What I don't like about the Prius Prime

When it comes to the Prime, we don't know how much the loss cargo space in either will stack up until we get official numbers and meaningful test drives. The Prime might lose has much space as the C-max.

Then like the Prius c and Insight2, where some find the latter's longer cargo floor useful, it will come down to how the end user needs to use that cargo space. The Prime appears to have the longer area, but some might find the C-max Energi's rear 'cubby' more useful for groceries.

 

It's worth noting that we know that the rear cargo floor rose 77 mm, according to the Japanese site. Not sure if that's relative to the model with or without the spare tire, though.

 

Relative to the hatch sill, and floor with spare tire equipped models, I think. When the Priuschat team were looking at the New York reveal it was about an IPhone width.

 

I am not yet saying this. Gen4 sales continue to increase each month as do RAV4. Overall US car sales are starting to drop off substantially (GM down >15% in May) and we have low gaso prices. As far as I can see Toyota hybrids gaining market share possible up to 75% in May not sure yet. On the 15th of the month I will post the Washington State Hybrid Report and we'll see if it says this.

I've been a space critic but I need to wait for Prime specs EPA/EU. Looks to me like they might have bowed out the liftback gate to give quite a bit space above the tonneau cover. But one article says 7 ft3 lost I assume over no-spare Gen4. Which gives us 27 -7 = 20-ft3 but I don't believe the 27 in the first place (closer to 18 by EU VDA spec - so now you're talking 18-7?).

 

Your reply was more on-topic than my comment - I had drifted from the topic of the Prime into a discussion of the virtues of C-MAX vs. Prius LB. My comments regarding cargo space were about the LB and v, not the Prime.

Now that we're there, though, it underscores the Prime's vulnerability to this sort of comparison. Unlike the more modest PiP, the Prime makes serious functional compromises for its upgraded EV components. The C-MAX Energi is its most direct competitor, and that vehicle doesn't give up the nominal/child center seating position in back, while still offering better rear seat accommodations than the Gen2 Volt. While you're right that we only have video/photo evidence to consider and need a better sense of the Prime's trunk setup from hands-on reviewers (for one thing I'm not sure just how much storage is under the raised floor - we could see from the reveal that it's not all batteries), it's certainly a major downgrade in capacity from the LB. So overall, the argument I made for the LB over the C-MAX does not apply to the Prime over the Energi.

 

I'd add we also don't know exactly how much storage is under the raised floor. At the reveal, we saw the rearmost section raise up to reveal a storage compartment behind the batteries, but I didn't get any sense of that space's dimensions.

 

This is what I don't like about the Prius Prime... Toyota won't let me buy it in advance like I can with a Tesla 3!!! I've tried to pre-order or reserve with money down a Prius Prime with zero success.

I first emailed four local Toyota dealerships, specifically asking to buy, pre-purchase, or reserve a Prius Prime. They responded with information about buying a standard Toyota Prius. When I reiterated that this was about the Prime, they all gave me radio silence. I then directly called three dealers and they all talked to me happily about how soon I wanted to buy. But when I reiterated that I was calling about a Prime and not a regular Prius Two or Three, they each said that they'd need to talk to their manager first. They and their managers never called me back. (I live in the Portland Oregon metro area, totally known for being very Prius friendly). I then amped up my efforts by writing the email at the bottom to Toyota Corporate, opening an official "customer service ticket." Their response is immediately below. Apparently, Toyota doesn't want to compete with Tesla, even for customers like me that are totally fine with a crazily short PHEV range of 22 miles. I live near work and plan on driving the car for at least a decade. (I have friends that would happily buy one if it had at least 50 mile range so that they can commute to and from work plus run an errand or two after work.)

Subject: Prius Prime - I want to reserve one
Response Via Email (Darren R.) 06/08/2016 07:38 AM
Dear Mr. Zappo,
Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

We appreciate your interest in 2017 Prius Prime.

We apologize; Toyota does not offer pre-order reservations for upcoming Prius Prime. Toyota will release information such as styling, specifications, features and options closer to the launch date. We currently do not have a tentative release date.

Please speak with the Customer Relations Manager at your local Toyota dealership to discuss their anticipated timetable for arrival of this model in your area.

We certainly appreciate your inquiry and interest. You can sign up for the latest updates with our RSS Feed and/or receive email alerts when new information is posted in the Toyota USA Newsroom.

