Shopping for a Prime. Any differences between 2018 & 2019?

Regular Prius got mid season face lift, but PRIME seems to be 100% carry over. Read this thread. 2019 Prius Prime now showing on Toyota.ca... carryover model | PriusChat

 

According to the Toyota “Engage” App, No changes.

 

Big difference is the price. If you catch left over 2018 in your state, $4000 rebate is still going on. Once 2019 shows up in the dealer lot, that rebate is likely to be gone.

 

There's a few dealers in MA that are advertising good prices on 2018 Primes. I would be looking to get $3k off MSRP plus the full Toyota rebate on 2018 inventory at a minimum. They should be desperate to clear those cars. New 2018 Toyota Prius Prime for Sale in Boston, MA - CarGurus

 

The Prime was released a year behind the Prius, so its mid-cycle year will 2020.

 

Well, I got in touch with the press officer of my country (Belgium) and he told me that the 2019 plug-in model (deliveries from May onwards) will be based on the regular Prius facelift and more importantly will have a 3 passenger backseat and a lane assistance option that is able to keep the car inside the lane on the highway.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Is the "Advanced $23,876" price including next years Federal Tax credit of $4500, or would you still get that back next year ?


Rob43

 

It looks like those prices are inclusive of the fed tax credit, assuming you owe enough tax next year on your 2019 return to claim all of it. Still a good deal, although I would want to see the msrp first to calculate how much is dealer discount vs Toyota rebate. Assuming a rebate of 4000 from Toyota, plus 4500 federal, it looks like they are offering around 2000 dealer discount. For no negotiation that is very good.

 

Hard to believe the Europian model will be different from US model. 2019 Prime is already out here in US and it has been reported there has not been any change from 2018. Let us know if you do get all new PRIME there.

 

might be worth shopping around. check the pricing thread. iirc, some people were getting 8k off of an advanced

 

Other countries may not follow the model year scheme that is used in the US, and a car's year refers to the year built, and not the car season like in the US. That 2019 coming to Belgium could be a 2020 under US labeling.

 

Well, I buy that if it's coming to them in 2020. But @gattaiolo said "the 2019 plug-in model (deliveries from May onwards)" which means it's coming to them in two months. It must be the same model as US 2019 PRIME, I would think.

 

Or not, depends on how Toyota rolls out the next year's model globally, and this is a made in Japan only model. Take the Ioniq, North America was the last place to get any version.

I haven't bothered tracking how early next year's model has been released in the US, but EPA and NHTSA regulations allow a manufacturer to call a car made on January 2 and onwards as next year.
Why New-Car Model Years Aren't in Sync with the Calendar – News – Car and Driver
Why New U.S. Model Years Come Out Ridiculously Early - The Truth About Cars

The 2020 Corolla is up on Toyota's site, and not just a coming soon entry, but the full entry including the build tool. A dealer in Hollywood says they'll get it in May.
2020 Toyota Corolla Compact Car | Greater than ever
2020 Toyota Corolla Release Date | Toyota New Global Architecture

 

Yeah, it look true that Europeans might be getting five seater PRIME before US. See: 5 Seat Prime finally arrives | PriusChat

 

A local dealer that I contacted in December during the 2018 clearance incentives, got his first 2019 Prime in yesterday. But I'm not in a position to go look at it now.