I admit that when I was looking to buy a new car late last year, the third-generation Toyota Prius from 2010-2015 was an option I was interested in. However, I ultimately didn’t buy it because I felt I had to take care of several older cars I already owned, ranging from 13 to 29 years old. My changing work demands required a tough, easy-to-get-in-and-out vehicle that could be fun to modify for power, so the Prius was dropped from consideration.
But like many things in life, events made me question, “Did I make a mistake?” Over the year, fuel prices jumped wildly. Although many said buying a diesel pickup meant the government would keep fuel prices stable, I thought otherwise. Soon after, news came that Thailand would cancel the planned gasoline price increase to support diesel. Despite the impact, I think it’s acceptable because many people rely solely on gasoline for motorcycles. The burden should be shared fairly. Even if diesel gets more expensive and goods cost more, if people can’t afford food, it’s no different.
At this point, I’ve decided the next new car for the household will definitely be an EV because I like the power, quietness, and travel costs. But for many friends who don’t have millions to spend, live in condos, or need to drive long distances where time is money, hybrid cars remain an appealing choice. The cheapest hybrid today is probably the Honda City e:HEV, priced above 800,000 baht. But if your budget is much lower, used hybrids like the Prius stand out right now. Just look at the used car market prices over the past two years—they haven’t dropped, and in fact, have even increased.
What surprised me is that you might imagine Prius drivers as Greenpeace members, vegetarians, leading bland lives, and loving the planet. Not so. Over the past two years, those around me buying Priuses are car-savvy people, media professionals, racing instructors, and even racers—both track and street. Ten years ago, these same people cursed the Prius but competed over lap times saying, “You did 13 seconds? I’m faster with 12.” Now, this group buys Priuses, parks their race cars at home, and compete over fuel efficiency, saying, “You got 18 km per liter? That’s weak. I get 20.”
Why has the Prius, whose hybrid technology is considered old news, suddenly regained popularity in the used market? From my own experience testing hybrid battery restoration for Blu-Voltz, I drove a top-grade 2011 Prius that had seen hard use for over half a month. It was a rental car, so it wasn’t pampered like a private vehicle. The wheel covers were missing, the white paint was dull, the steering wheel creaked on rough roads, the steering was off-center, and the recycled cellulose plastic interior squeaked constantly.
Despite these conditions, the battle-worn Prius still offers a driving experience rarely found in modern cars. Thick 195/65 tires and well-maintained suspension—shock absorbers never replaced—give a solid feel (which makes sense, as the car weighs nearly 1.4 tons) and a comfortable ride on rough roads, even better than new Altis models. The light, comfortable steering wheel is noteworthy. Importantly, if you don’t stomp the accelerator like a maniac, it sips fuel better than many eco-cars. I easily got 15-18 km per liter without racing anyone. Even with a nine-year-old battery, the car could run quietly in EV mode at speeds up to 47 km/h for about 1.8 km. I tested it driving home at 2 or 3 a.m., parking near my mother’s room, and she slept soundly without noticing I was out.
If you don’t require sporty suspension, the Prius of that era can still compete comfortably with new cars in terms of driving. Its overtaking acceleration can keep up with a 1.8-liter Honda Civic, thanks to the combined power of a 99-horsepower Atkinson Cycle engine and an 82-horsepower motor, with a total maximum of 136 horsepower. It’s not powerful but more reliable on long trips than 1.2-liter eco-cars. The engine noise under acceleration is a bit sad, as this car was designed for comfortable, stress-free driving, not for aggressive driving thrills.
But don’t think Toyota developed this car hastily. The team in charge were top experts because it was launched during a time when many people still 'disliked' electric cars. They made the vehicle stand out visually and feel unique to even win over those who hated electric cars. When the Prius debuted in 2009, it looked more like an EV than some true EVs. The interior was more modern than many current cars, lacking only a large central screen, colorful instrument panels, and Apple CarPlay support. The body was designed for maximum fuel efficiency, with a drag coefficient of just 0.25, among the lowest worldwide at the time. Even the alloy wheels were designed with an interesting concept.
