2022 Prius Model Lineup Explained
Toyota sells the Prius as a traditional hybrid or a plug-in hybrid Prius Prime, but there are plenty more options to make your 2022 Prius unique.
Written by Cameron Thiessen
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
When buying a 2022 Toyota Prius, you have to first decide if you want a traditional hybrid or the plug-in hybrid, the Prius Prime. The Prius comes in four available trims, while the Prius Prime comes in three trim levels.
Also available are technology packages and a special Nightshade Edition for the regular Prius. The Prius also has an optional all-wheel-drive (AWD) powertrain, while the Prius Prime only comes with front-wheel drive (FWD).
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.2022 Prius models
Starting price: $26,170
The Toyota Prius is the original mass-produced gas-electric hybrid car, and it continues to be produced with a traditional hybrid powertrain, based on the same one that was in the original 1997 Prius.
It was and remains one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles you can buy. Unfortunately, there’s not much of a performance upgrade available—each of the four trims available gets the same 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine, paired with a permanent magnet AC motor, although the AWD models get an extra magnet-less motor.
The four trims available are the L Eco, LE, XLE, and Limited.
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Prius L Eco
The L Eco is the cheapest version of the 2022 Toyota Prius, but it’s also the most fuel-efficient of the traditional hybrid models, getting an EPA city/highway fuel consumption rating of 58/53 mpg.
One way this is achieved is by forcing the buyer to opt out of AWD, which is simply unavailable on this trim. But the Prius L Eco is nowhere near under-equipped. It comes with Toyota’s standard Safety Sense 2.0 suite of safety/driver assistance—including adaptive cruise control—along with a 7-inch infotainment screen in the center console. However, drivers looking for upgraded performance, interior, or even more driver assist features will likely look to higher trims as their preferred choice.
Prius LE
Starting price: $27,380
The primary differences between the
LE trim
and the L Eco are a few additional safety/driver assist features, as well as the LE being the lowest trim available with all-wheel-drive. AWD adds $750 to the price of the LE.In this case, the Prius uses an extra magnetless motor in addition to the regular hybrid powertrain to send power to its rear wheels to minimize slip, referring to this option as “AWD-e.”
Prius XLE
Starting price: $30,390
The XLE adds even more options but is noticeably quite a bit pricier than the L Eco. However, upgrading to an XLE AWD-e is only $180.
New standard features with the Prius XLE include a luxurious interior upgrade—the XLE’s seats are upholstered with SofTex faux leather. This material also wraps the upgraded heated steering wheel. Additionally, the XLE adds heated and power-adjustable front seats and a wireless charging pad for mobile devices.
The XLE features 17-inch wheels, upgraded from the base model’s 15-inch wheels. If you’re looking to spend even more, an available $800 Advanced Technology Package adds a color heads-up display and auto-leveling headlights.
Also available for $515 is a Premium Convenience Package, which adds a tilt/slide moonroof with a sliding sunshade as well as a switch to 15-inch titanium-finish alloy wheels.
Pro Tip Don’t feel like you’re missing out by opting for the L Eco over the XLE! The XLE is specifically for drivers looking for a luxury upgrade to an otherwise amply-equipped model.
Prius Nightshade
Starting price: $30,640
The
Prius Nightshade
is a special-edition Prius trim available in three exclusive colors: Midnight Black Metallic, Silver Metallic, and Super White.The Nightshade has special edition exterior styling and features the majority of the extras available on the XLE. FWD gets 17-inch black alloy wheels, while the AWD model gets 15-inch ones.
Prius Limited
Starting price: $34,465
Over $8,000 beyond the L Eco, the Limited takes its place as the highest-priced trim for the 2022 Toyota Prius.
It comes standard with all the XLE’s interior features, plus the Advanced Technology and Premium Convenience Packages. There’s also a luxury upgrade to the sound system and infotainment screen. Unfortunately, the Prius Limited is not available as an AWD-e model.
