When the salesman (who had been trained on the AWD-e) and I looked in the back and tried to pull up the foam plastic insert, it was held down with a button clip attached at the bottom. Based on its shape, no telling what was below and whether the electric drive intruded into the spare-tire space available on the regular LE. Does anyone know whether a compact spare can be fitted?
I've got a strong hunch no, it's not physically possible, due to rear wheel drive components in the way.
Well, we have a 2016 RAV4 hybrid with the same electric drive rear axle as the AWD-e Prius, and there is plenty of room for a spare tire and associated stuff with it, so I'm not convinced by your logic. In any case, I'm hoping to find someone with actual experience.
This page says the le has the 1/2 spare, tried to build it no 4 wheel drive came up to see if the all wheel drive does also, but.....the electric drive Is on the axles. The 4 seat prime doesn't have the spare, the 2020 prime goes five seat. 2019 Toyota Prius Tire Specs
I suspect your hopes will be dashed, lol. I've seen a cut-away view illustrating the rear-wheel drive on the Prius AWD, and the mechanism looks to be more-or-less right in the middle of where the spare would go. Tried looking for it right now, without luck. Addendum: Here's another Priuschat thread on the subject, saying no spare and maybe no hope of shoe horning one in: Prius AWD-e - Rear Drive Layout and Spare Tire | PriusChat OTOH, this site makes mention of E-four, with temp spare: Toyota details powertrain advances in Gen4 Prius; available E-Four system for all-wheel drive (not for US) - Green Car Congress Screen grab from above: Addendum #2: the above link was published in late 2015, and that could well be a typo, the bit about E-Four with spare. FWIW, in Canada for 2019, there's 4 Prius models, paraphrasing a bit: Prius Prius Tech Prius AWD Prius AWD Tech Only the bare "Prius" has a spare. I'd suspect the "Prius Tech" could also, if you threw over a grand at it.
Yes, my reading of that last link, from which Mendel Leisk took the screen grab, is that Toyota actually installs a spare tire in the AWD-e vehicle sold in non-US markets.
Sadly I'm not so sure, see my addendum 2, just added above. Our local dealerships are awash in Prius AWD, Prius Prime, the occasional Prius Tech. None with spares. Between that and the styling (inside and out), I'm waiting this gen out. Maybe forget about it completely, if the next gen is similar.
What's wrong with just putting a spare in the cargo area (edit: I mean, just lying on the floor)? There must be some way to tie it down?
I looked in my new 2019 awde xle and lifted up the foam. Confirmed that the awd battery takes up the spot in the dead center. So can’t add a spare.
I don't think that's a battery - it's under the back seat - more likely the motor. But - we don't get them here, so I can't check.
What I don't understand - cars got lower and sleeker about 15+/- yrs ago, and they started putting in sleek spare tyres to match - blaming the styling. Then along came the SUV with no excuse because it's jacked up in the air - and they've still got the half hearted spare - or NONE. Maybe it's about time for us to revolt (or be revolting)?
I look at that picture of the inverter plunked in the cavernous spare tire well, and all I can think is "dog in the manger". That's not the most eloquent engineering effort...
If it's any comfort, you both got the terminology wrong; that's the rear inverter. Interesting to see that the AWD has an entirely different rear pan than the FWD. It's different under the car too, where the AWD has a smaller muffler (painted black for some reason), and is missing some of the plastic fairings on the FWD at the back.
Yes, of course - but when I replied, he hadn't posted photos - I just knew it wasn't a battery. We don't have AWD cars available here.
I have the 3 foam configuration.l so the 2 foam configuration might or might be different. There are black clips you use a small flat screw driver to pop up. The others, you have to use force to pop up by lifting the foam.
Amazing Photos. The Spare Tire hold down weldment, is right there, and Toyota bolted an inverter to it.
Good Tech could solve this issue. Think of a custom, unusually thin, spare wheel made of light weight alloy. It could have a fairly narrow, low profile, temporary spare tire mounted to it. Save more space by compressing the tire, un-inflated with a removable plastic sleeve. Include a compressed gas canister to inflate it, or a small 12V air pump. Toyota has great designers, they could work out the details, even if they had to install a "Temp. Spare Sensor" that limited the Prius top end to 55 MPH.