Your email has been documented at our National Headquarters. If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,
Darren R.
Toyota Customer Experience Center

Dear Toyota,

With Tesla taking pre-order reservations for their new Model 3 EV car, I was hoping that perhaps you could take my pre-order reservation for a Toyota Prius Prime plug-in. I currently own a Camry Hybrid and I want to pass it on to my son who's going off to University of Washington in late-September. I'm determined that my next car be sufficiently EV that I can commute to and from work in all-electric mode. Since the Prius Prime's introduction date is ambiguously said to be in the Fall of this year, I'm going to need to be near the front of the line to purchase one to make my timing work out. My son can get by without a car for perhaps a month or so if I stock his dorm room with food. But if I'm unable to purchase a Prius Prime by the end of October, I'd rather know now so that I can purchase a Tesla S instead. Because I've enjoyed my Camry so much, my preference is to remain a Toyota car owner. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,
Zappo

 

Like all the other Prius rollouts, patience is necessary.

Waiting for Prime will need my fifth time having to wait... on 2000, then 2003, then again in 2009, and finally 2012. Each time was well worth it.

 

tesla has done a disservice to people who actually believe they can pre order a model 3, and know they are going to get one by a certain date. it ain't gonna happen, so at least toyota is not being disingenuous.

 

Tesla's approach was effective for getting investor funding and negotiating supply contracts.

 

good on them.

 

"Zappo Blappo," great name. I too am waiting for the Prime to become available and time is passing very slowly, indeed.

My experience communicating with Toyota customer service on the subject of the Prime has been a waste of time.

 

Yep, just cause they work for Toyota doesn't mean they know anything.

Twice since the Prime was unveiled in March I have asked Toyota representatives at two different events - first to the Prius girl at the Toyota booth at the Home Show in Toronto (who was hanging around the G4) shortly after the reveal, and again a few weeks ago at the "Towards Tomorrow by Toyota" store at the mall - a temporary store basically dedicated the G4 Prius and what's coming (!) and told them I was waiting for the "next plug in" (simplifying things here...) and at least this girl knew there was a new one coming, but she didn't know ANYTHING about it... Not even what was already unveiled...

It really amazes me sometimes how some people really take so little interest in the product they represent, whether it is their job or not. Sigh...

 

i signed up for email updates. so far, nothing. if toyota isn't ready, no one else is going to know anything.

this happened with the pip, extremely slow trickle of info and poor communication.

otoh, you can have gm, ford, hyundai and tesla, who tell you more than you want to know, pretend the cars are already for sale and have had their epa testing, and then, just for good measure, make stuff up they later have to deny, or deny having said in the first place.

there's no happy medium it seems.

 

bisco - You may recall that prior to the G4 unveiling, I complained that Toyota's public relations were terrible. I mentioned that auto magazines were showing spy shots of competetors and "priming" (as in a pump) public interest. Others responded to my comment and said in effect, That is Toyota' way. All of which led me to speculate that Toyota was struggling to finalize the design, or resolve some technical glitches.

Buying a new car is something that most people do not do that frequently. Maybe it is just me, but I like to read about the pro's and con's, study the competition, and make a thoroughly studied decision. But if Toyota is not going to provide information, it really stymies the process, and some, like myself, are giving serious thought to the Ioniq or the Tesla 3. It is almost like an arrogance .... I'm number 1 .... take it for leave it!

 

agreed. but generally speaking, most people buying new cars are looking at the ones on the dealer lots and that they see in ads.
only us geeks are trying to decide what to buy over the next couple years based on what mfg.'s and reviewers are telling us.
can you really make a decision today on an ionique?
disclosure: i bought my pip sight unseen, and with very little knowledge of the operating system.

 

Since none of those vehicles are available yet, there is nothing serious anyway.

The simplest of things... like a test drive... aren't possible. And of course, you wouldn't be able to buy one.

So, what is there to actually gain by getting information early?

 

Maybe better buy it in India? They even know an expected price there.
See Toyota Prius To Launch In india In December - DriveSpark

 

Yeah 13 would be a plug-in market deal breaker for me. Seriously? Even the Volt has a ton of cargo room. I lose out on cargo space with Prime just to fall short of other market plug-ins (30-50 miles), all the while Tesla can go 200 miles on battery and have plenty of cargo space? How about putting newer battery technology into the Prius?