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Toyota Unveils All-New 2026 RAV42025 Toyota Prius vs 2025 Toyota Corolla
Toyota offers lots of hybrid cars and trucks. But which sedan is the right choice for you, the quirky Prius or the stalwart Corolla?
Legendary Toyotas Go Head-to-Head
Toyota is the undisputed king of hybrids, and it’s not even a close race. But even seasoned automotive experts would have a tough time choosing between a 2025 Prius and its equivalent 2025 Corolla. Both seat five, both have fuel economy for days, and both are two of the most economical and reliable cars you can buy today.
So, what do you do if you can only take home one? Well, that’s what we’re here to find out, because it’s genuinely a difficult choice.
Specs
Look elsewhere if you’re looking for tempting power figures and lightning-quick acceleration. That said, the Prius and Corolla are far from the slowpokes they once were. Focusing specifically on the non-PHEV Prius to start, it leaves the factory sporting a two-liter four-cylinder Atkinson Cycle engine for peak efficiency. When combined with a 0.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and either one or two AC synchronous motors, depending on if you choose AWD of FWD, power jumps between 194 and 196 horsepower.The Pruis-PHEV adds a larger battery and comes with 220 horsepower. You’ll also get 44 miles of EPA estimated full-EV driving.
The Corolla Hybrid uses a similar hybrid drivetrain to great effect. It’s just a fair bit slower with just 138 horsepower on tap owing to the 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. It makes the 169 horses you find in the non-Hybrid Corolla look like a sports car.
The tradeoff for both the Prius and Corolla is less power for better fuel economy. The gas-only Corolla gets a combined 35 MPG, which is good compared to many new cars. The hybrid version can reach up to 50 MPG, which is even better. The Prius has a combined 57 MPG in its base LE trim with front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive models in higher trims get about 49 MPG combined. With its plug-in hybrid version, the Prius can achieve an impressive 127 MPGe.
Driving and Performance
Bouncing off our last point, it takes an AWD-equipped Prius seven seconds flat to sprint to 60 MPH, and 6.6 seconds for the PHEV. The Corolla counters with an 8.2-second sprint, and the Corolla Hybrid comes dead last with a roughly nine-second run.
Typical Corollas employ MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link setup in the rear, but trims like the SE and FX use a sport-tuned suspension for a more involved driving experience. Also of note, the electric motor-assisted rear wheels in the Corolla Hybrid for an as-needed AWD system should be a real treat giving a little extra bump in acceleration and handling.
The Prius is also more fun to drive than its name would lead one to believe, and AWD is also available to help it along. A generally far sportier driving experience with a better ride and tighter handling is routinely seen as the spot most improved by the Prius’ brand refresh. That said, the Corolla handles competently with a ride to match as well, and even better so with some of its sportier trim packages that tune and lower it for even better performance.
Are either of them sports sedans? Not even close, but it’s impressive to see just how far the Prius, in particular, has come in this regard. Kudos to the Corolla as well for the same reason, even affordable stuff can be fun to fling around corners nowadays.
Trims and Features
These are two Toyotas, but the Corolla and Prius really start to differentiate in the trim department. Starting with the Prius, you can reasonably separate its trims between the standard hybrids and the PHEVs, now re-named to Prius PHEV from the Prius Prime. The base LE trim costs just $28,350 and comes with cloth seats in gray or black, an eight-inch center infotainment system, and a small digital gauge and information readout. The screen size stays the same for the XLE trim at $31,795, but 19-inch wheels and parking sensors are added front and rear to assist the integrated backup camera.
The funky Nightshade Edition at $32,560 adds blacked-out interior and exterior trim pieces. Up next, the $35,365 Limited trim introduces a 12.3-inch center screen, an eight-speaker JBL stereo, and climate-controlled front seats. Moving to the plug-ins, the entry-level SE PHEV at $33,375 is a solid deal indeed. For even more refinement, the XSE PHEV adds plush SofTex vegan leather upholstery and a wireless mobile charging pad. Though paying $40,070 for a Prius might be a big ask, the range-topping XSE Premium PHEV adds ventilation to the front seats, available solar charging, and a power liftback.
The Corolla offers a $23,310 base MSRP via the entry LE trim. For the money, all but the FX trim, which has a 10.5-inch center screen, use a 12.3-inch screen across the range. Otherwise, the base LE nets cloth seats and 16-inch wheels, and that’s about it as far as sacrifices go. The $24,765 SE trim adds the above-mentioned sporty suspension, plus a sport mode button and 18-inch wheels. Both of these trims can be optioned with a hybrid drivetrain for an additional fee.
Like the Prius, the Corolla also has a Nightshade Edition, priced at $25,765, and comes as a hatchback instead of a sedan. One trim up, the FX at an estimated $27,000 flat takes inspiration from trim packages of old. Goodies like a lowered suspension, seven-inch digital gauge cluster, and trim-specific nav screen make the FX one of the most desirable in the whole fleet.
Stepping up to the $28,065 XSE packs the tech-heavy with the full suite of Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 features. Plus, there are body-matched wing mirrors and heated front seats. Topping the range, the XLE hybrid adds all the tech of the XSE, plus a fixed glass roof, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and the hybrid drivetrain.
Comfort and Interior
Comfort-wise, the Prius and Corolla are generally on par with each other. The Corolla’s 106.3-inch wheelbase is countered by two full extra inches in the Prius. That works out to 34.8 inches of rear legroom in the Prius and the exact same figure in the Corolla. Truthfully, the key difference here isn’t legroom, but rather rear headroom, which the Prius is a tad lacking in, thanks to the aerodynamic roofline.
Cargo is one area in which the Prius excels, with its egg shape offering up to 23.8 cubic feet with the rear seats stowed. When the rear seats are extended, you only lose three cubic feet. The hatchback offering for the Corolla makes the comparison a bit more varied, and it delivers 17.8 cubic feet of storage with the seats in place and 23 when they’re folded. Meanwhile, the Corolla Sedan eeks out 13.1 cubic feet of storage. Upholstery-wise, both use a mix of cloth and SynTex vegan leather throughout the range.
The Verdict
This is a really tough one. On the one hand, the Prius is far from the laughing stock it once was. In fact, it’s one of the most dramatic brand refreshes in automotive history, and it’s loaded with tech and efficiency to boot. But the Corolla is, well, a Corolla. It’s pretty much perfect at its prime objective, basic A-to-B transportation. It does so quietly, without complaint, and can blend into an empty field if that’s your desire.
That’s not something you can say about the Prius, which stands out in every traffic jam nowadays. At least it’s not for negative reasons anymore, right? Most would say it just looks sharp. This time around, the biggest difference between the Corolla and Prius isn’t leg room or fuel efficiency. It’s the vibe it exudes while you drive it.
If you’re looking for a stylish vehicle that maintains the distinctive Prius charm, you’ll appreciate the latest version. However, if your priority is simply commuting to your job, the Corolla offers similar benefits. Regardless of your choice, both the Corolla and Prius represent a big win Toyota.
