What I don't like about the 2016 Prius

If the Volt had more cargo space and a spare tire I'd take a look at it. The rest of the car seems fine.

 

With lots of hills, potential for heavy rain, and some rare snow I want my wife driving a 4WD car too. On bad weather days I ask her to drive the AWD 4Runner. If the Gen IV would have come with 4WD I would be interested. As it is I'm considering a Honda CR-V or Subaru Impreza hatchback for additional cargo space, a higher more vertical seating position, and 4WD.

Total cost of ownership is important to me. We have had some trouble with our Gen II dropping into the mid 30's mpg but it recovered after a couple of months. I realize if I have to put in a new $2K traction battery it will increase the overall total cost of ownership. A non-hybrid has some appeal now.

 

they're all subjective, just going by the reviews. there's nothing else to talk about for now.

 

Even if they don't offer 4wd here (though honestly, I want it) does anyone know if the Gen 4 has a way to shut off the traction control (like a BUTTON - my wife's Subaru has a BUTTON (and it's 4wd, so who needs it?)) or if it drives better in the snow than the gen 2 or 3? Because I cannot get up my hill in snow with the traction control on (and I zip up no problem with the &^%$ thing off.) in my Gen 3.

 

Why do you USA guys have so much problems with snow? Don't they have plows and showels out there? In europe even when it snows hard there is rarely more than 2-3 cm of snow on the road because they clean them all the time, and ofc you clean your driveway before driving anywhere? So why do you need 4wd so badly?

 

The extra, electric traction on the rear wheels will let us beat the other traffic when the light changes. It allows the car to accelerate faster . . . and tow a heavier load.

Bob Wilson

 

first, over the last few winters we have gotten 10-13" of snow each week for most of the winter. Snowplows come through but if it is still snowing there is a layer of slush on the streets. If the road is flat, it is OK, but any hills and the traction control makes it impossible to travel. Since it only has 2 powered wheels, if both slip, it cuts power to both and therefore, NO power at all. With the TC off, the wheels may slip a bit but there is enough traction to go up the hill. With AWD/4wd between all the wheels there would be enough traction to move along fine. I am in NY, just north of NYC, not in Buffalo or Maine. We still get a lot of snow, far more than Europe. I would do better if I put heavy duty snow tires on in the winter but that is a big pain and few do it anymore because most Front wheel drive cars are better in the snow and if they have traction control there is usually a dashboard button to turn it off. And yes, I shovel my driveway, that is not the problem.[

 

We have problems with snow here in the states because it is so infrequent - Usually just in the Winter.

 

I agree with the jest of your point, but snow removal is a local responsibility in many areas. So how well it is done comes down to the township. Ours clear the main roads in a reasonable time, but the alleyway that our driveway is on might never get plowed, for example.

Then either because of work ethic or fear of getting into trouble with management that may very well mark calling out against an employee, many Americans have to drive out in weather that they sensibly shouldn't.

 

This is actually true. The more infrequent snow in the U.S. keeps them off guard. Plus maybe the heavier and faster traffic require you keep up with the rest. Americans also seem to be much more in a hurry so they need something with more get go.

Here north of the border where (perhaps) its a little bit slower, it's just business as usual. An inch or so on the road is normal, and snow storms is just something I put up for a couple of days. Never saw the need for 4wd yet, never bought into the SUV hype either. Sedans is what I regularly drive, snow tires only became a luxury for me in the last 10 years - and I used to go skiing a lot. It's all about what you are used to, and how fast you wanna get there.

 

Here in winter wonderland (Minnesota), those losing control then sliding into ditches are almost always SUVs.

The belief is 4WD/AWD allows them to drive faster in slippery conditions. Ugh.

 

FWIW, CivicDriver06 says so, in post #17, here:

I get to play with a 2016 Prius Four! | PriusChat

 

I thought so too from the pics but then I sat in one. The white material is the best part of the interior. It is really nice. A nicer plastic than I've seen on any other toyota product, including lexi

 

The E-Four version only has about 11 cm ground clearence!
What good good would it be if you have a tone of snow on the roads ?

 

Somehow the rear electric motor seams to take up some space and therefore the exaust pipe is very low to the ground compared to the 2WD !
There are pictures here somewhere that show the difference .

 

11 cm is about what it looked to be in that photo with the phone resting against the exhaust pipe.
Here it is:
Thread repository for ALL non-PriusChat 2016 Prius reviews | Page 10 | PriusChat
It could be that this is the reason they are not bringing it into North America.