2018 Prius wish list

I'd say our 2008 prius is just about right for power. I don't find getting onto the freeway a challenge. If I'm driving on a two lane road and want to pass I just need a bigger passing distance than I would for a car with more power, but that's true of any car. My Toyota 4Runner with a 5.7L V8 doesn't need much passing room at all, but then a Viper would need even less.

Frankly it is so rare for me to push the gas pedal to the floor when I do ask for some power it feels generous. I'm mostly interested in keeping our mpg as close to 50 as possible. If I drove it 100% of the time I'd get 50mpg quite often. But my wife doesn't care for any hyper-miling techniques so she generally gets closer to 43mpg. So in combination we get about 45-46.

 

On an old Chrysler when it used to talk warning messages it was ....... Your Door is a jar ,,,,,l

 

when is a door not a door...

 

When it is a jar

 

The car does come up with some cryptic messages. I've been battling with the brakes for a few days, and every time I open them up I make a point of disconnecting the 12 volt first. First start up after a 12 volt disconnection is always a bit of an argument. Can't recall exactly what it says, something about putting the car in Park (it is, for chrisakes), maybe some more gobblygook. Shutting it down and restarting and it's all happy, back to normal.

 

Ouch. I've been doing further research on the "v" and learned that the three door smart key is only available on the 5 trim level. That puts it out of reach for me. Also I went to the dealer and sat in the v and the gauges are even worse than the Gen II and Gen III hatchback. In the v the gauge console is not only more to the center but it is closer so the amount I'd have to shift my eyes is more dramatic. Scratch the v off my list.

 

The centred gauges in the whole Prius line ticks me as well. I remember sitting in an Echo at a car fair (a few years back), with similar middle-of-dash instruments. Couldn't believe it, thought: I'll never by a car with this nonsense..., yeah well.

Still, would love it if they smartened up about this "feature".

 

Was that a 5.7 L in your 4runner, or a 4.7 L ? From a Tundra owner.....

 

Honestly, if they changed the gauges away from the center, I'd buy another car. If I wanted a primitive backward design I'd buy an American built SUV.

The design is forward thinking and allows for minimal distraction while paying attention to the road.

The biggest change I'd like to see is the separation of the gps and upgraded sound systems. The Toyota GPS is one of the worst units on the road and I don't want to have to waste money on it to have a decent sound system.

 

I have a 2008 and also wanted to upgrade--but did not like the center shift or the change with the center console--- so I wait........

 

You can get rid of the beeping backup. Explained in the manual. You must pay a Toyota dealer $30 to have them load a digital option that makes backup only beep once. No more continuous irritation. There's several other options you can also choose, same cost no matter how many changes you make.

 

On my 2010 Prius 5 part of the display is a projection onto a mirror in the instrumentation cluster. Didn't notice this until a newspaper laying on the dash made some readings vanish, Thought display was broke, moving the newspaper fixed things. Suspect Toyota is getting ready for a Heads-Up-Display. Maybe next gen you won't need to turn your head?

 

I'd like to be able to connect my engine block heater to the 120v side of the J1772 plug
for use while the car is charging.
I'd like to time charge for optimal ( pack temp ) and engine heat ( block heater ) for cold weather driving.
This might mean ( depending on it's implementation )
that charging time would be increased and charging kw would be reduced to compensate for the load,
or an inverter (perhaps a small one to begin with ) added to the PiP system.

 

Not a good idea.
Running both at the same time might exceed the current rating of the outlet; probably would.
Both devices are fairly high current draws.
It would be best to use 2 outlets on 2 different circuits.

 

Here is what I think will occur and a list of things I'd want improved upon as a 2010 Gen 3 owner (almost to 90k miles)

I think the car will get a slight power bump from both the ICE and electronic side. the current car is 134 combined HP and I'd bet money we see an even 150, likely out of a smaller ICE (Toyota recently unveiled some new small engines with very high thermal efficiencies which I have to imagine will be the base ICE for the Prius). This combined with a mild weight reduction (Toyota has claimed as much as 100kg ~ 220 lbs but I think/hope some of that weight savings goes into sound deadening) and a likely small boost in overall ratio spread from the eCVT should mean a sprightlier car in terms of acceleration, maybe dropping from about 10 seconds 0-60 to maybe 9 seconds. Still not fast but a noticeable improvement.

