2018 Requests

IIRC, they never changed the PiP, but it was based on the 2012-2015 Prius Liftback. They probably won't change much for 2018, but maybe 2019. The Prius sales have been pretty poor lately, so they might not change anything. They may be waiting for gas prices to rise. The gen 4 for 2017 got some significant changes to the standard features and option packages after just one year.

 

Does anyone know when will we be getting confirmations of what the 2018 model will be and whether there will be any changes? is that in September or October or something like that? I'm not saying "available to buy yet", but just "this is what you get if you wait to get the 2018 instead of getting the 2017s still on the dealer lots"?

 

I'm guessing Toyota will not make any changes for 2018. They are probably coming out with a new Prius V and C for 2018, so I think Toyota may be focusing on the C and V instead of the Prime for 2018. Besides, the Prime is still a very new looking car; not outdated at all. What Prime changes would you like to see for 2018 that Toyota could reasonably change? I can't see much more than a couple of package changes.

There haven't been any confirmations on what the 2018 will be, but expect it to be the same. What you'll get with the 2018 is no incentives, unlike the 2017. Take a look at the Camry hybrid too. That car will be future-proof for a while and it's very nice and efficient.

I do feel for you. I would hate it if I bought a car and a refresh happened the next year. If I'm looking for a new car I always want to know when the next refresh is.

 

What happened for 2017 for the Liftback, though, was simply option adjustments. I wouldn't be surprised to see option adjustments for the 2018 Prime, but nothing major, it's far too soon.

As far as a new Prius v or Prius c... I wouldn't be surprised if they instead get discontinued.

Toyota has other models that can take the Prius v's role with a hybrid variant - some models that are nearly identical in configuration, just non-hybrid, and could get a hybrid drivetrain, in the Japanese and European regions, and then for the US, the RAV4 is closer to what people want out of a vehicle with the Prius v's capability.

And, for the Prius c... it exists mainly because the Aqua (what it's called in Japan) sells quite well in Japan, but Toyota just released the Vitz (Yaris) Hybrid with the same powertrain there. My guess is, if the Vitz Hybrid sells well, and Aqua sales fall off, you'll see the Aqua/Prius c get discontinued in favor of a new Yaris Hybrid, and not get a second generation. (I also wouldn't be surprised if we don't get that Yaris Hybrid, too.)

 

As a software engineer, I dismiss user comments that vague. If they take the time to describe what they actually want, I'll take the time to consider the detail they shared. Otherwise, there is literally nothing to work with. What does "improve" mean?

Following that, I ask how much they are willing to spend. For a vehicle like Prime, budget will be limited. A new standard for the masses must be affordable. For a Lexus model though, that's an entirely different story.

 

Well, I already have a 2017 and wont be trading it in anytime soon, but my wish list is simple--

1. A true EV Auto mode, that uses the predictive deceleration data to actually calculate what mode would be the most efficient at any given time and to switch to that mode.

2. Carplay.

Yeah, I know, neither has a chance, even though all the data and computing power is there for 1., and 2. should be a no brainer -- after all it already supports iOS hands free.

Can't think of anything else I want, as the car fits just what i need in so many ways.

 

"True EV Auto" mode would be great, since it would improve the efficiency further... right now, I run in EV up to about 50mph, then switch to HV when I start hitting a highway or drive at faster speeds. Then manually back to EV when I hit the local roads and/or traffic.

Apple Carplay and Android Auto are SO EASY for Toyota to implement ... they TOTALLY SHOULD do it... I personally would also want a 5th seat, even if it's small/cramped... To make this happen would be so easy, even for a 2018 model!

 

That's pretty much what I do, only up to 63 for EV -- it fits my commute better.

 

Looking at the bigger picture, it seems a sensible move to keep Prime as is. If you want more room, you'll have to purchase a Camry Prime or a Rav4 Prime instead.

The entire product-line must void itself of traditional choices at some point. Making a variety Prime offerings is a reasonable move for Toyota as a whole.

