Will 2015 Prius be a G3? (Will there be a 2015 Prius??)

2015 Toyota Prius Persona special edition arrives in September

 

Blizzard Pearl and Absolutely Red.... no more Black Cherry Pearl!

 

I wanted a Black Cherry Pearl Performa, but settled for a Blizzard Pearl Four. Once I found out "the" 2015 was delayed, I opted to buy now rather than wait for 2016. Once that decision was made, I wouldn't have waited for the returning 2015 Performa, regardless of color, had I known it was making a comeback. We leave the end of the month on a 37-day road trip and we'll happily do it in our BP 2014 Four.

 

Blizzard pearl is the way to go

 

I wouldn't have minded waiting for the Persona, but 0.0% for 60 was too good to pass up (not to mention the additional $500 + $750 Owner Loyalty cash)...

 

Sorry, I meant Jetta Hybrid

Model------Power-------------MPG (city/hwy/combine)----------Curb Weight----0-60 mph (Motor Trend)
Camry------187 hp------------43/39/41------------------------------3450 lbs---------7.2 sec
Accord------200 hp (+7%)---50/45/47 (+16/+15/+15%)---------3550 lbs----------7.1 sec
Jetta--------170 hp (-9%)----42/48/45 (-2/+23/+10%)----------3312 lbs----------7.9 sec

Prius--------134 hp------------51/48/50-----------------------------3042 lbs----------9.7 sec

While the Jetta Hybrid is not more powerful, it is more efficient in highway and combine ratings, and it weighs less, too. I know with my Prius when 4 or 5 occupants and gear (bikes, luggage, etc) are on board if feels quite sluggish, and I often put it in power mode especially when merging onto highways. As a solo commuter car (Prius) the power feels adequate.

 

But Kyle, have you driven all those others under the same conditions to make a fair comparison? I know the thrust of your post is about the Camry, but I can't believe adding 600 lbs to all those others wouldn't have a similar effect. And while 0-60 times are great for bragging rights, I've never understood how they affect daily driving. My GTO was a lot of fun in the 70's when the population here was 500,000. Now it's over 3,000,000 and driving has become just a means to get where I'm going. I can get everywhere just as fast (legally) in my Prius and get 48 mpg vs 17 mpg. I may not look or feel as cool doing it, but my wallet sure appreciates it.

 

Let's see, how would 0 to 60 mph times apply to daily driving? How about the rare case when at a metering light to short merge ramp onto freeway and maybe with some incline too. Can't say I'd want to be in some wimpette 100 HP slug under those conditions, but some people like tiny little cars.

 

I remember very short ramps in Long Island NY, as well as aggressive drivers who WILL NOT slow down for a merging car. In the West the ramps are long or one can just stop the car a ways further back in order to gain a running start.

 

Cars with 165 lbs driver:
Camry - 19.3 lbs/hp
Accord - 18.6 lbs/hp
Passat - 20.5 lbs/hp
Prius - 23.9 lbs/hp

Cars with driver and passengers (600 lbs):
Camry - 21.7 lbs/hp
Accord - 20.8 lbs/hp
Passat - 23.0 lbs/hp
Prius - 27.2 lbs/hp

Also, I totally agree that 0-60 times are not directly related to daily driving, however, having a power reserve is definitely necessary when climbing hills, merging or when heavily loaded with passengers and cargo. The Prius with just a driver has a worse P/W ratio than even a heavily loaded Passat. Again, I'm not saying I don't like my Prius, but having a little more power (10-15%) would be very nice.

 

Let me preface this by saying I think you CAN buy a first model year vehicle and be perfectly happy with it.

BUT...the temptation of the Gen 3 Prius aside? There has never been a product released that I felt so passionate about wanting or desiring that I felt I couldn't wait a model year or two.

And unless you want to be the kid who is first with the latest toy? Then I think it can be advantageous to wait, and let any bugs get discovered and ironed out.

Maybe someday...maybe Gen 4 Prius?- Maybe someday a product will be released that I think is SO great I just want it, ASAP. But that hasn't happened yet.

 

And you made my point, Kyle, similar impact.

We can complain about the lack of HP all day, but the fact is we all bought a Prius for MPG and if you didn't know the HP rating before you bought, shame on you. There are plenty of hybrids with more HP. Would you prefer that the Prius become just another with a little more HP or do you like your 50 mpg? I wanted more HP in my '70 GTO too, but to get it meant I had to buy a different car. I chose not to and lived with getting beat by 440 Six-Pack Mopars. The Prius is no different or they wouldn't be selling. When I drive my brother's Sonata with "all" that extra HP, it doesn't do any better than my Prius, even in Miami and Chicago traffic. Maybe I'd change my opinion if we were both going up Wolf Creek Pass in Southern Colorado, I don't know. Heck, I may even change my opinion by the end of August after we go to Colorado, Wyoming and Montana.

 

Sounds like fun, enjoy your trip. It's been 2 years since I've visited Colorado and I've never been to Montana or Wyoming. There is much of this beatiful country I've yet to explore. I must say I'm jealous.

 

It should be and we're looking forward to it.

 

DoubleDAZ - we've taken our 2010 Gen III up (and down) Wolf Creek pass several times...no sweat! Held the speed limit in cruise control just fine, even had power to pass pokies a few times. Enjoy your trip...

 

Thanks for that info. People here makes it sound like I'd have to join the 18-wheelers in the slow lane even though I rented a 2010 Prius and had no problem maintaining speed at all with the hills between here and Flagstaff. Not sure what some people expect.

 

Three out of four isn't bad, for those keeping score at home.