Small. Powerful. Safe. These are the three words used to describe the 2021 Toyota Prius. Since it was first introduced, the Prius has proven itself a worthwhile car with its impressive gas mileage and reliability.

The Toyota Prius’ safety ratings

The 2021 Toyota Prius has higher safety ratings compared to most of its competitors and is considered one of the best hybrid cars. It has some of the highest safety ratings by far. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Prius a ‘Good’ rating in five crash tests, the highest achievable rating.

It also got a second-highest rating of Acceptable in its passenger-side small overlap front test and an Acceptable rating for its headlights’ ability to illuminate the road. The IIHS gave the Prius a Superior rating for its standard front crash prevention systems for the collision avoidance features.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Prius five stars in its comprehensive crash tests, with four stars for the calculated rollover measurement and four stars for the frontal impact. U.S. News ranks the Prius at No. 9 in Hybrid and Electric Cars citing its gas mileage and spacious cabin as some of its strong points. The only drawback about the car is its underpowered engine. 

How safe is the 2021 Prius?

The Toyota Prius boasts one of the largest cargo space capacities in the hybrid and electric car class at 27.4 cubic feet behind the rear seat. The Prius sits five people and has comfortable and supportive seats with ample leg and headroom spaces. For child car seats, the car has two complete sets of LATCH connectors that got a Good+ rating from the IIHS for its LATCH system because of its ease and versatility to use.

Its interior cabin is made of quality materials and has an attractive design with some plastic features throughout the interior. For entertainment, it has a touchscreen and smartphone integration technology like Android Auto. It also has a 10-speaker audio system, an HD radio, and a satellite radio.

This tiny hybrid car features an electric motor and a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that make 121 hp combined. The transition from gas to the electric engine is seamless, and you can use the car for most driving situations.

The LE and XLE trims have an estimated 51/47 mpg in both the city and the highway, and the L Eco trim gets 58 mpg in the city and 53 mpg on the highway, outstanding figures for most hybrid and electric cars. The trims with front-wheel drive have an estimated 54 mpg and 50 mpg in the city and the highway, respectively.

It comes with three driving modes: Eco, EV, and Power, and all three make for a composed ride great for those who want a steady and stable drive. The Eco mode is recommended by reviewers who say it is both quiet and efficient.

The 2021 Toyota Prius safety features

The 2021 Toyota Prius added some advanced safety features that include a head-up display, front and back parking sensors, active park assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Other advanced safety features include pedestrian and bicyclist detection, and road-sign recognition. With cruise control and lane departure assist, Prius 2021 is packed with prime safety features. 

Not forgetting the anti-lock brakes in this model automatically sense when a tire stops rotating. It then modulates brake pressure to let it rotate, increasing its ability to turn while braking. To foster stability, Prius has a stability control system that reduces engine power or applies select brakes when the car exceeds its handling limit, preventing the driver from losing control.

Besides that, the airbag system is outstanding. This car contains front, side, overhead, and knee airbags that offer complete driver protection during a collision.

The 2021 Toyota Prius continues to prove itself a car worth noticing, especially when it comes to safety. With overall high scores from both the IIHS and the NHTSA during crash tests, this small car is one of the safest around.

Its safety features, such as pedestrian and bicyclist detection, headlights, and automatic braking, together with the multiple airbags, protect both the driver and pedestrians in case of a crash. It also has good mileage and a decent engine, the perfect small car for both city and highway driving.