2022 Prius Prime models
Starting price: $29,865
The main differences between the Prius and the
Prius Prime
are the hybrid type and trim levels. Unfortunately, the Prime is not available as an L Eco, and the special Nightshade edition is also a no-show in the Prius Prime lineup. Other features, like upgraded wheels of different sizes, are unavailable on the Prime.The Prius Prime is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). That means it can be charged like a regular EV and can even run purely on electricity for a relatively short distance, but it can also be kept running by simply filling up its gas tank. In electric mode, all Prius Prime models get 133 MPGe, and 54 mpg when using gasoline.
Each Prius Prime can travel about 25 miles purely on electricity and charge on a public charger in less than two and a half hours. This is especially convenient for commuters who park in lots with designated charging station spaces. Unfortunately, AWD is not available for the Prius Prime.
Prius Prime LE
Similar to the traditional Prius, the Prius Prime’s first-level
LE trim
is already packed full of value, including the same Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite and 7-inch infotainment touchscreen. An integrated backup camera is also part of this base-level setup.Prius Prime XLE
Starting price: $31,645
The step up to the XLE adds essentially the same list of interior features as the regular Prius XLE, but you need to go all the way to the Prime Limited to get many of the added safety and driver assist features available on the regular Prius XLE.
The Prime XLE does get the improved 11.6-inch touchscreen included with the Prius Limited.
Prius Prime Limited
Starting price: $35,645
Even more tech features are added with the top Limited trim, including an upgraded 10-speaker JBL sound system. Also added are the missing driver assist features, including blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, color heads-up display, parking assistance, and front/rear parking sensors.
On top of this are rain-sensing wipers, the heated steering wheel, LED fog lights, and self-dimming rearview mirrors. There’s also a built-in garage door opener on the Limited.
2022 Toyota Prius vs. Prius Prime
The Toyota Prius and Prius Prime have plenty of similarities, but they differ primarily in how they can be powered. While the Toyota Prius uses a traditional hybrid system, contributing to its lower starting price, the Prius Prime’s plug-in hybrid system adds the ability to save a ton of money on gasoline by plugging it in and running it as an EV for short commutes.
Traditional hybrid vs. plug-in hybrid
A traditional hybrid doesn’t need to be plugged in, but it gets much lower fuel economy than a plug-in hybrid running on pure electric power—electric mode more than doubles the Prius’ fuel economy. A big part of purchasing a Prius of your own will be deciding whether or not the added benefit of the plug-in hybrid will be worth the higher starting price.
Let’s look at how the different 2022 Toyota Prius and Toyota Prius Prime models compare on paper.
Model | Starting price | Drivetrain | Safety features | Fuel economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 Toyota Prius L Eco | $26,170 | FWD traditional hybrid | Safety Sense 2.0 | 58/53 mpg city/highway |
$27,380 | FWD or AWD-e traditional hybrid | TSS 2.0 + additional driver assist features | 54/50 mpg c/h (FWD), 51/47 mpg c/h (AWD) | |
$29,865 | FWD plug-in hybrid | Safety Sense 2.0 | 54 mpg (hybrid)/133 MPGe (battery-only) | |
2022 Toyota Prius XLE | $30,390 | FWD or AWD-e traditional hybrid | TSS 2.0 + LE standard/optional features | 54/50 mpg c/h (FWD), 51/47 mpg c/h (AWD) |
$30,640 | FWD or AWD-e traditional hybrid | Same as XLE | 54/50 mpg c/h (FWD), 51/47 mpg c/h (AWD) | |
$31,645 | FWD plug-in hybrid | TSS 2.0 + additional driver assist features | 54 mpg (hybrid)/133 MPGe (battery-only) | |
2022 Toyota Prius Limited | $34,465 | FWD traditional hybrid | Complete suite of all available | 54/50 mpg |
2022 Toyota Prius Prime Limited | $35,645 | FWD plug-in hybrid | Complete suite | 54 mpg (hybrid)/133 MPGe (battery-only) |
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