questions re: 2019 "L Eco" vs. "LE"

Hello all.

I may be trading in a 1/2 ton truck for a Prius soon. Unfortunately the salesman I met and worked with knew less than I did, and I knew next to nothing. My guess was that he was more focused on the sportier cars from Toyota, and did not focus on the Hybrids at all.

Nonetheless, the questions I have are between the 2019 L Eco vs. the LE.

It seems that, between perhaps false or true information I have gathered elsewhere, the Toyota website and large PDF brochure don't tell everything.

Questions:
1. Does the L Eco have a smaller hybrid battery than the LE model? (This was suggested, and the cargo room is more in the L Eco than other models, but I have not come across Toyota specs that say it is or isn't)
2. Can the L Eco fit a regular donut spare tire instead of the inflation kit?
3. Are there any downsides to the acceleration or any other every-day uses with the L Eco? I really don't want all the extra sensors in the bumpers and such. No trim level gives me anything close to what I have in my base-level 2015 truck, which is ridiculous, so I'm not big on paying more for plastic 'upgrades.'

Thank you!

 

Thank you! I may be looking at new 2019 models at the current time. I didn't know if 2020 models were being sold yet.

There is still a MPG increase in the L Eco vs the LE. That's what got me worried - the one source stated that the L Eco has a lighter battery to make it more efficient.

My goal would be a junkyard for the foam and tire kit eventually.

 

This seems important to know.

I need to research the Li-Ion battery to see if it's something I want or can live with. i.e. does it have the same amount of power in it?

One video I watched stated that the 2019 AWD's were getting the NiMH since they'd be more likely to be in colder weather where the NiMH does better than the Li-Ion. That, alone, isn't a problem since I live in one of the warmest states in the nation.

I just don't want a weaker battery, or one that doesn't last as long. I need to research more into the amp-hours of the 2019 Li-Ion I guess - if I can even find that info. I'm shopping what is on lots now, and that seems to be 2019's. Maybe I'm wrong about that? I didn't think to ask.

Thank you, again, Tideland!

 

Just found this: lithium-ion-vs-nickel-metal-hydride-toyota-still-likes-both-for-its-hybrids (can't put the hyper link, too new to the forum)

I think I'd be OK with either battery pack. Lighter is better, sure, but NiMH seems to last a long enough time.

 

Hey, no wrench problems here. Thank you for the suggestion.

I sat in the new Camry - the one in the showroom - today, and it was an absolutely miserable experience to get in and out of. As was the Corolla. As was the CH-R.

Now, maybe for whatever reason the seats were up as high as they could possibly go - and I didn't test for that - be the ingress and egress of these low-doorway, curved-down roof-line models aren't made for people who get in and out of their cars all day. Maybe one trip a day - like to work and back - would be OK, but anything beyond that? Ain't no way, lol. I'm a moderate-height guy, but I have been out on the road visiting clients long enough to finally realize what a guy told me about modern roof designs on cars these days.

So in and out, in and out I went, car to car. For whatever reason, the Prius made me tilt me head the least (of any 'car') - and not curve my back at all - to pivot up and out, or get down and in, from the driver's seat. The 2019 RAV4 I got in and out of the other day was similarly OK (need to do more testing with it, but I am assuming it wouldn't be a problem).

It's all just what I call bad designing - perhaps most don't notice it when not using a vehicle in their profession, but it's certainly noticeable coming from the absolute comfort of a 1/2 ton truck. My truck might as well be a modern Rolls Royce compared to what I encountered, but the goal - now - is fuel savings over some of the comfort. From a current ~ 17 MPG to whatever the Prius can get me, as long as I can live with it on the highway bumps, plus the ingress & egress cycles, should end up paying for the car.

 

Never did thank all of you enough. I'm happy with everything about my 2019 Prius except for numerous interior designs that Toyota must have used city-based engineers (i.e. engineers who never drove day in and day out in any vehicle, ever - they are designing what they don't know).