2012 Toyota Prius MPG and Fuel Cost
Every 2012 Toyota Prius is a hybrid, rated 48 mpg combined, plus a plug-in hybrid.
EPA fuel economy
2012 Toyota Prius · 2 EPA-tested versionsBest EPA rating
48MPG combined
49 city 46 highway
$1,400 a year to fuel
1.8L 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · CVT
Best version saves $5,000 in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)
Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.47 a gallon (regular gas).
At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs about $1,400 a year. The plug-in hybrid adds 11 miles of electric range and 95 MPGe on electricity. New for 2012: a plug-in hybrid version.
One of the Prius years to avoid
The 2012 drew 104 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 44 for a typical Prius year: 2.3 times as many.
Years to avoid: 2010, 2012, and 2016. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
Every Prius year rankedThe 2012 Prius's recalls and problems
Every 2012 Prius version
EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices; for plug-in hybrids it assumes typical charging.
| Version | Combined | City / Hwy | Fuel / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | |||
1.8L 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · CVT Best
EPA listing: Prius |
48 mpg | 49 / 46 | $1,400 |
| Plug-in hybrid | |||
1.8L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid · FWD · CVT
EPA listing: Prius Plug-in Hybrid · 95 MPGe on electricity · 11 mi electric range · MPG shown is running on gas |
50 mpg | 51 / 49 | $1,200 with charging (EPA); gas only $1,350 |
Fuel cost at your prices
EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.47 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.
| Version | Per year | 5 years |
|---|---|---|
1.8L 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · CVT | $1,397 | $6,984 |
1.8L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid · FWD · CVT (on gas) | $1,341 | $6,705 |
At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50. Plug-in hybrids are calculated running on gas only.
How long does a hybrid take to pay for itself? See the payback for every model sold both ways.
Toyota Prius MPG by model year
The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Hybrid: 48 to 57 mpg (every year from 2010 to 2026); 57 since 2023.
2012: hybrid 48 mpgTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
| Model year | Best hybrid version |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 50 |
| 2011 | 48 |
| 2012 | 48 |
| 2013 | 48 |
| 2014 | 48 |
| 2015 | 48 |
| 2016 | 56 |
| 2017 | 56 |
| 2018 | 56 |
| 2019 | 56 |
| 2020 | 56 |
| 2021 | 56 |
| 2022 | 56 |
| 2023 | 57 |
| 2024 | 57 |
| 2025 | 57 |
| 2026 | 57 |
Every Prius year's ratings in one table
How the 2012 Prius compares
2012 compact cars covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.
| 2012 model | Best combined | Best gas | Fuel / year |
|---|---|---|---|
Toyota Prius This page Best: hybrid |
48 mpg | – | $1,400 |
Best: hybrid |
44 mpg | 32 mpg | $1,500 |
Best: gas |
32 mpg | 32 mpg | $2,100 |
Best: gas |
32 mpg | 32 mpg | $2,100 |
Best: diesel |
32 mpg | 28 mpg | $2,400 |
Best: gas |
30 mpg | 30 mpg | $2,250 |
Best: gas |
29 mpg | 29 mpg | $2,300 |
Best: gas |
29 mpg | 29 mpg | $2,300 |
2012 Prius recalls and complaints
Questions
Does the 2012 Toyota Prius need premium gas?
No. EPA lists every 2012 Toyota Prius version on regular gasoline.
How does the 2012 Prius's MPG compare with the 2011?
For 2012, the best hybrid version is rated 48 mpg, the same as the year before.
Sources and method
- US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 29, 2026.
- EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.47, midgrade $5.07, premium $5.48, diesel $6.38 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
- Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Oct 2, 2026 and complaint file dated Oct 2, 2026.
Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.