Toyota Corolla Hybrid Vs. Toyota Prius: Which Is Better?
The 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid is cheaper and more reliable, but it’s hard to beat the Prius’s standard mileage, technology, and space.
Written by Shannon Fitzgerald
Edited by Pat Roache
Table of Contents
- Pricing: Toyota Corolla Hybrid is more affordable
- Performance: Toyota Prius has a better engine setup
- Fuel efficiency: Toyota Prius can’t be beat
- Technology: Prius comes with more standard features
- Reliability: Corolla Hybrid ranks higher
- Interior: Prius is larger, but Corolla Hybrid is more user-friendly
- FAQs
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The 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid starts at $4,400 cheaper than the 2023 Toyota Prius, but the Prius offers slightly better fuel efficiency, performance, and standard features.
- Go with the 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid if: you want a cheap and reliable fuel-efficient vehicle with a standard fare of safety and convenience features.
- Go with the 2023 Toyota Prius if: you’d rather pay extra for the best fuel efficiency in the business with plenty of upgradable technology and cargo space.
- Go with the 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid if: you want a cheap and reliable fuel-efficient vehicle with a standard fare of safety and convenience features.
- Go with the 2023 Toyota Prius if: you’d rather pay extra for the best fuel efficiency in the business with plenty of upgradable technology and cargo space.
Pricing: Toyota Corolla Hybrid is more affordable
2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid starting MSRP: $23,050
2023 Toyota Prius starting MSRP: $27,450
All three of the 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid trim levels are less expensive than the 2023 Toyora Prius entry-level price. Take a look at how the costs compare across similar
trim configurations
:Model | MSRP | Model | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|
2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE | $23,050 | 2023 Toyota Prius LE | $27,450 |
2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid SE | $25,490 | - | - |
2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE | $26,850 | 2023 Toyota Prius XLE | $30,895 |
- | - | 2022 Toyota Prius Limited | $34,465 |
The 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid also comes with cheaper costs of ownership. f / [[/pConsider the following cost comparisons for the Corolla Hybrid and Prius according to Edmunds and the
car insurance
experts at Jerry
:- 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE five-year cost to own: $32,404
- 2023 Toyota Prius LE five-year cost to own: $34,856
Expand your comparison: The 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid is also more popular than competing hybrid models, including:
- 2023 Hyundai Elantra Blue Hybrid: $24,550 MSRP
- 2022 Honda Insight (discontinued): $25,760 MSRP
Performance: Toyota Prius has a better engine setup
Neither the 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid nor the 2023 Toyota Prius are particularly peppy vehicles, but the Prius offers quit a bit more pep in it’s standard powertrain specs:
Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | Horsepower | Torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 Prius | 2.0-L 4-cylinder paired with single electric motor | Standard front-wheel drive (all-wheel drive available) | Continuously variable transmission (CVT) | 194 hp | 139 lb-ft of torque |
2023 Corolla Hybrid | 1.8-L 4-cylinder paired with single electric motor | Standard front-wheel drive (all-wheel drive available) | Continuously variable transmission (CVT) | 138 hp | 156 lb-ft of torque |
Powertrain upgrades: All-wheel drive (AWD) is available on both models for an additional $1,400 on the sticker price. Neither Toyota vehicle offers any additional hybrid powertrain upgrades.
Fuel efficiency: Toyota Prius can’t be beat
No matter what model you’re comparing it to, the Toyota Prius is a titan in the entry-level hybrid segment for it’s EPA-estimated fuel economy: 57/56/57 MPG city/highway/combined.
