Used 2021 Toyota Prius Prime for SaleNationwide

How much does the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime cost?

Prices are up 1.60% year-over-year — a sign of continued demand for this model year.

There are 320 listings available, which suggests a modest amount of inventory for shoppers to compare.

Is the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime a good car?

Yes — the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime earns a 5/5 user rating and a 6.5/10 expert rating. It’s a plug-in hybrid that emphasizes packaging, standard equipment, and efficiency, with a practical setup for shoppers who want everyday usability and electric driving capability. The model scores 8/10 across Form and function and Safety.

The trade-offs are clear: the infotainment system is hard to use, and slow acceleration keeps the driving experience from feeling polished. It also has a polarizing design, so it fits you best if efficiency and equipment matter more than style or driving excitement.

35.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals, which gives you some room to find a competitive example.

Is the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime reliable?

Owners rate it 5/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction. The Prius Prime is built around Toyota’s hybrid expertise, and its plug-in setup is aimed at efficiency-focused ownership with a strong emphasis on practicality. Its powertrain is described as durable in spirit, even if the driving experience itself is not especially lively.

Toyota also backs the car with a long hybrid battery warranty, which helps reduce some ownership anxiety. For used buyers, the main long-term risk is less about mechanical drama and more about living with a car whose slow acceleration and awkward controls may wear on you over time.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Toyota Prius Prime?

At 68.8% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a careful inspection of body condition, panel alignment, and any signs of prior repair. Because this model’s appeal depends heavily on efficiency and daily usability, you should also pay close attention to how well the cabin electronics, controls, and charging-related equipment work.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The LE, XLE, and Limited trims share the same basic look and much of the same hardware, but the higher trims add technology features while the base trim is more stripped back.
• Powertrain: It uses a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, front-wheel drive, and an e-CVT; it’s efficient, but acceleration is slow.
• Safety package: Every version gets Toyota’s Star Safety System plus automatic emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, road-sign assist, and Lane Tracing Assist automated lane centering.
• Infotainment: Standard equipment includes a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a WiFi hot spot; an 11.6-inch touchscreen is available.
• Fuel efficiency: It returns 55 mpg in the city, 53 mpg on the highway, and 54 mpg combined in hybrid mode, plus 133 MPGe in electric mode.

Which 2021 Toyota Prius Prime trim should I buy?

The 2021 Toyota Prius Prime is offered in 3 trim levels: LE, XLE, Limited.

Here's the short version:

• LE: This is the trim to target if you want the most straightforward way into the Prius Prime’s efficiency, standard safety tech, and plug-in capability without paying for extras you may not need.
• XLE: This trim adds more convenience and technology, making it the best-value choice if you want a better-equipped cabin while staying below the top trim.
• Limited: Choose this if you want the most features available, especially if you care most about the Prius Prime’s upper-end tech and comfort equipment.

Every trim gets Toyota’s standard safety suite, so you do not need to move up the lineup just to get the core driver-assistance features.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Toyota Prius Prime?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you should shop carefully and compare listings before moving quickly.

• Deal availability: 35.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 320 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices are up 1.60% year-over-year.
• Clean inventory: 68.8% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $20,944, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime's resale value?

The current average of $22,800 sits slightly above last year's $22,440.

That upward move suggests the Prius Prime has held demand reasonably well, which can help support resale value if you buy at the right price. The year’s pricing also shows that shoppers are still willing to pay for its efficiency and plug-in practicality. If you keep mileage and condition in check, you should have a decent shot at preserving value relative to a weaker-trending used car.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 5/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime safe?

The 2021 Toyota Prius Prime earns Good ratings from IIHS in most crashworthiness tests, with an Acceptable result in the small-overlap front-passenger side test, and it earns a five-star overall rating from NHTSA.

It earns an 8/10 safety score from our experts.

Toyota gives every version of the Prius Prime its Star Safety System, which includes brake assist, smart stop technology, traction control, anti-lock brakes, vehicle dynamics management technology, vehicle stability control, automatic emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, road-sign assist, and Lane Tracing Assist automated lane centering.

The main caveat is the IIHS small-overlap front-passenger side result, which is weaker than the rest of its crashworthiness performance.

Should I buy a 2021 Toyota Prius Prime or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 35.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 68.8% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices are up 1.60% year-over-year.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• It combines strong efficiency with standard advanced safety features and an impressive electric range.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $22,427, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $22,800 average.
• It is built around efficiency above all else.

The bottom line: You should lean toward the 2021 if you want the stronger current-market picture and the same core plug-in efficiency formula. If your priority is spending less up front, the 2020 is the better price-sensitive path, especially if you can live with its older-feeling setup.

How does the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime compare to the 2022 Ford Maverick?

Expert Pros & Cons (per CarGurus review team)

2021 Toyota Prius Prime:

• Pros: Fuel-efficiet, Standard advanced safety features, Impressive electric range.
• Cons: Potentially polarizing design, Poor ergonomic design.

2022 Ford Maverick:

• Pros: Great ride quality, Excellent value for money, Standard hybrid powertrain.
• Cons: Older infotainment system.

Our experts score the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime 6.5/10 and the 2022 Ford Maverick 8.2/10. The Prius Prime is the more efficiency-focused choice, with stronger electric-range appeal and standard safety equipment. The Maverick looks like the better all-around value, with a stronger expert score, better ride quality, and a more appealing price-to-capability balance. If you care most about plug-in efficiency, the Prius Prime makes sense; if you want broader everyday usefulness, the Maverick has the edge.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 3, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.