Toyota Prius Sales Plummet 42% - Minor 2027 Updates Won’t Stop the Slide

Toyota’s iconic Prius is in a tailspin. 3% drop from the same period in 2024. The slump comes even as gas prices spiked amid the ongoing conflict in Iran, a scenario that used to send buyers flocking to hybrids. But the 2027 Prius, just unveiled, brings little to reverse the trend.

The new model adds dual-zone automatic climate control as standard equipment and introduces a fresh paint option called Inked. That’s about it. Prices, however, are going up by $205 across all trims, LE, XLE, Nightshade, and Limited. The base Prius now starts at $28,755, plus a $1,295 destination fee.

0-liter four-cylinder hybrid system making 194 horsepower in front-wheel-drive form, or 196 hp with all-wheel drive. Fuel economy remains class-leading at up to 55 mpg combined.

The Prius Plug-in Hybrid follows the same script. It also gets the new color and dual-zone climate control, and its price rises $205 to $33,980. 6 kWh battery, producing 220 horsepower. It can travel up to 44 miles on electricity alone, then operates as a conventional hybrid returning up to 51 mpg.

While the Prius remains a solid choice for efficiency, these modest updates, and a price hike, seem unlikely to reignite buyer interest.