Torn on what to purchase.

I wouldn't worry so much about the year. I had a 2010 Prius traded it when it got to 155k. miles, no issues at all. My current Prius is a 2012 with 165k. miles, no issues either. I'd concentrate on it's maintaince history. Since your already a Toyota owner you know how well they are built. I think if you got a car properly maintained since it was new you'll be ok.

 

There are a good many vehicles besides the generation 3 Prius in the price range you are considering that have oil consumption issues. If you compare them at CarComplaints.com | Car Problems, Car Complaints, & Repair/Recall Information it will give you some kind of idea how they measure up against one another. My 2010 Prius has no oil consumption or EGR issues but it is low mileage (60,000) and has an oil catch can modification.

 

As you probably already know, forums and the internet can be nets that catch only problems. That is, people will join, log in, and post if their Prius starts burning oil, but owners who are NOT having the problem, rarely create posts just to say everything is fine.

That being said, I have read numerous posts about what people consider premature oil burning in 2010 Prius, and also the EGR problem you site. So I believe for some it has become a problem. I wouldn't worry too much about the EGR valve, as even if you do need to have it cleaned, I would file it under affordable maintenance.

If you are worried about Oil Burning or premature Oil burning or loss? Well no vehicle comes with a guarantee. It's 2018 so 2010's are now 8 years old. I don't think you can purchase any 8 year old used vehicle with a guarantee the engine might not start burning oil.

So the easiest advice to me? Would be to investigate Camry Hybrid if you are amiable and interested. I don't know too much about them. Then if your interest in Prius remains the first choice? Then a general rule is the newer, and with the least amount of mileage the better. BUT...even that comes with no guarantees possible.

I always ask a person on a budget if they have considered a Prius c?
It's a subcompact but with 15K to spend on one? You might be looking at much newer, lower mileage vehicles.
But if you are coming from a Tundra? That's quite a size and power change.
2010 is the first model year of the Gen 3. I tend to avoid first model years. I actually like a vehicle vetted to the first refresh.

 

Another 2010 here, with zero oil usage. I'm actually a bit surprised: we've always had Hondas, and was used to anywhere between a cup and 3 consumption between oil changes.

Still, it might help to be DIY inclined: there are issues of the EGR system clogging, with various ramifications, including raising engine temperatures, and something dumping a fair bit of oil and what have you into the intake manifold, likely the PCV valve, and there is an Oil Catch Can patch for that.

 

You may want to look at this recent thread: https://priuschat.com/conversations/2012-2014-prius-95k-miles.137698/#message-220834

 

welcome!
we have had two hycams, but never close to 100,000 miles. i'm not sure if much high mileage hycam reliability is available here.
for 15k, can't you find a low mile 2014 or 15?

 

My gen 3 is a 2012 with 225K miles running flawlessly. We actually purchased it only a few thousand miles ago. We did get a CEL for the EGR and replaced/cleaned out a few of the components (egr valve; egr cooler). No biggie. Been around 6 months CEL never came back. Possibly never cleaned before so it went 225k miles without issue.

At your price you should be getting a practically new car with extremely low miles.

It is possibly a myth that the 2010 burns oil because if you check car-part.com (junkyard database) all the gen 3s are interchangeable with each other. Some burn oil some don't. Same with gen 2s and most cars.

 

On Prius its nice to still be on some of the 8-yr/100-mile warranty maybe couple years left on there.

I am putting Camry Hybrid on my list because I think the very newest model is starting to be what I always wanted. But in 2006 the Prius was the better choice, but I still don't know how I talked myself out of that blue 2006 Camry Hybrid first one on the lot.

 

Then the inverter dying on the highway going to limp mode forcing you to cross multiple lanes after software update that was suppose to fix it.

I don't recommend Toyota Prius anymore, let alone buy a Toyota car.

Invest in a Honda Civic hybrid