Compare the2023 Subaru Crosstrek HybridVS 2023 Toyota Prius Prime

The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Crosstrek Hybrid has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Crosstrek Hybrid has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the Crosstrek Hybrid and the Prius Prime have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Crosstrek Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Prius Prime has not been tested, yet.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Crosstrek Hybrid lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Crosstrek Hybrid’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Crosstrek Hybrid has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Prius Prime (13.2 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Crosstrek Hybrid has a standard locking fuel door and a locking charge port and which locks and unlocks with the power locks, respectively. The Prius Prime doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and a locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

For better traction, the Crosstrek Hybrid has larger tires than the Prius Prime (225/55R18 vs. 195/60R17).

The Crosstrek Hybrid’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Prius Prime SE’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Crosstrek Hybrid has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Prius Prime SE.

The Crosstrek Hybrid is 4.6 inches shorter than the Prius Prime, making the Crosstrek Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Crosstrek Hybrid has 9.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Prius Prime (100.8 vs. 91.2).

The Crosstrek Hybrid has 1.8 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front hip room, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, .8 inches more rear legroom, 2.3 inches more rear hip room and 2.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Prius Prime.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Crosstrek Hybrid. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Crosstrek Hybrid has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The Prius Prime has no towing capacity.

The engine in the Crosstrek Hybrid is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Prius Prime. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The Crosstrek Hybrid has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Crosstrek Hybrid’s exterior PIN entry system. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Crosstrek Hybrid has a standard rear wiper. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Crosstrek Hybrid has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Prius Prime has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the XSE.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Crosstrek Hybrid has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru Crosstrek outsold the Toyota Prius by over four to one during 2022.