatch, SofTex upholstery for the seats and steering wheel, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, wireless smartphone charging, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, fog lights, and a universal garage door opener. Adaptive front headlights are available on the XLE and standard on the Limited, a moonroof is optional for both of those trims.

Safety and Technology

Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, a package of driver-assist technologies, comes standard on every 2022 Prius. These safety-enhancing features consist of a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, full-speed dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, lane tracing assist, road sign assist, and automatic high beams. The LE and higher also get parking sensors with intelligent parking assist, plus blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

In the first three trims, the infotainment system gets a 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming, smartphone integration (Android Auto and Apple CarPlay), Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a sound system with six speakers. The Limited upgrades to an 11.6-inch split-screen touch display that isn’t compatible with Android Auto, but it’s enhanced with a top-shelf JBL audio system, 10 speakers, and a navigation system.