Compare 2018 Prius Two vs. 2018 Ioniq Hybrid

As one of the most iconic hybrid cars in America, the Toyota Prius is well known for its build quality, signature look, and, most importantly, its fuel economy. Let's see how this Prius Two vs. Ioniq SEL comparison highlights the features of each vehicle.

First released in Japan in 1997, the Toyota Prius is one of the most well-known and successful hybrid cars in the world today. What’s more, it continues to bring hybrid accessibility to forward-thinking drivers.

Since the release of the Toyota Prius, many companies have released similarly-priced hybrid cars. As an example, Hyundai has released the Ioniq -- a hybrid car that, on paper, is similar in price and performance to the Toyota Prius.

So, which car provides better fuel economy? Do they both have adaptive cruise control? What about performance? What about their reputation for reliability?

One recurring theme you will see: the Prius has almost two decades of hybrid drivetrain lineage, and Toyota has an unbeatable reputation for reliability and easy maintenance. These aren’t necessarily “features” of the Prius, but they give it a leg up on almost every competitor.

Nevertheless, we still need to examine key features of these two cars. In this Ioniq vs. Prius hybrid comparison, we’ll take a look at some of the various features the 2018 Toyota Prius Two and the 2018 Hyundai Ioniq SEL have to offer.

The 2018 Toyota Prius Two comes standard with ToyotaCare¹¹. The ToyotaCare plan includes 24-hour roadside assistance³⁸ for three years with no extra cost to the driver and a no-cost maintenance plan with the purchase or lease of every new Toyota for two years or 25,000 miles. Hyundai only offers pre-paid scheduled maintenance plans that will cost extra.

The 2018 Prius Two has a significant advantage over the 2018 Ioniq SEL with the ToyotaCare no-cost maintenance plan.

Modern hybrids are known for their accessible price and great value -- especially when you factor in fuel costs. When we compare Prius price and warranty to the Ioniq, the story is no different. Both vehicles offer competitive prices.

The base model 2018 Prius Two has a starting MSRP of $24,685¹².

The base model 2018 Ioniq Hybrid SEL has a starting MSRP of $24,000.

Both vehicles offer many up-to-date tech features like an integrated backup camera³⁷ and an eco-driving monitor. But, for the starting MSRP, only the 2018 Toyota Prius Two offers Toyota Safety Sense™ P (TSS-P)²⁴.

Only two of the features that come with Toyota Safety Sense™ P (TSS-P)²⁴ are available for upgrade on the 2018 Hyundai Ioniq SEL. Hyundai calls these two features Smart Cruise Control and a Lane Keep Assist System, as a part of the Tech Package for SEL.

This package costs an extra $1,000, meaning that a 2018 Hyundai Ioniq SEL with just two of the four TSS-P comparable features has a starting MSRP of $25,000 -- which is higher than the starting MSRP of the 2018 Toyota Prius Two¹².

In the Prius vs. Ioniq safety comparison, you will see that the 2018 Toyota Prius Two also has an integrated backup camera³⁷. The Prius has a 5-Star NHTSA Overall Safety Rating²⁶ and Hill Start Assist Control (HAC)³⁵. The 2018 Hyundai Ioniq SEL does not have a hill start assist feature, and, as of summer 2018, the 2018 Ioniq’s NHTSA safety ratings were not available to compare.

What’s more, the Toyota Prius provides the Toyota Safety Sense™ P (TSS-P)²⁴ active safety package. As standard, the Toyota Prius safety features include a Pre-collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD)²³²², Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA)²⁰, Automatic High Beams (AHB)¹⁸, and Full-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC)³⁹.

With up-to-date tech and a top safety rating, the Prius Two boasts accessible technology with intelligent design.

While two of the TSS-P features are available on the Ioniq SEL for a $1,000 upgrade, the other two of the Prius’ standard active safety features are not offered for the 2018 Ioniq SEL. The 2018 Ioniq SEL does offer a few safety features that are not available on the 2018 Prius Two, including Blind Spot Detection (BSD) with Rear Cross-traffic Alert.

With a high safety rating and a large number of active safety features, the 2018 Prius Two offers a level of safety and security that is hard to beat.

Hybrids are the natural choice for those looking to save at the pump and lower their environmental impact.

So, when it comes to MPG, how do the Prius and Ioniq compare?

The 2018 Prius Two 1.8L 4-cylinder has an EPA-estimated 54 MPG city and 50 MPG highway for an overall EPA-estimated combined fuel economy of 52³⁶.

The 2018 Ioniq Hybrid SEL 1.6L I4 has an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 55 MPG city and 54 MPG highway for an overall EPA-estimated combined fuel economy of 55.

Overall, these two hybrids perform similarly with a slight MPG advantage going to the Ioniq. Yet, only one of these hybrids has over 17 years of proven hybrid drivetrain heritage, and that’s the Prius.

The 2018 Toyota Prius Two tracks your fuel usage thanks to its full-color, Multi-Information Display (MID) eco drive monitor. This advanced system makes tracking your fuel usage easier. The 2018 Hyundai Ioniq SEL also includes a similar eco drive monitor system behind the steering column.

Along with a competitive fuel economy to the Hyundai Ioniq, the 2018 Toyota Prius Two has a reliable hybrid drivetrain and intuitive fuel tracking.

Hybrid cars like the Prius Two and Ioniq SEL are designed with fuel efficiency in mind over sheer power.

So what are the key differences in 2018 Prius Two vs. Ioniq acceleration, performance, and engine specs?

For sheer horsepower, a Prius vs. Ioniq comparison shows the Toyota Prius Two offers an estimated 121 net horsepower, and the Hyundai Ioniq SEL offers an estimated 139 combined system horsepower.

To compare Hyundai Ioniq and Toyota Prius engine performance is difficult because their respective hybrid batteries vary in power and performance in different situations and charge levels.

In the end, the Ioniq vs. Prius comparison in performance gives a slight net horsepower advantage to the Ioniq.

Yet, the Prius does benefit from nearly two decades of hybrid drivetrain history and experience that the Ioniq does not have.

In our head to head overview, 2018 Prius Two vs Ioniq SEL comparisons reveal that the Toyota Prius Two brings the reality of a practical, accessible hybrid to the global market.

Arguably the first widely successful hybrid vehicle, the original Prius helped set the standard for the massive demand for hybrids that exist today.

Prius owners can take advantage of this wealth of experience.

Standard features such as the Toyota Safety Sense™ P (TSS-P)²⁴ suite of advanced active safety features and ToyotaCare¹¹ make the Toyota Prius an excellent purchase that offers you more value for your investment. Also, the 2018 Prius has a 5-Star NHTSA Overall Safety Rating²⁶. As of summer 2018, the 2018 Ioniq’s NHTSA safety ratings were not available to compare.

The 2018 Hyundai Ioniq’s admirable fuel economy do make it a contender against the 2018 Toyota Prius Two.