 

Then as a software engineer, you must know that Google is your friend. It has been discussed in many posts that the current LDW w/SA (Lane Departure Warning with Steering Assist) is vastly inferior to true LKA (Lane Keep Assist). This is especially galling to those of us who had a Gen 3 with true LKA and who feel that it was a (bad) choice on the part of Toyota to remove something that was working.
I loved the LKA.
The ONLY criticism I had, and it was minor, was that it would disconnect briefly for no apparent reason. It would beep twice to let you know, and in a few seconds it would activate again. This gave you the warning enough to pay more attention before it is too late.
It pleasantly guided you in the center of the freeway lane by subtly changing the 'neutral zone', (that position of the wheel where no force is required). It allowed you to safely look at the map, or adjust the audio or temperature controls without worrying that you would drift into the car next to you. This is impossible in the current iteration of LDW, and so I would posit that this is a safety hazard, and one that is unnecessary.
The current implementation of LDW w/SA only beeps at you should you cut a corner a little tight and cross a line, or if a lane ends and it thinks you 'crossed the line'. I have been absolutely unable to detect any 'SA' at all. This is including some tests involving the service manager of my local Toyota dealership, who was also unable to detect any correction at all when intentionally gently drifting across a line at several speeds. By the time it beeped, you would have hit the car next to you. The system did not 'gently steer' you back into your lane.

This is what makes it useless. I am not alone in my criticism of this 'lack of feature'. The service manager has told me he has a number of complaints from his customers pretty much saying the same things and most people just turn it off.

It is obvious that this could be fixed with a firmware update to the car, since the hardware is still in place. At least for the advanced which has parking assist. And Toyota has the software because I had it in my 2010, and it's being offered on some Lexus models. It could be EASILY implemented by making the LDW w/SA button a 3-way toggle like several others (HUD comes to mind) on the Dash, i.e. 'OFF ->LDW w/SA -> LKA'.

For the Flagship Prius, I feel that Toyota just 'gave us the finger' on this issue.

I am so upset by this that I am actually considering a Tesla to replace the Prime. Well, this and the fact that Pandora is pretty much broken between the 'Pandora cannot be started, please try again', and 'Insufficient Connectivity'). The software on this car was not well thought out. But, it does handle better than my Gen 3.

 

Huh? I've bounced between lane dividers on the highway, with my hands off the steering-wheel. We both saw the auto-correction.

What model do you have and sensitivity setting?

 

Like my signature says, the Prime Advanced. The settings, confirmed by the service manager, are consistent with having the steering correction work. My car is currently at the dealer to address this and the Pandora issue. Apparently there's a TSB firmware update that may help my Pandora issue. We'll see.
When I asked 'because this is the second time I've brought this car in for this same issue, does the 'lemon law' apply?', they seemed to get serious about it.

 

My SA on my Advanced also works.

My guess is the below is the reason LKA was discontinued.

You're supposed to pay full attention all the time, and LKA allowed you to avoid doing that. So they eliminated it.

This is the beauty of cruise control - you still have to pay attention to steering and it even enables you to pay more attention because you don't have to manage speed too. LKA was the opposite - it allowed you to pay less attention and thus enabled you to become more dangerous.

LDA w/SA is nice because you still have to pay full attention, but if you doze off or don't pay attention for a moment, it warns you.

When 30,000 people a year die on the roads every year just in the US, safety is the main priority.

 

I knew I was going to get into trouble with that turn of phrase as I was typing it. What LKA allowed you to do, which LDW does not, is to glance at the many controls and make minor changes without endangering yourself or others. As an explanation to the 'littoral police', I at no time did I mean to suggest that the driver should not pay attention to driving. The problem is the Advanced almost requires you to look away from the road for even the slightest adjustment, or to look at the map to see if the road up ahead is going to take you to the side road you want. The capacitive buttons are not touch friendly and you need to look at them. And to change Pandora stations invites disaster. LKA solved this problem elegantly, and safely.
To your second point, Toyota still offers LKA on some Lexus vehicles, so that argument falls on my deaf ears.

 

This is a page at Toyota that I found on their site. Note that they consider LKA a safety feature, not a distraction.
SO, the question remains: Why was it REMOVED from Prius vehicles??

Toyota Global Site | Technology File

 

Change the colors used in navigation. White streets on a white background was not the best choice.

 

I have the Advanced, and have not yet been able to detect the Assist functionality. I made real sure that it was ON by toggling the LDW button on the steering wheel, and got the popup on the MID saying that "Lane Departure Warning is ON Assist is ACTIVE". I think I actually once saw the blue shadow on the LDW screen that is supposed to tell you that Assist is working, but it flashed on and off within a second. When I let the car drift over the lane lines, I just get the LDW beep and the car continues on into the next lane, and the beeping eventually stops as I continue into the adjacent lane. I have the sensitivity set to the default.

 

Maybe you guys have SA turned off? You can have LDA on and SA off.