As already mentioned there are likely to be two different battery options. Hopefully both a realistic to hit 55+ mpg. In Idaho and Utah our highway speed limits are 80 mph and there is no way one can get better than maybe 45 mpg in the current Prius.

There is also supposed to be a major change to the rear suspension. At one time touted as a double-wishbone it improve both ride and space in the hatch. Both would be welcome.

Here is a list of the things I'd really like to have:

• better use of the battery to allow for more acceleration under electric motor alone and/or more availability to cruise at set levels (like 45-47 mph) under battery use alone. with the Li ion battery I have some hopes for this. I'd imagine that the new car will have another 10 horsepower available from the electric motor for the regular models and hopefully 20-25 more in the PIP
• improve the suspension to actually absorb impacts rather than crash through them. I hope the new rear suspension will address most of this but right now I cringe every time we get to a rough road, a dip, pothole or other rut in the road. I also use a truck for work duty and the two vehicles have a very similar reaction to bumps and I wish the Prius was more comfortable. It should be for a relatively lightweight car versus a work duty pickup. Lexus is known for its serene ride so I'd imagine Toyota could at least duplicate some of the geometry even if they can't affordably match components.
• Speaking of comfort I know one of the improvements from Gen 2 to Gen 3 was the seats but they are still mediocre at best. There should be more variability in seating position and for god sakes a $24k+ car should have some level of lumbar control.
• Passenger seat should have some height adjustment too (this coming from a 6 foot 5 inch person who struggles a lot with headroom in a vehicle)
• rear passenger heat/vent ducts built into the bottom of the center console. This doesn't mean I am looking for 3 zone climate control but just a way to heat/cool the space back there much more quickly for the kids.
• give us back the extra leg room lost in the rear seats (this actually dropped from gen 2 to gen 3)
• the hatch size could be better used to give us another 2-3 cu ft of room.
• sight-lines suck for anyone over 6 feet tall. I can't see a stop light to save my life and the rear-view mirror eats up literally about 2/3rds of the right side of the windshield for me. I think if the whole front passenger space were to be moved up 2-3 inches and/or the windshield starting point be moved back by the same it would help this tremendously.
• the telescoping steering wheel feels like it only goes in one direction and that is "in." It could use another 1.5-2.0 inches of outward travel to be even remotely helpful
• the door storage bins are too small. Make them at least 3-4 longer and the cutout for the beverage could be made a little larger to accommodate the typical US soda bottles of 24 ounces
• get rid of some of the hard surfaces. This is a more expensive vehicle and every square inch is covered in nicely textured but hard as a rock plastic. Especially touch points like the center and door arm rests. Those need 2-3 times the amount of padding. Even those soft plastics (not padded leather or anything) would help the dash area have a more premium look
• Noise, holy cow is our car noisy at freeway speeds. competition has VASTLY outpaced Toyota in this department. They need to cut ambient noise by 3-4 decibels pronto. That would only make it class competitive, not leading but I'd at least take it.
• Steering response has been noted as likely one of the worst in a current production car. Toyota has many other vehicles that have much better steering feel, especially at speed. I hate having to constantly make minute corrections every second or two on the freeway. There is not excuse for this now with the experience Toyota has in tuning the steering.

 

The one thing that would make me buy another Prius is 2016.

A Two Door Model - Prius Sport.
Perhaps Doors like the RX8 Mazda.
Sporty Recaro Style Front Seats.
Large Sunroof.
Manual Transmission.
Something to fight the Honda CRZ with 50mpg.

 

these are the rumors being leaked out of toyota, looks like you'll be getting your wish!

 

A two door sport model would be Amazing!!!!!! Yes!!!!! Also to fight the CRZ!!!!

Truly you have heard this????? They seem to keep rumors at a minimum!!!!! Truly hope this is one of the new models!

 

Yeah, they've got to fight off those 200 per month US sales of Honda CRZ .... it's cutting into Prius sales.

A proper two door car is one with two seats ... only.

 

Manual transmissions are fading away.