I'm driving the 2016 Prius next week. What do you want to know?

Back up camera image is the only thing displayed, and there is no MFD, so yeah I'd think it's the only car on the freeway.

 

All this : 2016 Prius open questions | PriusChat

 

I just want to know when they will be released in the U.S. I can't wait to pull up to one and give them the thumbs down.

 

january first, happy new year!

honk if you love prius!

 

I apologize if this has been answered earlier, but what's the seating position in the Gen4 like? More upright (like a typical cross-over), or somewhat reclined (coupe-like)?

 

Had my 2015 Prius in for 15k maintenance yesterday, they had a base model 2016 at the showroom so I asked to drive it. Here are my observations, 2015 vs. 2016:
*Didnt think the styling was particularly attractive. Like my '15 better.
*Was definitely quieter and better, tighter handling. This is the most significant improvement IMO.
*They did move the mirror adjustment to the door shelf, also a great deal better.
*They left the crummy cruise control stalk right where it was; this should have been moved to the steering wheel like most other cars have now. I always bump it with my knee and it's hard to find when the steering wheel is not in dead center position.
*Seats are a bit more comfortable I think.
*Electronics are much better, flat screen is larger and controls are better.
*Still has the NiMH battery in the base model. LiOn battery comes on the higher models only.
All in all, good improvements, especially with handling, fuell economy and technology. But not good enough to compel me to buy. Next test drive will be a 2016 Volt.
Would be curious to hear what others think.

 

you can find out by tuning into the current threads. we even have owners now.

 

I love Prius. We've owned 2 of them now. Lately, my wife and I have been stopping by the local Toyota shop every once in a while to see the new 4th Gen Prius. Well, yesterday we popped in and did a recon of the new car lot, and nothing. So we went back behind the facility to see if they had maybe stashed one there in the overflow lot. Made the corner around the building and saw the nose of an X-Wing fighter... I mean Prius. There were 3 new Prii. A dark gray, a red one and a white one.

I have to say that after getting out and taking a slow walk around this car, that it's really nice from the front up to the B pillar. After that, well, I don't know how to describe it. I saw the pictures. The first one that I saw I thought was a joke of some kind. Then I saw the release pictures and they were no joke. I'm more than just a little disappointed it the way this "new" car looks close up and personal. Really hoped the pictures were just bad. Those fin looking things running from the rear door to the rear lights make me think of the Edsel or contemporaries like the '58 Chevy Bel Air. Old bread designs. Seems like one team in isolation designed the front half and another independent team came up with the rear half and then had to make both halves fit. Then there are those tail lights. I can't even comment on them. You really don't want to hear it, honestly.

The console, especially the porcelain commode looking whatever between the seats and the white porcelain dongle surround and the white third spoke is perfect with the still in the center of the dash display. And I was worried that Toyota would infuse Prius with corporate Camry dash syndrome. They surpassed all my fears on that regard. The whole car seems a tad contrived or overdone.

Hopefully the 2011 that we bought new on the last day of February in 2012 only has about 60,000 miles and will last a while. It's reliable as can be (knocking on wood), love the Pirelli Cinturato P7 Plus on the 17 inch persona wheels and drives great. The leather is doing fine, paint looks good and still hasn't been driven on a salted road, so nothing is rusting up underneath. It still delivers 52-54 mpg measured, not computer mpg. The computer gives us 53-57 most of the time. Will it make it until the next redesign. Or maybe we'll be driving in something else. The new Prius might be a step dynamically up the ladder of performance, but I just couldn't pay money to drive a car that looks like this. Totally disappointed. Will definitely lean toward electric or plug in hybrid. Electric range is gaining all the time.

I'm sure the new Prius will sell well. I hope it sells well. Toyota's hybrid system remains a brilliant work of engineering art and energy conservation. Just go out and drive a Honda Insight (I drive one) and you'll instantly feel how incredibly transparent and smooth the Prius hybrid drivetrain really is by comparison. There are stranger looking cars out in the marketplace that maintain a following and I'm sure there are drivers that will like this new car's looks, even. I guess? I'm feeling a bit like Shallow Hal here. There's definitely an awesome inner beauty there, but Toyota, that exterior and the porcelain look commode thing between the seats, really? What were they thinking?

 

Somewhere around 2022, the Gen V will come out, maybe that version will be sexier.

 

I'll settle for less odd! There's gotta be a mid run refresh, right?

 

a lot of people like it, all the best with your next wheels!

 

Thanks... will stay with the Prius for a while yet. Ours is still in great shape.

I hope (as I said in my post) that a lot of people like the new Prius and that it sells. Would hate to see Prius go the way of Scion. Plus, there are always all those aspiring bank robbers out there, too! So there's a ready market for it.

 

Bob, Thanks for the info, this helped me make up my mind.

 

Just anecdotal but I got stopped in a parking lot yesterday (and it was cold yesterday, 20 degrees) because a lady wanted to ask me about my Prius. She said she hadn't owned a Toyota before but she was thinking of buying one. I told her where I bought mine and that I'd recommend going there because they had a larger selection. She definitely seemed interested based on looks but who knows. My neighbors have asked me but none of them are in the market for a car but I'm hopeful that if strangers are asking then maybe it will be a hit.

(and I'll say I don't like the looks of the pre-2016 Prius but I might've bought one despite their looks if it had handled well)