The 2020 Prius is the self‑charging petrol-electric hybrid (Toyota’s 1.8L petrol with an e‑CVT), so dealers sometimes list fuel as “Petrol” even though it’s a hybrid. Expect excellent real-world fuel economy and Toyota-level reliability, but check hybrid-specific items like the traction battery and the 12V battery. There’s no conventional gearbox clutch to worry about, but the e‑CVT and hybrid electronics should be clean of warning lights and recorded fault codes.

• Hybrid traction battery state‑of‑health report or dealer diagnostic (look for capacity loss or logged hybrid errors).
• 12V auxiliary battery condition — these commonly fail around this age and can cause odd electrical faults.
• e‑CVT behaviour under load: listen for unusual noises, excessive rev hang or hesitations during acceleration and check for transmission/hybrid warning lights.
• Brake pedal feel and handbrake operation — regenerative braking can mask pad wear; check for uneven pad/rotor wear and handbrake adjustment.
• Suspension bushes and tyres for uneven wear, and check hatch seals/boot area for signs of water ingress or damp around the rear seats/boot floor.