Toyota Prius Plus: Which Version Should You Buy?
The Toyota Prius Plus choice comes down to two versions of the same Hybrid, FWD, Estate 5-door formula. The earlier 1.8 AT, produced from October 2011 through December 2014, has 99 hp, lower listed fuel consumption and a kerb weight of 1,495 kg.
The Toyota Prius Plus choice comes down to two versions of the same Hybrid, FWD, Estate 5-door formula. The earlier 1.8 AT, produced from October 2011 through December 2014, has 99 hp, lower listed fuel consumption and a kerb weight of 1,495 kg. The restyled 2ZR-FXE, produced from November 2014 through March 2021, increases output to 136 hp while retaining the 1,798 cc engine, 145 mm ground clearance and 45-litre tank. Choose the 1.8 AT when listed economy matters most; choose the 2ZR-FXE when the additional 37 hp and 3 Nm are more important. The supplied data contains no prices, seating capacity, luggage capacity, dimensions, trim levels or reliability results, so those factors cannot be used to justify either purchase.
Toyota Prius Plus generations: what changed?
The Toyota Prius Plus has one generation represented in two phases, although the catalogue data contains two generation records. The original 1 generation ran from October 2011 to December 2014 as an Estate 5-door and contains one version, 1.8 AT. Its 1,798 cc Hybrid produces 99 hp and 142 Nm, uses an Automatic transmission with 1 listed gear and drives the front wheels through FWD.
The 1 generation, restyling ran from November 2014 to March 2021, also as an Estate 5-door with one version, 2ZR-FXE. It preserves the 1,798 cc Hybrid engine size, Automatic transmission and FWD layout but raises output to 136 hp and torque to 145 Nm. Compared with the 1.8 AT, that is 37 hp more, a gain of about 37.4%, while torque rises by 3 Nm, or about 2.1%. The production periods overlap during November and December 2014, so the date alone may not identify the correct version in that interval.
Toyota Prius Plus engine and specs
Both versions use a front, transverse Hybrid engine with 4 Inline cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder and no boost. Both have Distributed injection (multi-point), a compression ratio of 13 and an 80.5 × 88.3 bore and stroke. The exact version names and their principal specifications are:
| Version | Production | Power | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 AT | October 2011–December 2014 | 99 hp (73 kW) at 5,200 rpm | 142 Nm at 4,000 rpm | 1,798 cc | 95 | 4 | Inline | No | Automatic, 1 listed gear | FWD |
| 2ZR-FXE | November 2014–March 2021 | 136 hp (100 kW) at 5,200 rpm | 145 Nm at 4,000 rpm | 1,798 cc | 95 | 4 | Inline | No | Automatic; gear count not measured | FWD |
Because the displacement is identical, power per litre makes the output difference easy to compare. The 1.8 AT provides approximately 55.1 hp per litre, while the 2ZR-FXE provides approximately 75.6 hp per litre. The restyled version therefore adds roughly 20.6 hp per litre without changing the listed displacement.
Queries about Toyota Prius Plus engine oil, oil capacity and engine mounts cannot be answered from these records: oil grade, oil capacity and mount specifications are not measured.
Toyota Prius Plus performance and mpg comparison
Despite their different power outputs, both versions have the same listed acceleration and maximum speed. The 1.8 AT reaches 100 km/h in 11.3 seconds and has a maximum speed of 165 km/h. The 2ZR-FXE also reaches 100 km/h in 11.3 seconds and has a maximum speed of 165 km/h. On the supplied figures, the additional 37 hp does not reduce the stated 0–100 km/h time or increase the stated maximum speed.
| Version | 0–100 km/h | Maximum speed | City consumption | Highway consumption | Combined consumption | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 AT | 11.3 sec | 165 km/h | 3.8 L/100 km | 4.2 L/100 km | 4.1 L/100 km | 96 g/km |
| 2ZR-FXE | 11.3 sec | 165 km/h | not measured | not measured | 5.81 L/100 km | 132 g/km |
The 1.8 AT has a listed combined figure 1.71 L/100 km lower than the 2ZR-FXE, a difference of about 29.4% relative to the restyled version’s figure. It also records 36 g/km less CO₂. City and highway consumption for the 2ZR-FXE are not measured, so a route-specific comparison is not possible. MPG is likewise not measured in the supplied data; the available consumption values are stated only in L/100 km.
Both versions meet Euro 5. The shared 45-litre fuel tank means neither version gains a listed capacity advantage, although actual driving range is not measured.
Toyota Prius Plus dimensions, weight and chassis
Exterior dimensions, interior dimensions, trunk size and luggage capacity are not measured for either version. Seating capacity is also not measured, so the supplied data cannot confirm how many seats either Toyota Prius Plus has.
| Version | Kerb weight | Gross weight | Ground clearance | Fuel tank | Wheel sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 AT | 1,495 kg | 2,115 kg | 145 mm | 45 L | not measured |
| 2ZR-FXE | 1,500 kg | 2,115 kg | 145 mm | 45 L | not measured |
The restyled 2ZR-FXE is only 5 kg heavier at the kerb, while gross weight remains 2,115 kg. Calculated from the listed weights, the gap between gross and kerb weight is 620 kg for the 1.8 AT and 615 kg for the 2ZR-FXE. These arithmetic differences are not a substitute for an official payload rating.
Weight per horsepower strongly favours the later version. The 1.8 AT carries approximately 15.1 kg of kerb weight per horsepower, whereas the 2ZR-FXE carries approximately 11.0 kg per horsepower. In other words, the restyled version has about 27.0% less kerb weight per horsepower, even though the published acceleration figure remains unchanged.
The chassis specification does not distinguish the versions. Both have Independent, spring front suspension, Semi-independent, torsion rear suspension, Ventilated disc front brakes and Disc rear brakes. Both also provide 145 mm of ground clearance. Wheel sizes are not measured for either version.
Which Toyota Prius Plus version should you buy?
Buy the 1.8 AT if your decision is driven by the available economy figures. It has the lower listed combined consumption at 4.1 L/100 km versus 5.81 L/100 km, and lower listed CO₂ at 96 g/km versus 132 g/km. It is also 5 kg lighter. Its city and highway figures are both measured, while those figures are not measured for the 2ZR-FXE.
Buy the 2ZR-FXE if you prioritise output and a later production period. It offers 136 hp instead of 99 hp, 145 Nm instead of 142 Nm and approximately 75.6 hp per litre instead of 55.1 hp per litre. It achieves these gains with the same 1,798 cc displacement, the same 45-litre tank, the same 145 mm ground clearance and only 5 kg more kerb weight.
The extra money question cannot be answered numerically because purchase prices are not provided. Based strictly on the catalogue data, a higher price for the 2ZR-FXE would primarily buy a later restyled car and 37 additional horsepower—not quicker listed acceleration, a higher listed maximum speed, greater ground clearance, a larger tank or a higher gross weight. Conversely, the 1.8 AT is the evidence-based economy choice, but the records contain no reliability, condition, service-history or trim-level data. Those factors must be checked separately when comparing individual cars for sale.