2026 Best Hybrid: Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius can be credited with sparking the hybrid movement in the automotive sector over 25 years ago. Today, demand for hybrids continues to grow.

Hybrids ask little from their owners. No lifestyle adjustments, no searching for charging stations, and no plugging in every night. You gas them up like any other vehicle and benefit from the fuel savings that the electrified powertrain facilitates. It’s little surprise then that the Prius continues to take top honours in the category it basically pioneered.

A panel of over 20 automotive experts has voted for the Prius as Best Hybrid for the last three years in a row. An extensive list of criteria, such as engineering excellence, performance, design, safety, and overall excellence, was considered when voting for best in class and each winner represents a vehicle we would confidently recommend to family and friends.

The win is even more impressive considering that the competitive field continues to grow with compelling options. The Honda Civic Hybrid and Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid are two excellent newer alternatives.

The 2024 redesign of the Prius amounted to a complete identity change from hum-drum eco commuter to slick four-door coupe with a silhouette that had you second-guessing what it was. Its driving manners were also similarly upgraded, which meant that its newfound beauty didn’t just run skin deep.

In his review comparing the Prius and the Civic Hybrid, Auto Trader expert Chris Tsui writes, “This version [of the Toyota Prius] has garnered near-universal critical acclaim and turns heads for its sleek, striking, and downright pretty exterior design.”

Power from the 2.0-litre four-cylinder and trio of electric motors, including one driving the rear axle, remains at 196 hp, which is plenty for the Prius. Coupled with responsive steering and a well-controlled suspension, the Prius is a pleasure to drive down a back road, a big contrast from prior generations. It’s also hard to argue with a combined fuel consumption rating of 4.8 L/100 km.

Thanks to Canadian market demands, the Prius comes with all-wheel drive standard, and because the rear axle is driven by an electric motor and not physically connected to the engine, it doesn’t cut into the system’s efficiency.

Toyota’s hybrid system, now in its fifth generation, has earned a reputation as being one of the most reliable powertrains of its kind. The transmission consists of a simple and robust planetary gearset, and not the typical belts and pulleys. It has an extremely low failure rate, even after being in use with only minor changes for over 20 years.

With prices starting at $38,365, the Prius is priced higher than it was before, but it’s also better equipped, more powerful, and vastly better to look at. Toyota seems to have transitioned the Prius into a more upscale product with the Corolla Hybrid filling in the lower end of the market.

It also comes with an excellent-looking set of 19-inch wheels, and you can spec it in a colour called Maximum Yellow, which is, well, very yellow. If you jump to the top-spec Limited version, you get a 12.3-inch centre screen, a premium sound system, a glass roof, a powered liftgate, and more.

Considering its fastback roof line, the Prius still retains space for up to five passengers (though headroom might be limited for taller folks) and has a large cargo area thanks to the liftback design. It’s exactly the type of vehicle you’d recommend to someone who wants a svelte runabout but doesn’t want to spend a lot on fuel.

The Honda Civic hybrid might be more fun to drive and the Subaru Crosstrek more capable off-road with its mechanical all-wheel drive system, but the Prius deftly balances refinement, driving dynamics, and efficiency in a package that’s easily the best looking in the segment. Add in its legendary reliability, and it’s not hard to see why the Prius keeps earning the win year after year.