2015 head-to-head · Midsize Car
2015 Nissan Leaf vs Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
FWD · Electric motor (80 kW) · Single-speed · 114 MPGe · 84 mi
FWD · 1.8L 4-cyl · CVT · 95 MPGe + 50 MPG
The 2015 Nissan Leaf is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $799 a year to fuel (114 MPGe), versus $887 for the 2015 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid (95 MPGe + 50 MPG). That's roughly $88 a year, or about $441 over five years.
Your numbers
Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.
Fuel cost over 10 years
- Nissan Leaf
- Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid
Side by side
| Nissan Leaf | Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid | |
|---|---|---|
| $799 | Your annual fuel cost | $887 |
| 114 MPGe | Combined efficiency | 95 MPGe + 50 MPG |
| 126 MPGe | City | 90 MPGe / 51 MPG |
| 101 MPGe | Highway | 102 MPGe / 49 MPG |
| 29.6 kWh | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | 29 kWh |
| 84 mi | Driving range | 540 mi |
| — | All-electric range | 11 mi |
| 92 cu ft | Passenger volume | 94 cu ft |
| 24 cu ft | Cargo volume | 22 cu ft |
| 0 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 133 g/mi |
| 10/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 10/10 |
| 10/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 10/10 |
| 8 hrs | Charge time at 240V | 1.5 hrs |
| Electric | Powertrain | Plug-in hybrid |
| Electricity | Fuel | Regular gas + electricity |
| Electric motor (80 kW) | Engine / motor | 1.8L 4-cyl |
| Single-speed | Transmission | CVT |
| FWD | Drivetrain | FWD |
✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.
Nissan Leaf vs Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid across model years
- Nissan Leaf
- Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid
Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.
How they differ
The Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid goes farther between stops: about 540 miles on a full tank and charge, compared with 84 miles for the Nissan Leaf.
Per EPA interior volume figures, the Nissan Leaf has more cargo space (24 vs. 22 cu ft).
Among 69 2015 midsize cars, the Nissan Leaf ranks 1st and the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid 2nd for lowest fuel cost.
Because the Nissan Leaf is fully electric, it has no tailpipe emissions and its running cost depends almost entirely on your electricity rate. Cheap overnight home charging widens its advantage over the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid; relying on DC fast chargers can erase it.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2015 Nissan Leaf or the 2015 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid?
Measured by cost to drive, the Nissan Leaf. The Nissan Leaf is rated 114 MPGe combined and the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid 95 MPGe + 50 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2015 Nissan Leaf vs. the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.10/gal regular gas, about $799 for the Nissan Leaf and $887 for the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid.
Which has more range?
The Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid: about 540 miles versus 84 miles.
Which has more cargo space?
The Nissan Leaf, with 24 cu ft of luggage volume versus 22 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
Nissan Leaf vs Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid in other years
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