2019 Prius Midcycle Refresh Details

we have inspections, but no cracking

 

I was going to mention VSC but my post was already pretty long, but VSC was another rare and normally high end feature back in 2005-2006. I used to tell people about that also but it was a little harder to explain (or easily demonstrate).

Trim levels back then were called "packages", and like you I went up one more level to package #4 to get VSC. In 2005 package #4 also added fog lights and HID headlights, but not for me because the next year those were bumped up to package #6. All that package #4 added for me was VSC.

Packages, trim numbers, Roman numerals, all quirky but we knew that it meant that our cars were different. It seems strange to imagine an "LE" Prius, it sounds so mainstream. Perhaps it's another sign of the time. From the photos it looks like they will even be badged on the back of the car. I wonder if L Eco will just be left blank.

 

Six years is when it is recommended to replace tires regardless of wear. Even if they look fine, because the degradation can be on the inside.

Temporary spare tires can go a few years longer, since they are sheltered from the suns UV rays, but a common issue with them is that many people forget to check their pressures, and can be greatly under inflated when needed.

 

Have to agree the lights styling is now fixed, but unfortunate the infotainment could not be updated beyond the Prime screen. Still will be difficult to choose between Camry, Corolla, or Prius hybrids.

 

Has anyone seen any ground clearance numbers for the AWD ? I doesn't help if your front bumper is plowing 8" of snow.

 

i look on the fake scoops as little parachutes which - as parachutes are designed to do - act as a mechanism to slow you down, employing principles of drag.
See? Even high powewed cars have 'em ... only they're in back ~



Just think of them as you would a funny car .... only in reverse.

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Yesterday, I saw the 2019 Prius at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Unbelievably half-assed effort. Heck, not even "half". Regarding the mid cycle "refresh", this poor attempt is not going to sell well. Throw in the fact there's been little/no improvement and you gotta wonder what these Toyota guys are thinking. AWD is of little interest in this segment. Poor styling improvement (bland) and no electronics improvements? I'm a big fan of Prius but this REALLY was a poor effort. No need to rush out and snag one of these underwhelming bland beauties before everyone else does. There will be plenty available with big discounts to follow.
This is my opinion.

 

It would be easy for me. Only one of those does not have the huge butt-ugly black grille!

 

they only need to sell enough to offset the land barges. apparently, the strategy is working

 

Easy - the Camry is a sedan - is substantially bigger and, hence might suit - in my case won't fit in my garage.

Corolla hatch has a ridiculously small boot/trunk - and back seat isn't much better.

Prius is like Goldilock's porridge - not too hot, not too cold - just right.

Not sure that the inferior infotainment is such a problem - from what I'm told, my old Smartphone would only have limited use connected anyway.

 

Makes sense. You see these RVs in Storage on the side of the driveway or house and they have covers over their tires & wheels. It ain't just to keep off the dog pee.
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Plus - some people seem to use them for different things. Give me a CD player and, better still, a USB outlet, I'm happy.

 

This white one, with the blacked out elements in the front and black rims looks great. Looking at the blue car in Post #9, I wasn't liking the front and back changes to the lights, as someone who actually like those headlights and the Z tail lights, but white puts it in a different light.

 

I had an interesting comment today. I was with my 4yo grandson, and we were looking at some parked car's number plates, with him identifying numbers and letters.

We had looked at the back of mine - and he went around the front, saying "your car's face looks angry".



I'd never had that before. I remember thinking that Morris Oxfords looked ANGRY when I was a child.

 

Looks great in white! Is that a USA spec Limited? It doesn't look like it has the LED accent in the front side bumper. I wish they would have excluded that all together or maybe offer some covers with a different design element or texture. It does give it a less heavy appearance in the front. Might be too early to say for sure though.

 

not horrible, and certainly an admission of guilt

the fish gills blend in a little better, but i still wish they would go away

 

They're much milder than these TOYOTAs (first 2 are LEXI)


Or the UGLY, ANGRY nose they put on RAVing4 - looks like it's hit something already and spoils what otherwise is a pleasant design

 

So I'm sure it's been said, but my take:

I like the white porcelain, especially on my moonstone blizzard pearl 3 touring. I do not like the shiny black, I do not like the shiny black in the steering wheel even more, I much prefer white buttons.

I do like the new front bumper, I do not like the new rear.

I completely dislike the large screen. Sure bigger is better, but the Toyota entune system does nothing, why do I want a bigger nothing? The only thing it does is make it impossible to put an aftermarket unit in. I intend on taking my new wireless CarPlay unit and putting it into my cars in the future forever and buying the cheapest radio I can. I won't buy a car that comes with the large screen that does nothing.

I absolutely hate the LE LX LXE GLX GLS LXS XXL XXX XLGESXXX crap for model numbers.

1 2 3 4, it made it easy to determine which ones had which. The highest number is the best, it had everything the lower ones did and more. What is an LX? I don't know, I don't know where it falls in the lineup. What is an LS? Or a GLS? I assume more letters is better...? L is better than G? X than S or E? E than G?

Who knows!

 

The 1, 2, 3, 4 are only USA market - everyone else gets different names. Maybe it's to make them more universal?

Agree with the "hate the black" - and "like the white". I too, can't see the point of the large screen - it's a car, and as long as it's big enough for the reversing camera, what's the point of bigger. But I think large is going to be more and more common.