Toyota Prius vs Nissan Qashqai

What's the difference?

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Toyota Prius
Toyota Prius

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2021 price

Nissan Qashqai
Nissan Qashqai

$34,665 - $54,365

2026 price

Summary

2021 Toyota Prius
2026 Nissan Qashqai
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Inline 4, 1.8L

Turbo 3, 1.5L
Fuel Type
Unleaded Petrol/Electric

Premium Unleaded/Electric
Fuel Efficiency
3.4L/100km (combined)

4.1L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • Polarising exterior
  • Dorky central instrument cluster
  • Not so engaging to drive

  • Requires 95 RON premium unleaded
  • No spare wheel in Ti-L e-Power  
  • Getting up there in price
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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2026 Nissan Qashqai Summary

If you think you know Nissan and haven’t driven one of its impressive e-Power models, you might be in for a surprise.

Be it the latest-generation X-Trail from Japan or the related smaller Qashqai out of the UK, this plugless petrol-electric hybrid powertrain is one of the best crossovers at any price point.

Now, barely a year after the facelift appeared in Australia, the Qashqai scores another round of changes.

We take a close look at the up-spec Ti-L to see if they make one of the best small SUVs even better (or worse).

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Deep dive comparison

2021 Toyota Prius 2026 Nissan Qashqai

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