Toyota Prius vs Lexus UX250H
What's the difference?

Toyota Prius

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2021 price

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Lexus UX250H

$45,895 - $57,881

2023 price

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Summary

2021 Toyota Prius

2023 Lexus UX250H

By Tom White

By Byron Mathioudakis

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Inline 4, 1.8L

Inline 4, 2.0L

Fuel Type

Unleaded Petrol/Electric

Fuel Efficiency

3.4L/100km (combined)

4.5L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Seamless hybrid drive
Incredible fuel efficiency
Comfortable and spacious

Noticeably improved ride and refinement
High-quality interior presentation
Strong performance combined with good economy

Dislikes

Polarising exterior
Dorky central instrument cluster
Not so engaging to drive

Tight rear-seat and luggage space
Poor side/rear vision
Grabby brakes

2021 Toyota Prius Summary

What to say about the Toyota Prius in 2021? A car that was once a technology trailblazer seems now to have become properly retro, even while it’s still being built and sold.

The awkward-looking wedge, an eco-punk icon, not only brought Toyota’s hybrid synergy drive to the masses, it also debuted the brand’s excellent TNGA architecture and set the scene for the company's absurd hybrid success, which now sees the RAV4 version topping the sales charts.

So, after all these years (25 to be precise), is the Prius’s time finally over? Or does this quaint hybrid hero still have more to offer? I took a top-spec I-Tech for a week to find out.

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2023 Lexus UX250H Summary

Most cars get secretly cheapened as they travel through their model lifecycles.

Yes, while facelifts often usher in headline advances like updated electronics and more equipment to boost attention, in too many cases, engineers are forced to cut costs, especially where they cannot be very easily detected, such as with removed sound-deadening, inferior carpet quality and deleted minor items, like bonnet struts. Hello, latest Ford Ranger!

Every cent saved is extra profit made.

Now, we cannot tell at what level – if any – the penny-pinchers pilfered the Lexus UX for its Series II update last year, but the completely unexpected result is a small SUV/crossover that feels and drives noticeably better than before.

Keep reading to find out how and why.

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Deep dive comparison

2021 Toyota Prius 2023 Lexus UX250H

Verdict

The Prius can rest its weary head. The Age of the Hybrid has begun. Even though this iconic eco car might have lost its ultimate purpose to more mainstream models in the last few years, it’s still the best execution of Toyota’s hybrid tech on the market and if you can look past its divisive-as-ever looks, it’s comfortable and practical, too.

The brand’s Australian division promises the Prius will stick around in one form or another, so we’re keen to see what its next iteration will look like. Plug-in? Fully electric? Time will tell.

Verdict

Most cars get worse as they age as their makers try and save pennies by scrimping on quality and features. But the reverse seems to be true for the Lexus UX.

The 250h Luxury 2WD we tested is the car that the brand should have launched with back in 2018, with an appealing balance of performance and economy, comfort and sporty handling, as well as refinement and features. The UX has finally come of age.

Toyota Prius vs Lexus UX250H What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Toyota Prius vs Lexus UX250H
What's the difference?