See how the 2023 Corolla Hybrid’s and Prius’s fuel economies compare across trim levels and drivetrain configurations
Model | FWD fuel economy (city/hwy/combined) | AWD fuel economy (city/hwy/combined) |
|---|---|---|
2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE /XLE | 53/46/50 mpg | 51/44/48 (LE trim only) |
2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid SE | 50/43/47 mpg | 47/41/44 mpg |
2023 Toyota Prius LE | 57/56/57 mpg | 53/54/54 mpg |
2023 Toyota Prius XLE/Limited | 52/52/52 mpg | 49/50/49 mpg |
Technology: Prius comes with more standard features
Safety technology: Both the 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid and the Toyota Prius come with a standard baseline of driver assistance features courtesy of Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.0:
- Forward collision mitigation
- Lane departure warning (with steering assist)
- Automatic emergency braking (with pedestrian detection)
- Adaptive cruise control
- Automatic high beams
- Lane-keeping assist
- Road sign assist
The 2023 Toyota Prius also comes standard with the following safety tech that are only available as Convenience Package (MSRP $1,340) and trim level upgrades on the Corolla Hybrid:
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear-cross traffic alert
Comfort and entertainment: The Toyota Prius and Corolla Hybrid share the following infotainment features:
- 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display
- Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility
- Six-speaker sound system
- Automatic climate control
- Wi-Fi hotspot with subscription
- Keyless entry with optional push-button start
- Automatic LED headlights
The top-tier 2023 Toyota Prius models swap out the 8.0-inch infotainment display with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, accompanied by a premium JBL eight-speaker sound system. Meanwhile, JBL speakers are only available as part of package upgrades on the 2023 Corolla Hybrid SE (Premium package with options MSRP $1,820) and XLE trims (MSRP $675).
Reliability: Corolla Hybrid ranks higher
The Toyota Corolla and the Toyota Prius both carry the esteemed
reputation of a Toyota brand vehicle
. However, the Toyota Corolla comes out slightly ahead:RepairPal reliability rating | RepairPal segment ranking | J.D. Power quality and reliability score | J.D. Power segment rankings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 Corolla | 4.5/5.0 | 1st in compact cars | 81/100 | 4th in compact cars |
2023 Prius | 1.0/5.0 | 10th | 76/100 | 8th |
Keep in mind: Both the Toyota Corolla Hybrid and the Toyota Prius are considered more reliable than the average new car by Consumer Reports. That said, the Prius received a recall from the
NHTSA
in the last two years, but the Corolla Hybrid did not. Interior: Prius is larger, but Corolla Hybrid is more user-friendly
2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid interior review: Designed with a simplified approach to efficiency, the Corolla Hybrid’s dashboard is clean and uncluttered. From the seat adjusters to the infotainment system, the Corolla Hybrid’s controls and functions are easy to find and intuitive to use.
2023 Toyota Prius interior review: The Toyota Prius touchscreen and many of its dashboard instruments are out of the driver’s direct line of sight. However, as a
hatchback
, the Toyota Prius gets much better cargo space
than the Toyota Corolla Hybrid sedan.Here’s a closer comparison of each vehicle’s interior dimensions:
Measurement | Toyota Corolla Hybrid | Toyota Prius |
|---|---|---|
Maximum cargo volume | 13.1 cubic feet | 38 cubic feet (est.) |
Cargo volume with all seats up | N/A | 20.3 cubic feet |
Headroom (front seats) | 38 inches | 38 inches |
Legroom (front seats) | 42 inches | 43.2 inches |
Headroom (rear seats) | 37.1 inches | 36.4 inches |
Legroom (rear seats) | 34.8 inches | 34.8 inches |
The bottom line: Both the Corolla Hybrid and the Prius offer comfortable enough passenger space and seating to accommodate a lengthy drive without complaints. Your better interior option truly depends on what type of vehicle you want—a roomy Prius hatchback or a user-friendly Corolla sedan.
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Is a Toyota Corolla Hybrid bigger than a Toyota Prius?
The 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid sedan is longer than the Toyota Prius hatchback, at 182.3 inches in length to the Prius’ 180.0 inches. However the Prius is slightly taller with more cargo space thanks to its hatchback design.
Which has better fuel efficiency: the Toyota Corolla Hybrid or Prius?
With a maximum entry-level fuel efficiency of 57 city/56 highway/57 combined mpg, the Toyota Prius gets better fuel efficiency compared across comparable trims to the Corolla Hybrid’s (base 53/46/50 mpg). That said, both modelssuffer a slight decrease in efficency when opted with AWD.
Is the Toyota Corolla Hybrid more expensive than the Toyota Prius?
No: The 2023 Toyota Corolla LE Hybrid’s base MSRP is about $4,400 less than the 2023 Toyota Prius’ base LE starting price.
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