Best Used Hybrid Under $15,000 With Excellent Fuel Economy

There are tons of reasons to want a hybrid vehicle, but the most important is that they are excellent cost savers. New models can be pretty expensive, though, meaning that buyers on a budget will be well served by the used market. If you’re in the market for an efficient hybrid under $15,000 it is the only place to look.

While there isn’t a huge number of options for efficient hybrids on a tight budget, with most of them being over ten years old, there is a nameplate that offers value and economy in boatloads. And, this hatchback spinoff of one of the most popular hybrids ever made and it has a lot to offer.

Scouring the used market and using the most reliable data on fuel efficiency, we uncovered that the 8-year-old Toyota hybrid car is also the most efficient hybrid that you can buy for under $15,000. This little hatchback may not be the most exciting option out there, but it is guaranteed to save you plenty of money on gas.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including the Edmunds, the EPA, J.D. Power, and Repairpal.

The 2016 Toyota Prius Can Be Had For Under $15,000

If you’re in the market for a hybrid but are on a fairly tight budget, the used market is your best friend. While there aren’t a ton of options if you’re looking for a cheap and cheerful hybrid, there is one nameplate that has been around for ages. The Toyota Prius might seem like too obvious a choice, but that is because it is such a fantastic little car.

The Average Used Price Is A Little Under $13,000

The Prius has been around for generations, first hitting U.S. roads back in 2003. It has been dunked on for as long as it has been around for being a largely unexciting vehicle. However, excitement has never been the goal of the Prius, it was always efficiency and affordability. In 2011 the Prius C debuted. This little hatchback is the model which gives us the best fuel economy for under $15,000.

While the plug-in hybrid version of the Prius matches the fuel economy of the Prius C, the smaller model is the more affordable option. You’d have to get a 2015 Prius Plug-In to stay under $15,000, with their average used price sitting at $14,691. However, the 2016 Prius C currently lists for an average price of $12,852. Newer models are slightly more expensive than our budget due to to the fact that the C received a facelift for the 2017 model year.

Toyota’s Small Prius C Manages 50 Miles Per Gallon

For its time, there were very few hybrids out there that delivered better efficiency than the Prius C. Any that did were quite a bit more expensive. The ideology behind the Prius C was to deliver a car with Yaris-like proportions with a hybrid powertrain. This combination proved to be pretty potent when it came to saving money on fuel, with the C being the most efficient non-plug-in hybrid on release.

Performance Specifications

Toyota’s plan when developing the Prius C was to keep things simple and cheap. This meant utilizing a pretty small four-cylinder engine. On its own, the four-banger produces a whopping 76 horsepower. The engine is matted to a continuously variable transmission, and front-wheel drive is your only choice. It is assisted by a single electric motor that is fed by a nickel-metal hydride battery. This battery doesn’t have the longevity that lithium-ion ones tend to have.

Compared to the regular liftback version of the Prius, the C is much smaller, with a shorter wheelbase and smaller overall height, which contributes to why it was able to be so efficient. It isn’t particularly quick, with some of the quickest zero to 60 times sitting just above 11 seconds. It also isn’t the most enjoyable car to drive, with lax handling and very little steering feedback.

Fuel Economy

Toyota’s little Prius C hatchback was designed for city driving, with very little power and a light curb weight that makes strong winds a threat. However, should you drive long distances, the C does achieve some pretty good highway fuel economy figures. Even for such a small car, it is impressive that the Prius C manages 50 miles per gallon combined. Do note that as cars get older their efficiency tends to fall off, so your used model may be a little less economical than these numbers suggest. The Prius C was considered to be the most efficient hybrid at the time of its release, not counting plug-in models. This is a reputation the nameplate carries on today.

Attached to the little hatchback is a tiny 9.5-gallon fuel tank. You may think this would get annoying to have to constantly refill, but with fuel economy figures like the above, this isn’t an issue. The EPA estimates the total average range of a 2016 Prius C to be around 475 miles. This is more than some modern vehicles with gas tanks three times the size.

If You’re Looking For Comfort, The Prius C Might Not Be The Best Option

With Toyota aiming to keep costs low and efficiency high on the Prius C, things like performance and comfort definitely fall by the wayside. While no one is expecting such a small hatchback to be luxurious, the C has some pretty glaring issues that compromise comfort. Whether or not these compromises are worth the money saved on this used hybrid is up to you.

Comfort And Cargo

The interior of the Prius C is a good mix of classic Prius elements and completely new design features. Gauges are mounted high and in the center of the dashboard, which is actually pretty convenient in a car this small as it’s easier to read. While no one is expecting high-quality materials in a cheap subcompact, the overall quality in the Prius C feels lower than competitors like the Ford Fiesta and Hyundai Accent.

Weirdly, those in the backseat of the Prius C are likely to be more comfortable than those in the front, particularly the driver. The strange driving position compromises legroom and comfort quite a bit. The cloth seats used throughout aren’t anything to write home about. Make sure to stay away from the hideous SofTex vinyl seats in the top trim model, though.

Infotainment And Technology

While other things in the C’s cabin feel low-rent, the infotainment system is surprisingly modern. The sound system is pretty good and will be of high enough quality to satisfy most people and there is a suite of smartphone connectivity options. Vehicle controls are laid out nicely and everything is pretty intuitive, with plenty of labeled physical knobs and buttons.

Toyota has also imbued the Prius with its Safety Sense C package. You’ll have to opt for one of the top tier trims to get this, though. This package includes features like lane departure alert, automatic high beams and a frontal pre-collision system. If the driver doesn’t react to frontal collision warnings, the system will also automatically apply the brakes.

The Prius C Is A Fantastically Reliable Used Option

When you’re looking to pick up a used car that is nearly 10 years old, reliability is a pretty important factor. This is especially true of hybrid vehicles, with older tech not standing the test of time quite as well. The Prius C lives up to Toyota’s reputation for reliability, with a strong reputation that helps it beat most of its direct rivals.

Reliability And Maintenance

I have loved my Prius C. I have never had one complaint. Zero problems. Zero headaches. Comfortable, convenient, reliable. Every time. Not only that, but you cannot BEAT the fuel costs!

While there is no rating for the 2016 model, J.D. Power awards the 2016 Prius C an 85 out of 100 for quality and reliability. This is in line with the views of owners, with very few having experienced any issues over long periods of ownership. The C is also super affordable to maintain for its age, with RepairPal estimating the average annual cost of maintenance to be around $383.