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$450 is all that separates a new Toyota Prius hatchback from a new Toyota Camry, and it begs the question: Which one is the better hybrid? Both recently entered new generations, so their designs and technologies are thoroughly up to date.
The Camry has transitioned to an all-hybrid lineup, while the Prius is vastly improved over the awkward outgoing model, so the two are more likely to be cross-shopped. We’re going to ignore subjective categories like styling and focus on the tangible benefits each car offers, and we’re also leaving the more expensive Prius plug-in hybrid out of this comparison.
Here's a look at the 2026 Toyota Camry vs. the 2026 Toyota Prius.
Related: Toyota Faces Supply Bottlenecks Amid a Hybrid Buyer Boom
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The current Camry lineup starts at $29,000 for the LE and goes up to $35,200 for the XSE; this range-topping trim gets standard all-wheel drive. For the Prius, you’re looking at a starting point of $28,550 for the LE, extending all the way to $36,965 for the Limited trim with AWD. That’s about as close as it gets in terms of pricing.
The Camry slots into the midsize sedan segment, while the Prius is a compact hatchback. This suggests the Camry has more interior space and the Prius is more nimble.
Related: I Drove the 2025 Toyota Camry XLE. Here's My Brutally Honest Review
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In the Camry, you get a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid setup. FWD variants make 225 horsepower, while AWD models get bumped up to 232 hp. The Prius counters with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder hybrid making 194 hp (FWD) or 196 hp (AWD).
Although the Camry has the advantage here, it’s easily the heavier car, weighing 3,450 lbs in base form, while the base Prius weighs 3,097 lbs, so performance is quite similar. Toyota claims a 7.2-second 0-60 mph time for the FWD Prius, but it has made no claims for the Camry. In independent testing, the FWD Prius took 7.7 seconds to reach 60, barely quicker than the 7.8 of the FWD Camry, so there’s almost nothing between them. However, you will feel the Camry AWD’s extra power over the Prius.
Toyota’s latest hybrids handle the transition from electric to gas power smoothly, and both cars work well with their CVT transmissions. Where you will notice the difference is in the Camry’s smoother ride and superior sound insulation. It’s a more luxurious experience overall, but the Prius is good by hatchback standards.
Related: Toyota Prius Generations Overview: From Bland To Grand
Both of these cars have an utter disdain for gasoline—they’re among the most efficient new cars on the market right now.
In its most efficient form, the Camry gets 53/50/51 mpg city/highway/combined with FWD, whereas the most efficient Camry AWD returns 51/49/50 mpg. The least efficient Camry still manages 44/43/44 mpg, and that’s for the sportier XSE with AWD. Annual fuel costs for the Camry are as low as $900, based on 15,000 miles being covered per year and the current cost of gas. It also has an EV-crushing range of up to 663 miles.
As efficient as the Camry is, the lighter Prius is even better. With FWD, it gets 57/56/57 mpg, a 644-mile range, and annual fuel costs of just $800. AWD models manage 53/54/54 mpg, and the least efficient AWD trims (the XLE and Limited) get 49/50/49 mpg.
The Prius wins this category, but both cars deliver outstanding efficiency.
Starting at the bottom of the range, here are a few standard features common to both cars:
Six-way manually adjustable front seats
Seven-inch driver’s digital display
Six-speaker sound system
Eight-inch touchscreen interface
Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
Full-speed radar adaptive cruise control
There are a few differences, though. The Camry gets standard dual-zone climate control, while the Prius has a single-zone system. There’s an extra USB port in the Prius, and it also gets larger standard alloys (17 inches to 16 on the base Camry). Overall, though, the two cars are almost identically specified at the base level, but you will notice better materials and plastics in the Camry.
Both cars are available with SofTex upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen, and a premium JBL sound system. Pricier Camry trims offer more, though, like a larger 12.3-inch gauge cluster, a 10-inch head-up display, and genuine leather upholstery. The Prius also has a top-mounted gauge cluster that isn’t as easy to see as the Camry’s setup.
Being a larger car, the Camry wins on passenger space; it has more front headroom than the Prius, except when the Camry is equipped with a moonroof or glass roof, where it has marginally less front headroom.
Rear-seat legroom is 38 inches in the Camry, easily trouncing the 34.8 inches in the Prius, and rear headroom is better in the Camry, too. Seating three people at the back will be much easier in the Camry, which has 54.6 inches of rear hiproom, almost three inches more than in the narrower Prius.
Being a hatchback has its benefits, though. The Prius has up to 23.8 cubic feet of space behind the back seat, a lot more than the 15.1 cubic feet in the Camry. Placing taller items in the Prius’ trunk will be easier.
View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article
Despite the quantum leap taken by the Toyota Prius for this generation, it’s still fundamentally a budget-oriented car. This can be felt and seen in certain aspects like the less secure ride, inferior insulation, and tighter cabin. Its main advantage is its superb economy, and many may prefer the dashing looks of the new Prius.
The Camry is simply a more substantial car, though, and it’s remarkable what it offers for the money. It’s more comfortable for passengers, nicer to drive, has more available features, and delivers more power without a huge drop in efficiency.
If you have between $28,000 and $36,000 to spend on a Toyota hybrid, get the Camry.
Related: 2026 Toyota Camry Trim Matchup: Base LE Vs. Flagship XSE
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Sep 12, 2025, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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