PiP versus the Prius Prime - a True Story

Let me tell you...short story.

Originally wanted a Plug-In Prius back in 2012. I was very interested in it, but the money didn't make sense. It was $30 for the base version and yes there was around $2,500 tax credit but no state credit.

Flash forward to 2014. Income levels change, needed a second car, Volt didn't make sense because it wasn't as spacious and we valued our 2010 Prius and the fuel economy. So I went searching for a gray PiP, there were a few used ones here and there which seemed to be the better deal, but they kept getting sold.

I finally found a great price on a 28k silver one (which I thought "whatever") for around $17,000. I go to the dealership in Boston and it turned out that they misadvertised. It wasn't a PiP, they meant that price for a brand new Prius C. Anyway, we met in the middle and I was sure to walk away, ended paying $18,000 for it not included taxes.

We reach the now...Incentives, PiP aging, Prime only seats 4...found a gray model, pricing point worked out (would save me money on my commute)...and it was the gray model! We decided to invest in a Pacifica Hybrid 7 seater van (so why would we want to back the Prime?) Silver PiP traded in for $10,250 and ended up lowering the payments for the Prime than compared to the PiP + it was cheaper to drive.

I'll throw my review in for the Prime later, but I did love the PiP...And finally a true plugin EV. With incentives in MA, incentives in tax credit, the generous trade-in, the Prime has been a joy to drive and I finally got my gray metallic Plugin Prius

Now to start the purpose of the thread...

My first fill up on the Prime (January 6th, 2017):

• 102.4 mpg, actual: 94.9
• 69% EV (calculated different from the PiP mind you, in the PiP EV represented that mode only).
• 916.1 miles.
• 9.648 gallons filled
• 15 days 'til first-fill-up

First fill-up on the PiP (November 29th, 2014):

• 56.77 mpg calculated
• 22.71% EV Mode ratio (not the same as the above).
• 528.2 miles
• 9.304 gallons filled
• 9 days 'til first fill-up

So it was sad to fillup on my Prime, but wow what a difference in the length of time to fill-up. The temperature was also different. It's colder now. I also have a worse commute (~100 miles round trip every day with sometimes charging on both sides).

I said in a review once that it wasn't worth upgrading a Gen 3 Plugin to a Gen 4 (and it was even hard considering upgrading from a Gen 3 standard). Can I recommend upgrading the PiP to the Prime? Only if you don't mind a smaller trunk space (it looks to be 80-90% of the PiP trunk space, and longer) and 4 seater.

FYI - I have all values calculated out so anyone can ask away! Compared to a brand new 17k 32 mpg average car the PiP put me ahead $10k after sold. For a used $10k 32 mpg car, only $2.7k ahead. But how are they comparable? I wasn't considering a seat-warmer and plugin functionality. And I didn't consider how much money the 32 mpg car would've sold far. For the used one, probably $3k. And FYI I put over 40k miles on the PiP since it was bought.

No compared to a Gen 3 Prius (which I also track stats on) I only saved $683.78 in the car's lifetime (selling price not withstanding).

I encourage all HV/EV/Plugin owners to join in on the chat on the forums. It's great to hear from everyone! I'm looking to bring a healthy discussion regarding the Pacifica Hybrid whenever that comes in.

Anyone look at the Highlander 2017 Hybrid? Wth is with the back row, the seats are only a few inches off the ground....

 

2nd Tank Comparison ( - :~( SECOND TANK!!)

Prime (January 19th, 2017)

• 100.6 mpg, actual: 93.7
• 69% EV
• 963 miles.
• 10.278 gallons filled
• 13 days without fill

PiP (December 6th, 2014)

• 60 mpg
• 18.4% EV (calculated differently...)
• 586 miles.
• 9.747 gallons
• 7 days without fill

 

Good idea to record! I'll put that in my spreadsheet and update the post.

Not working.......Ship date was estimated as today, ordered it like 4-5 weeks ago but now updates. It's been "ready to be built" for 4 weeks......Yikes, I wonder what's going on? Dragging their feet with the new administration or honest development issues/timing...?

 

Prius Prime will calculate EV based on when the HV or EV mode...basically any time it says EV on the screen on propulsion. The PiP will actually calculate HV and EV miles based on the mode you're in, HV or EV mode. So large difference there. They're both accurate in their own right....But the numbers can't be directly compared because of that.