2012 Toyota Prius is Still the Best Selling Hybrid Vehicle

The Toyota Prius, the best-selling hybrid vehicle in America and the world, offers advanced new infotainment systems for their 2012 Toyota Prius model, including the Entune suite of connectivity features. A new PLUS Performance accessory appearance and handling package introduced in late 2011 continues for the Toyota Prius 2012 model year. The Toyota Prius continues to lead the market for hybrid automobiles that it started 15 years ago. With its 50-MPG fuel economy rating, the Toyota Prius 2012 mpg is the most fuel-efficient gas-powered passenger car available in the U.S. today. It offers stellar fuel economy in a versatile five-passenger package that is recognized as a midsize car by the EPA.

The hatchback sedan received a total makeover in 2010, so the Toyota Prius 2012 will be mostly a carryover. However, something is afoot at the Circle K. A sporty (and smaller) Prius c (for “city centric”) hatchback sedan with a lower price tag (reportedly under $20k) and higher fuel economy will be added to the Toyota Prius lineup in spring 2012. For 2012, a Toyota Prius Station Wagon version of the standard-sized Prius will also be available. Toyota has just priced two of these Toyota Prius 2012 models—and both of the Prius Plug-In variants will, by the way, be eligible for a $2,500 federal tax credit.

For the Toyota Prius 2012 model year, the car gets slight revisions to its exterior and adds more standard equipped and a new multimedia system. The front gets a redesigned bumper with more stylized lower openings on each end, now filled with new standard LED automatic daytime running lights. The fog lights, when equipped, have been moved to the lower grille. The front and rear lamp designs are redesigned, too. Five trims (I -V) are available in the 2012 Toyota Prius, while the top-of-the-line is the 2012 Toyota Prius V Wagon. With a profile that’s somewhere between station wagon and minivan—but a low ride height like a car—the 2012 Toyota Prius Vee doesn’t make any attempt to be in style with crossovers—though it does have up to 80 percent more cargo space than other small SUVs. With the high roof, more rear legroom, and fold-flat rear seatbacks plus rear seats that slide fore and aft, the 2012 Toyota Prius V promises a lot more versatility, as well as much more backseat space. With a starting price of $22,120 for the economy-minded while the 2012 Toyota Prius V price has an MSRP of $28,790.

2012 Toyota Prius V interior view-image6

The 2012 Toyota Prius Trim Levels

Toyota Prius 2012 will be widely available in the numerically named Two, Three, Four and Five trim levels. All trims come with the same drivetrain: a 1.8 liter gas engine teamed up with a pair of electric motors and a battery pack. Combined output is a claimed 134 hp, enough to get the vehicle to 60 in about 10 seconds flat. There likely will be an unadvertised 2012 Toyota Prius trim, too. Last year, Toyota said the 2012 Toyota Prius One was primarily sold to fleet customers but could be bought at retail, though availability was extremely rare. Toyota announced a year ago that it would apply the Prius model name not only to the current five-door hatchback, but to other hybrid vehicles as well. The first of these will be a 2012 Toyota Prius minivan, variously called the Prius Alpha or Prius Verso, though we don’t yet know exactly what model name it will carry in the U.S.