Would you go for a 2020 Prius or save cash and get a 2014 one…?

Toyota Passenger and Sports Car Forums Prius
1

Hi everyone, I could use some help figuring out which used Prius to buy…

I’m looking at two options right now. One is a 2020 model with 105,000 miles for $13,000. The other is a 2014 with 117,000 miles going for $7,000. Both seem well taken care of with clean records. I’m trying to decide if paying six thousand more for the newer one is really worth it.

I mostly need a car that’s reliable, good for daily use and the occasional road trip. I don’t want to spend a bunch of money later fixing big problems. From what I’ve heard, Priuses are usually very reliable, so I’m wondering if the 2014 would still be a smart buy.

Would love to hear your thoughts… thank you in advance.

2

The 2014 is a Gen 3 model and those are known to have head gasket problems. If it were me, I’d go with the Gen 4 instead, even if it costs more.

3

That price on the 2020 seems too low… is the title clean?

4

mary said:
That price on the 2020 seems too low… is the title clean?

Yeah, I thought it was low too. But the title is clean and it hasn’t had any accidents or major issues — I checked the Carfax. The seller works in IT and gets these cars from banks when someone stops paying their loan. He usually sells them to students. It seems legit, but part of me is still unsure.

5

@viviana
It’s got pretty high mileage for a 2020 car though. Not sure if that makes it less of a good deal or not.

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viviana said:
@viviana
It’s got pretty high mileage for a 2020 car though. Not sure if that makes it less of a good deal or not.

Mine already has close to 80K. It adds up quick depending on the owner’s habits.

7

A 2020 for that price makes me nervous… I’d double check everything carefully.

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Colby said:
A 2020 for that price makes me nervous… I’d double check everything carefully.

It does have a clean Carfax and the seller was open to having my mechanic inspect it. But yeah, 105K miles is a lot for a five-year-old car.

What do you think about the value overall? Is it worth spending twice as much for the newer one, or should I stick with the older car since the mileage isn’t that different?

9

@viviana
Depends on what matters most to you.

Do you care about ride comfort? The newer model has better suspension.

Do you like a better screen and sound system? Gen 4 has that.

Want better safety features like lane assist or better crash protection? That’s in Gen 4 too.

But if that $6K really makes a difference to your wallet, that matters too.

And are you planning to drive it till it quits or sell it at some point?

10

@Quin
For me, the adaptive cruise control alone is worth the extra money. I use it all the time.

11

If you’re looking for advice, try to include things like:

  • Your budget range
  • How much driving you do each day or week
  • How long you plan to keep the car
  • If you’ve already done a pre-purchase check — that’s really smart

You should also look up common Prius problems and battery health tests (search for ‘Dr. Prius’ app). That might help you avoid surprises later.

Good luck.

12

I’d make sure a mechanic checks out that 2020 before you buy. That price still feels off compared to what I’ve seen.

13

Do you have something to check the hybrid battery? Like an OBD scanner and the Dr. Prius app?

14

Did you take both cars for a test drive yet?

15

If you’re thinking long-term, remember that a Gen 2 Prius might need a head gasket down the road — could be $2K. Add another $2K for a battery eventually. So that’s something to keep in mind with the cheaper car.

Still, the newer one might just last you longer before needing big repairs.

16

Gen 4 feels like a better choice than Gen 3 to me.