2001 Chevrolet Prizm Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2002 2001 2000 1999 1998

Crash Test Rating

Source NHTSA

MPG (up to)

29 -32 City / 33 -41 HWY

Source FuelEconomy.gov

Horsepower

125

Seats

Positive Owner Reviews

Dianne

These cars just keep on going...one of the best values for your money.

I bought my 2001 Chevy Prizm in 2013 for $1300. It had $204k miles on it, it now has $269k and going strong. Car has never left me stranded...very, very few repairs, some cosmetic issues, but the annual price I pay to keep it on the road is an extreme value. Plan on upgrading in December to a 2005/2006 Toyota or Honda.

Terry W

Chevy prizm. I'd buy again. . .

My prism is a reliable car. It is made same as Toyota Corolla of that year, even takes Toyota key! I have had to do little upkeep except tires, battery and oil changes. With over 180, 000 miles. . . I have never regretted my purchase of my Chevy prizm. I wish they still made them, I would but another one in a heartbeat!

Alex S

It is fuel efficient and lasts.

I like everything about my vehicle. It is not giving me any issues. The gas is always great on the car. I spend roughly $25 and it lasts about a week. There is not anything I can think of that I dislike about the car.

Patricia S

Low miles, pristine interior, not flashy.

My car gets great fast mileage, fits me, my grandkids and my dog. Runs so smooth. Has very low miles.. There is nothing I dislike about my car..

Wanda M

Enjoying an older Chevrolet.

I love my little car, I got it for $500, I've had it for almost 3yrs with no problems, it had well over 200 thousand miles, it is a great car, Chevy is a great brand, just take car of the motor and keep the oil changed. I call my car thug life, lol, I really love my car, I would recommend checking out a Chevrolet, I don't think you will be disappointed.

Paul C

Very safe and reliable car.

The 2001 Chevy prizm is a great and reliable car. I have had for a long time and have had very few problems with it and I drive it a lot. It has been driven up and down hills, in the snow, in the rain, and everything and it works great. It still works amazing for being a 17 years old car.

Faith M

That it is very versatile.

I like how well it fits into parking spots and how well it runs. I dislike how everything is manual. And I dislike that you have to manually lock and unlocked all doors.

Jan A

Small. And i have had it a long time. Like it and wish they still made the model.

Small size.goodsightlines. Good mileage. Wish they still offered this model

Negative Owner Reviews

Bailey S

Fine car, decent mileage, burns oil, nothing fancy.

It's a fine car. Burns oil which is common for that car. It gets me where I need to be. It is smaller than I would like. It does not have fancy anything. Manual windows. Just a radio no tape deck or CD player. Also no key fob. Very basic car but it didn't cost much. Runs fine, does not go very fast.

Taylor H

The old school Chevy prizm.

I am currently driving my Chevy prizm that my mother sold to me cheap while I save up money to get a newer car. The car gets me from a to b. The windows roll down manually and the seats are cloth. The air conditioning broke and only works on high which is normally not a problem. The car has about 160,000 miles on it which is not much but the car does burn oil very quickly. I have to put a quart of oil in at least twice a week. There is a problem with the muffler so the car does sound louder, especially while accelerating. The radio works great and has a cassette tape player so I can listen to all of my dads old tapes which I really like! Also I dislike the fact that there are no cupholders. Overall, I cannot wait to get a new car but this vehicle that I am driving right now is getting me around like I need with the few perks that I need.

Wesley W

Easy to maneuver. Beginning to use some oil between changes.

Easy to drive, very good gas mileage. Dependable at starting and tire wear is not bad at all. The air conditioner and heater are dependable. The car has over 250k miles.

Sue H

It is a pretty dependable car. It hasn't had to have many major repairs.

It has been a fairly reliable vehicle. The gas mileage is good. It is getting old and I would love to upgrade. Right now the air conditioning is not working.

Cynthia T

It runs (currently) well.

It runs well and the air conditioner works well.... It is is getting old and is repairs are getting high..

judy W

Not good for long distance but great for around town

Good gas mileage but it is a little small and doesn't have power windows. It runs good but doesn't have the power I prefer and it is sluggish when using AC.

Ashley W

My 2001 Prizm: hang in there buddy.

My car is a great car, I have had it for a very long time, but it runs so smoothly. It is a reliable car that only has a few cosmetic problems. The performance of the car however is pretty great considering the age of the car. It has seen three owners, and when I get a new car, it will see another. The cosmetic issues with my car include the handles of the car falling off, the engine and brakes make a funny sounds.

Stephen S

It has rear window defrost

My rear shocks are going out but it gets good gas mileage,roughly 14 miles to a gallon,the engine is in good shape,and all the tires are fairly new

Chevrolet Prizm Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

Base

125 HP 31-37 MPG 5 Seats

LSi

125 HP 31-37 MPG 5 Seats

Photos may not match model

2001 Chevrolet Prizm Owner Reviews

4.00

32 Reviews

Write Review

5 stars

41%

4 stars

25%

3 stars

28%

2 stars

1 star

Sheila N on March 2, 2021

Driving the Chevy Prizm is a Joy!

My Chevy Prizm is a joy to drive. It gets great gas mileage and has a smooth ride. It's equipped with abs brakes and airbags, so I feel safe when I am driving. The interior is roomy, seats 5, and is extremely comfortable. Plenty of air vents keeps the inside cool and pleasant. The radio/CD combo keeps me entertained with great reception and the speakers are awesome!

Sue H on January 23, 2021

It is a pretty dependable car. It hasn't had to have many major repairs.

It has been a fairly reliable vehicle. The gas mileage is good. It is getting old and I would love to upgrade. Right now the air conditioning is not working.

View All Reviews (32)

Ranks #8 Small Cars by Owners

The 2001 Chevrolet Prizm has an average owner rating of 4.07 out of 5 which ranks it #8 of 24 other Small Cars.

2001 Mazda 626

4.28

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2001 Volkswagen Jetta

4.25

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2001 Chevrolet Prizm

Ranks #6 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2001 Chevrolet Prizm has a combined MPG of 36 which ranks it #6 of 24 other Small Cars.

2001 Toyota Echo

41 MPG

2001 Honda Civic

40 MPG

Tie

2001 Chevrolet Prizm

33 MPG

Is The 2001 Chevrolet Prizm A Good Car?

Yes. The parts are readily available if something breaks. However, the door panels seem to break easily in the extreme cold. It's not made for Wisconsin winters.

Jessica S.

Yes because it has really good gas mileage and it has a classic feel to it that grows in you. It’s not fast

Tarea B.

How Reliable Is The 2001 Chevrolet Prizm?

Overall it is a reliable car as long as it's not 40 below outside. The body is starting to rust and the inside door handle and cable simply snapped from the bitter cold. It also may need new fuel... Read More

Kelli B.

It’s has no issues at all it’s just really old but the quality it amazing. And you can drive it for 3 weeks and not need

Emily S.

Is The 2001 Chevrolet Prizm A Good Value?

I paid over 6500 for one with 33,000 miles on it. Not a bad price. I am still happy with the purchase and would buy another one for sure.

Sabrina G.

It was $3,200 and yes it is a good value because it’s cheaper than going to a dealership where you’d pay top dollar

Rudy P.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my 2001 chevy prizm have a timing belt or chain?

Answer: The 2001 Chevy Prizm does come standard with a timing chain on the engine. This is a chain that goes over the timing gears in the engine and keeps the cylinders and cams in time with each other. You are...

See all Frequently Asked Questions

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Not Rated

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated

*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety