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2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in consumer reviews

$32,000 starting MSRP
side view of 2012 Prius Plug-in Toyota
(31 reviews)
93% of drivers recommend this car
Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.3
  • Interior 4.2
  • Performance 4.4
  • Value 4.5
  • Exterior 4.4
  • Reliability 4.9
Explore the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in
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Best car for Rideshare/Gig Work!

This is my 3rd Prius. For a couple years, we owned 2 Priuses (Prii?) at one time: a Green 2007 Base model with cloth seats and then added a Red 2009 Touring model with leather seats. I started driving for Uber/Lyft in the '09 Prius in Jan of 2015. The Chicago Uber/Lyft mileage rates were pretty low, so having a car that averaged 50 mpg was a plus. Then, after selling the '07, we traded in the '09 for the 2012 PPI. Bought it in Nov of 2018 at a Chicago Warehouse Dealer. It was in perfect shape and had tinted windows. Then in 2022 we moved from Chicago to Florida and bought a house with Solar Panels. I added Instacart to my Gig work and most of the time, my deliveries are on electric only miles. Even doing Gig work....I average only about $25 a week in Gas costs. In all 3 Prii....I've never needed any major repairs. I change the oil every 5k miles and have never needed new brakes yet on any of them since I do my best to use the coasting/regeneration method of braking.....which I believe extends the life of the brakes. Only regret is: the car has HEATED seats.....which was great in Chicago, but now here in Florida....wish they were Air Conditioned seats instead! I already have my eyes set on the new 2023 Prius Plug in (Prime?)....but will wait for them to come on the used car market. My current 2012 PPI will be too old for rideshare in 2027....so I have a good 3 more years to do research.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 4.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Transporting family
  • Does recommend this car
3 people out of 3 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Best car I have ever owned

You know - every time I read a review about a PHEV there seems to be a comment something like "there was one car that only got 12 miles of range - why bother" - you have read it or heard it no doubt. They are referring to the Prius Plug-in. Well, I have owned my 2012 PHEV for almost 10 years - I purchased it in August 2012. I have 81,000 miles on it. The only thing I have done - besides normal maintenance - is replaced one set of tires and one 12V battery. The initial battery lasted almost 9 years. My lifetime MPG - measured at the pump - is 92MPG. I have measured every - single - fill-up. The car has only developed one rattle - it was on the "flying bridge" and I fixed it myself. NO OTHER RATTLES. The car has never left me stranded on the road. Every switch, button and knob works. The total maintenance expense (Toyota wants you to get it serviced every 5K - so I do) has been $3,098. If you divide that by 9.5 years it averages out to $326 a year. The body is pristine but it is kept in a garage. A normal prius hybrid has a battery of about 1 kWh. My PHEV has a 4.4 kWh battery. That humble additional 3.4 kWh has nearly doubled my MPG. It has been the best car I have ever owned and I am 69 years old.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 4.0
  • Performance 3.0
  • Value 4.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
20 people out of 20 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Most reliable car I've ever owned.

Gets 50 mpg on highway, and have hit 62 mpg when driving 35mph. If charged it gets 110 mpge. The fuel economy, when combined with the plugin averages 75-99 mpge. This car can work in pure hybrid mode also if you do not want to charge the battery every night. The overall maintenance is extremely low cost. The thing I love the most about this car is it's super reliable. It never has problems. I rarely have to fill it up with gas and when I do it doesn't cost very much. I also love the hatchback. This car is great for road trips. It's amazing how much you can fit in the back. It's like having it an SUV space wise.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 3.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Transporting family
  • Does recommend this car
15 people out of 15 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Lowest cost and most reliable vehicle ever!

This car provided for me the ideal size, large interior, plenty of headroom, comfortable and incredibly efficient. Tought me to be a better driver, and was the drove for pennies on the mile. Often got well over 100+ MPG with plug-in electric/hybrid combo. Oil changed on schedule was only required mx. These cars last forever if you take care of them.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 4.0
  • Performance 4.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
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This is a good car

This car is a great short term car you should buy one if you only want to drive 100,000 miles on it has A plug in hybrid system

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 3.0
  • Value 4.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does not recommend this car
3 people out of 8 found this review helpful. Did you?
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The Prius plug-in model is absolutely the best veh

In my personal opinion the Toyota Prius plug-in is the best value and bang for your buck. At 50 to 70 miles per gallon how can you beat it! I would highly recommend this vehicle to all. That only does it come equipped with all the latest safety features. It also has very low maintenance costs.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Having fun
  • Does recommend this car
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Amazing vehicle, excellent milage.

Gets 50 mpg on highway, and have hit 62 mpg when driving in by lanes at 35mph. If charged it gets 110 mpge. The car can work in pure hybrid mode also if you do not want to charge. Having larger battery, the batter deterioration is much less noticeable.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Prius-Plugin Sam H.

I have enjoyed the last 100,000 miles with only a dead battery and tire replacement needed. The overall maintenance is extremely low and the fuel economy is when combined with the plugin averages 75-99 mpge.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 3.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
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Best bang for my buck!

Plug in , saves me money. It is so quiet, took some time to get used to it. I would recommend this car to anyone.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 3.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 4.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
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My fourth Prius, sixth hybrid. Good for ALL of us!

I?ve owned so many cars! I?ve recently found my current Prius six years old with 38 k miles! A Plug In model with the ADVANCED option! Incredible with all the extras! Have driven my Prius?s across country, and every day local drives. The plug in is a bit sluggish if you are driving in the Eco mode. Just got 64 or 68 mpg without using the plug in features as of yet! Rated 95 mpg! These cars are so comfortable and never break! My 2005 Prius at 100 k miles only needed oil changes and tires! The braking system so advanced it never needed a thing ! It simply is the most intelligent choice of vehicles in this day and age. When I look at German cars, American cars they all seem like antiques!! Where I live there are tons of Tesla?s too, The Prius Plug in gives you security of never running out of fuel in a very great distance. Tesla you had better be aware of your next charging place! The NEW Toyota Prius Prime if you want new, is the smartest buy! A plug in with all the Tesla bells and whistles! I?m so comfortable in many ways being back in a Prius! Try one, you?ll fall in love with the efficiency, and the earth will smile!

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 4.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
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