Toyota Corolla vs Toyota Prius: fuel economy and fuel cost

In model year 2026 the Toyota Prius is the cheaper of the two to fuel: about $1,150 a year for its lowest-cost configuration (Prius, 57 MPG combined), against $1,310 for the Toyota Corolla (Corolla Hybrid, 50 MPG combined). That is $160 a year, or $800 over five years.

One of the two is offered only with a hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrain in this model year; the other has gasoline configurations. Costs assume 15,000 miles a year and the same fuel and electricity prices for both vehicles, using the EPA combined rating (55% city, 45% highway). Each figure is rounded to $10 and every difference is calculated from the rounded values.

The EPA is still publishing model year 2027 ratings, so this page compares model year 2026, the latest complete year.

Illustration: Small cars

Hybrid
Small cars

Toyota Corolla

Lowest fuel cost configuration

Corolla Hybrid

Combined

City

Highway

Annual fuel cost

$1,310

$8.73 per 100 miles

15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices

12 configurations in MY2026

Illustration: Midsize cars

Hybrid
Midsize cars

Toyota Prius

Lowest fuel cost configuration

Prius

Combined

City

Highway

Annual fuel cost

$1,150

$7.67 per 100 miles

15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices

4 configurations in MY2026

What the fuel costs

Annual fuel cost of the lowest-cost configuration

Toyota Corolla$1,310 a year · $8.73 per 100 mi
Toyota Prius$1,150 a year · $7.67 per 100 mi

Difference per year

$160

Toyota Prius costs less to fuel

Over 5 years

$800

$160 a year × 5, 15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices

Head to head, MY2026

Toyota Corolla and Toyota Prius compared on their lowest fuel cost configuration
Measure	Toyota Corolla	Toyota Prius
Lowest-cost configuration	Corolla Hybrid	Prius
Powertrain	Hybrid	Hybrid
Combined rating	50 MPG	57 MPG (better)
City rating	53 MPG	57 MPG (better)
Highway rating	46 MPG	56 MPG (better)
Annual fuel cost	$1,310/yr	$1,150/yr (better)
Cost per 100 miles	$8.73	$7.67 (better)
Annual cost range, all configurations	$1,310–$3,600	$1,150–$1,330
Configurations in MY2026	12	4
EPA class	Small cars	Midsize cars

Best configuration by powertrain

Lowest-cost configuration of each powertrain, Toyota Corolla and Toyota Prius
Powertrain	Toyota Corolla	Toyota Prius
Gas	35 MPG · $1,870/yr Corolla (1-mode TM)	Not offered in MY2026
Hybrid	50 MPG · $1,310/yr Corolla Hybrid	57 MPG · $1,150/yr Prius

Each cell shows the combined rating and the annual fuel cost of the lowest-cost configuration with that powertrain.

Where each one comes out ahead

Generated from the numbers above, comparing the lowest fuel cost configurations. No subjective judgements.

Toyota Corolla

Offers gas configurations in MY2026; the Toyota Prius does not

Toyota Prius

Lower annual fuel cost: $1,150 vs $1,310
Higher combined rating: 57 MPG vs 50 MPG
Higher city rating: 57 MPG vs 53 MPG
Higher highway rating: 56 MPG vs 46 MPG

Year by year

Combined rating and annual fuel cost by model year, Toyota Corolla and Toyota Prius
Model year	Toyota Corolla		Toyota Prius
Model year	Combined	Per year	Combined	Per year
2026	22–50 MPG	$1,310–$3,600	49–57 MPG	$1,150–$1,330
2025	22–50 MPG	$1,310–$3,600	48–57 MPG	$870–$1,330
2024	24–50 MPG	$1,310–$3,360	49–57 MPG	$1,150–$1,330
2023	24–50 MPG	$1,310–$3,360	49–57 MPG	$1,150–$1,330
2022	31–52 MPG	$1,260–$2,090	49–56 MPG	$1,170–$1,330
2021	31–52 MPG	$1,260–$2,110	49–56 MPG	$1,170–$1,330
2020	31–52 MPG	$1,260–$2,080	46–56 MPG	$1,170–$1,410
2019	30–36 MPG	$1,830–$2,150	50–56 MPG	$1,170–$1,310
2018	30–34 MPG	$1,920–$2,200	52–56 MPG	$1,170–$1,250
2017	30–34 MPG	$1,920–$2,200	52–56 MPG	$1,170–$1,260
2016	30–34 MPG	$1,930–$2,150	52–56 MPG	$1,170–$1,250
2015	30–34 MPG	$1,930–$2,150	48–50 MPG	$1,200–$1,370
2014	30–34 MPG	$1,930–$2,150	48–50 MPG	$1,200–$1,370
2013	29 MPG	$2,220–$2,290	48–50 MPG	$1,200–$1,370
2012	29 MPG	$2,220–$2,270	48–50 MPG	$1,200–$1,370
2011	24–30 MPG	$2,170–$2,670	48 MPG	$1,370
2010	25–30 MPG	$2,180–$2,610	50 MPG	$1,310
2009	25–30 MPG	$2,180–$2,610	46 MPG	$1,420
2008	29–31 MPG	$2,110–$2,250	46 MPG	$1,420
2007	29–31 MPG	$2,110–$2,250	46 MPG	$1,420
2006	25–31 MPG	$2,110–$3,210	46 MPG	$1,420
2005	25–31 MPG	$2,110–$3,210	46 MPG	$1,420
2004	28–31 MPG	$2,110–$2,330	46 MPG	$1,420
2003	28–31 MPG	$2,110–$2,330	41 MPG	$1,590
2002	27–31 MPG	$2,110–$2,420	41 MPG	$1,590
2001	27–31 MPG	$2,110–$2,420	41 MPG	$1,590

Earlier model years are costed with today's fuel prices, so the table shows how each model's efficiency changed, not what fuel cost at the time. Ranges cover every configuration of that model year.

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper to fuel, the Toyota Corolla or the Toyota Prius?

The Toyota Prius is cheaper: about $1,150 a year against $1,310 for the Toyota Corolla, a difference of $160 a year. That compares the lowest-cost configuration of each in model year 2026 at 15,000 miles a year with the same fuel prices.

How much would the Toyota Prius save over five years?

About $800 ($160 a year for five years), assuming 15,000 miles a year and the same fuel prices. Your total depends on how much you drive and on local prices; see fuel cost by state.

Which has the better fuel economy rating, the Toyota Corolla or the Toyota Prius?

The Toyota Prius is rated 57 MPG combined against 50 MPG for the Toyota Corolla. City: 53 MPG vs 57 MPG. Highway: 46 MPG vs 56 MPG. These are the EPA ratings of each model's lowest-cost configuration.

How is the annual fuel cost calculated?

Distance of 15,000 miles a year at the EPA combined rating (55% city, 45% highway). Gasoline is priced at $4.36/gal (EIA U.S. average for regular, Sep 2026) and electricity at 18.3¢/kWh (EIA U.S. residential average, Jul 2026); premium and diesel configurations use their own EIA prices. Each result is rounded to $10, and differences are calculated from the rounded figures.

Are the Toyota Corolla and the Toyota Prius in the same class?

The EPA classes the Toyota Corolla as Small cars and the Toyota Prius as Midsize cars, so they are listed as a hybrid-versus-gasoline comparison.

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More comparisons

EPA ratings: fueleconomy.gov file of Sep 29, 2026 · Prices: EIA regular gasoline, U.S. avg, Sep 2026 ($4.36/gal); residential electricity, U.S. avg, Jul 2026 (18.3¢/kWh) · 15,000 mi/yr, 55% city, same prices for both vehicles