Many think Toyota designed ugly wheels covered with plastic caps for aerodynamic purposes. In reality, aerodynamics on wheels wasn’t the main factor. Toyota designed the wheels to be strong and light, but light wheels don’t appeal to the general public, so they covered them with plastic caps. Anyone who’s lifted a Prius wheel knows it weighs only about 7 kilograms without the tire, 20-25% lighter than typical 15-inch factory wheels. Lighter wheels and narrow tires reduce rolling resistance and power consumption, improving acceleration and fuel economy.
Toyota Thailand launched the Prius in November 2010, positioning it between the Corolla Altis and Camry, starting at about 1.2 million baht. Later, with a 2012 minor facelift and special editions, prices ranged from 1.2 to 1.4 million baht, comparable to CR-V or Camry prices. Buyers weren’t mainly looking to save money—buying a Corolla would leave a few hundred thousand baht leftover for fuel. Those who bought the Prius wanted its look and technology, with fuel savings as a bonus. This likely contributed to slow sales; originally aiming for 700-1,000 units a month, Toyota stopped producing the Prius in September 2015 after selling only about 18,000 units, fewer than the number of Vigo pickups sold in three months.
But over time, the Prius has become a used car priced around 300,000 to 450,000 baht, offering equipment comparable to million-baht cars. Even the lowest-grade models have seven airbags, VSC, ABS brakes, cruise control, automatic wipers, automatic air conditioning, push-button start with smart key, and a Head-Up Display. Don’t stop at the standard specs; if you find a 'Top Option' trim, it adds power-adjustable driver’s seat, solar roof with a sliding moonroof that uses solar energy to help ventilate heat automatically, remote air conditioning activation, a 7-inch central screen with rear camera, and power-folding side mirrors (introduced in the 2012 facelift; earlier models had manual folding, which people joked was a weak point).
I must say, the Prius isn’t a car focused on saving money. If you want to save money, you should buy a 2004-2012 Vios and convert it to LPG—that’s saving on purchase, repairs, and fuel, suitable for those with tight budgets. Buying a Prius means you want a car that feels like a big vehicle, solid, modern-looking, with equipment like million-baht cars, and fuel savings as a bonus. Sometimes, you can silently run in EV mode at night without waking anyone. The choice is between serious savings or saving with style and some luxury. Which do you prefer?
Regarding durability, 11 years is enough to prove it’s not a money pit. Some hybrid batteries over 10 years old still retain more than 70% capacity. Transformers, brake pumps, and air compressors from the dealer are expensive, but since the Prius was once very popular in Japan and time has passed, old parts are fairly available, and some can be repaired and reused. Maintenance may cost more than an Altis but isn’t much worse than a Camry. Recently, specialized hybrid repair shops like Race Garage 46 have helped many save costs, and I recommend their services.
The last Prius left the factory about 10 years ago, so late-model cars’ battery warranties have expired if you buy now. If you can’t find newer models and want to check battery condition, it’s simple: charge the battery to 80-90%, then drive slowly (under 47 km/h) in a small alley and measure distance. If it runs more than 1.8 km in EV mode, the battery will last a long time. If less than 1 km, battery efficiency is about half. A degraded battery causes slower acceleration and 10-20% higher fuel consumption. As for the inverter, if your chassis number shows it has updated firmware at the dealer, you get a 15-year inverter warranty.
This means that driving a late-model Prius now, unless very unlucky, expensive repairs costing hundreds of thousands of baht are unlikely. Repairs costing tens of thousands, such as steering column, rack, and suspension, should be budgeted for. After repairs, you’ll have a comfortable, agile car that’s easy to drive in city or countryside, with fuel consumption like an eco-car and options like million-baht vehicles. Except for modern UI and radar systems, in real use, the old Prius is not much worse than today’s million-baht hybrids, but costs less than half as much.
Pan Paitoonpong