The Toyota Prius has been the mainstay of hybrid cars for over 20 years. Not only is it extremely frugal on gas, but it does everything well. It’s practical, offers a lot of standard equipment, and can be equipped with features like a moonroof or all-wheel drive. Combine those attributes with Toyota’s typical reliability and safety, and it’s easy to see why it’s so popular. However, great reliability and dependability scores do not always add to inexpensive maintenance costs.

Does the Toyota Prius have expensive maintenance costs? 

You can own a safe, dependable car that won’t leave you stranded on the road but holds your bank account hostage. Fortunately, the Toyota Prius is not one of those cars. Quite the opposite. It has the lowest 10-year maintenance costs of any hybrid model.  

According to CarEdge, the average 10-year maintenance and repair cost for all Toyota models is $5,996. This cost is $829 less than the industry average. Toyotas also have a 13.5% chance of requiring a major repair during that same time, which is significantly better than the 20.5% chance industry average. 

A Toyota Prius is even less expensive to maintain, costing an average of $4,008 over 10 years for maintenance and repairs. There is also an 11.22% chance a Prius will require a significant repair during that same time.   

Is the Toyota Prius a reliable car? 

The Toyota Prius is considered one of the most reliable cars in its class. Consumer Reports data from 2014 shows that Prius’ expected reliability is much better than average, outscoring the Honda Insight, Kia Niro, and Hyundai Ioniq 5. 

This data also shows that reliability is much better than average in each category, and there are no actual problem areas for the Prius. Combine the much better-than-average reliability scores with the low repair costs, and the Prius ranks as one of the cheapest, most reliable vehicles to own.     

How many miles will a Toyota Prius last? 

The Prius’ longevity in 2021 determined that, with routine maintenance, a Prius should last between 200,000 and 300,000 miles. Many drivers have passed that mark with very few problems.   

The key to the Prius’ longevity is servicing the transmission fluid to protect the inverter and use the A/C as much as possible to prevent battery degradation. The hybrid battery and inverter are the most expensive components of the Prius, but with preventive maintenance, they should last a long time.  

Is the Toyota Prius worth buying, including the maintenance costs? 

If you want a hybrid car that combines practicality, longevity, and low operating costs, the Prius is one of the best cars on the market. Toyota seems to have perfected the recipe for the hybrid car with the Prius, especially when you factor in resale value. CarEdge calculated that the Prius only loses about 17% of its original MSRP after five years. Combine the resale value with maintenance and fuel costs, and the Prius is incredibly cheap to own.