Toyota studying 7-seat US Prius

Can they make one a cargo van

 

indeed... all real world testing shows only 1 mpg difference between it and FFH.

For me far bigger problem is trunk space, which is IMHO why all of these did not sell better... and it is not like Sonata improves on that.

Now imagine if Hyundai came out to 49mpg hybrid, i wonder if they people would tell us that they need to go away in shame .

 

Like the Ford Connect?

 

Exactly. I held out for the Prius Alpha for a while, until they made it official that the USA version would have only 5 seats. We put our 3 kids in the back of the Prius, but it's cramped and at least with our kids, only tolerable for short trips.

I've been getting 30-31mpg around Chicago in my Highlander Hybrid after 1000 miles, vs. the rated 28mpg. Not too bad for a 3-row vehicle. I think next best is the Mitsubishi Outlander 4-cylinder 2WD that gets 23mpg city. Comparable V6 midsize SUVs get 16-17mpg city.

That is also one of my main complaints. Put in a smaller gas engine, lose the AWD and drop some weight with Prius concepts (no power seats for example) and you add a few mpg and shave a few thousand off the price, too.

I'm surprised no one has made anything to compete with the Highlander Hybrid. Without making compromises for performance, towing and AWD, you could easily best it for fuel economy and maintain the same interior room. Even the Ford C-max will apparently only have 5 seats if a hybrid version ever arrives in the USA.

 

I'd think so too. The only thing they have going for them that those are EPA patents and US government owns 65% of Chrysler. Not sure what influence FIAT has on corporate mentality.

Yes, but don't you think we owe Prius plug-in to Volt and Leaf? Toyota made a decision to go with it long before Volt went to production. They bought Sanyo, did all R&D with LiIon batteries, etc.

Toyota realized that they can't afford to loose an edge to other company, even if there are no real money in it yet.

 

Exactly! add a friend or two, visiting granny or long trip and you need something substantial.. call it Mazda 5, minivan or big SUV.

 

at the end of the day,everyone needs Suburban, at least for 1 day in the year, so let us all buy biggest car there is... just in case someone comes visiting

 

2007:

It is a different reality.. we are buying a "family room on wheels" you guys don't know what "family room" is.

 

On those rare occasions when we need a bigger vehicle for road trips with more people, we rent. Works out great. We get to test drive different minivans and even big-nice person SUVs, compare their performance, quality, creature comfort, etc.

But with three kids, two of whom are cello playing teenagers, the Prius is becoming less practical day by day. At some point we will have to get something with more room, hopefully without sacrificing fuel efficiency too much.

 

I wish Toyota would look at a RAV-4 hybrid.

 

The components were designed for the larger Prius in the first place. Putting them in the current model was a dual benefit, not a necessity... as the Iconic model clearly proved.

This reminds me of the original "stealth" discussions, where a few wondered if electric-only driving would be harmful to the hybrid system. Others believed it was meant for that all along.
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I WANT ONE FOR MY WIFE who currently drives a Honda Odessy and she keeps taking my prius v when I am home. So bring it on. Hopefully within 2 years it will be here. My only request would be for 6-12 more inches of trunk space making it a larger version of the prius V. Just bring it here Japan! People will buy them.

 

Prius minivan? I don't see one selling well. Toyota used to have 7-passanger RAV4 and that sold poorly vs Sienna. People with kids are more concerned with safety in the 3rd row vs MPG.

 

Well this beast is not really a prius, they are just going to call whatever 7 seat hybrid they come up with a prius. The prius c isn't really all that much like a prius liftback either. I can see them putting the camry hybrid system, or the next generation camry hybrid system in this beast and it having enough power. If they are smart it will be a cross between a camry hybrid and something like a mazda cx-9. Perhaps make it electronic awd with a bigger battery and a mg3 driving the rear axle.

 

Well gm did make the escalade and the yukon.

The problem is price, that hybrid system is mighty pricy when you get above camry power. It doesn't really get any better mpg on the highway than the competing explorer. It does get better city milage, but if you are going there, don't you want something even better for that price?
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April 2014 Dashboard - HybridCars.com

Now the c-max has sold 5500 this year. Its a big drop from last year, since the fuel economy shananagans came up, and the mpg restated. That 5500 still is much better than the 3500 Rxh and highlanders sold.

Now lexus has created the NX which is kind of a RX lite, and used the hybrid system from the camry. This should greatly reduce the hybrid premium and create more sales.

 

So you have not heard then.

Lexus is coming out with the Rav-4 hybrid version. You just need to pay "a lot more" to get a Rav-4 hybrid soon.

 

The Lexus NXh not really a rav4, Its the same width, but inbetween the RX and rav4 in length, and a little shorter than the rav4. The hybrid will have a version of the camry hybrid system.

2015 Lexus NX / NX200t / NX300h Crossover Photos and Info – News – Car and Driver
New Lexus NX Compact SUV Detailed in Beijing, Rivals BMW X3 and Audi Q5 [88 Photos & Videos] - Carscoops

NX is 182.3L x 72.6W x 64.8 H
RX is 187.8 x 74.2 x 66.7
RAV4 is 179.9 x 72.6 x 65.4

 

You do know that the NX is the same chassis. Just like an Acura RDX uses the CR-V platform.

 

No I didn't know that, the NX is so new, I didn't get the memo. If they are the same platform why aren't they hybridizing the rav4?

 

They might be thinking it won't sell well based on Highlander hybrid sales. Or they don't think people will want to pay what they want to charge for it. Which is part of the reason for the poor HiHy sales.