Trouble deciding prime or awd-e

I was going to recommend a snorkel.

If you have charging available at each end, you can spend 22% of your commute on electric, which is worthwhile. I am more skeptical of 11% on electric being worthwhile.

Either car, Low Rolling Resistance snow tires seems like a good idea. (says a guy in MS)

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=X-Ice+Xi3&partnum=965TR5XI3XL&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&autoMake=Toyota&autoYear=2020&autoModel=Prius%20Prime&autoModClar=LE

 

But what about the non 200 mile commute. Everyday useage just around town on EV adds up. Prime with snows and local use. My vote is with the Prime

 

After spending $1000 to $1400 for AWD on a Prius, they can't get snow tires.

I'm about an hour north of Philly, and I commute down to there. The highways I use are generally cleared in a day or two. I have been in snow storms where AWD or snow tires would help, but that usually is around only one or two times a year.

I once got stuck at home with my 2005 Prius because of an ice storm. Can't say if AWD or snow tires would have helped, because to real issue was that you couldn't turn of traction control in that generation of Prius.

 

In my experience, AWD is equivalent to having 4 snow tires. The problem with the Prius in snow is how low it is to the ground. AWD will not help that.

 

I'd have to know more about the Awd system in the Prius before I'd recommend it. Awd is not 4wd no matter how one looks at it so there are some instances where Awd owners learn they can't always do what they might have been expecting to do in there vehicles.
Prime on the other hand I'm getting to know fairly well and for me it seems to get way better MPG in HV mode when the pack is fully charged and just left in HV mode.
@Prius from Dad also reports even better mileage on long trips by switching modes somehow, more than doubling normal Prius mileage on Long Trips. Whereas most posts I've seen here regarding trips in the Prime (including some of mine while not having a fully charged pack) that are longer than normal EV range tend to be much closer to a regular Prii mileage.
my two cents for whatever you can get for it.

 

I was trying to decide between the two - you can see my previous post about seats. I have read a lot of negatives about the comfort of the seats in the C. I drove a friends Prime and loved the seats - I am in the process now of buying one. Might be important for such a long commute.

 

LOL,

People with AWD are not nearly as likely to spend the $$$ for snow tires because they think their awd can save them...

People with FWD that live in snow country know better.


Rob43

 

Chauvinism?

If I had AWD, I'd still want snow tires. But lack of spare is the deal breaker.

 

Nope.

Wanting & doing are two very separate things.



Rob43

 

I'm looking for snow tires on sale for our newly acquired AWD Pathfinder Hybrid. It came with OEM wheel for 235/55R20 size tires. Man, they can get very very expensive at that size. I have old rims off from our old 2005 AWD Sienna with 225/60-17 tires. The bolt pattern is the same, but hub bore size may be too small. And even if it fits, I have no idea if it's safe to put 3 undersize wheels and tires.

 

Good for you.

*****************

Your first BIG issue besides HB when attempting to fit a smaller 17" wheel where a larger 20" wheel was is brake caliper clearance, smaller wheels don't always clear the calipers.


Rob43

 

Yeah, I have not attempted to put on the smaller wheel yet. We've had the car only 4 months and have driven less than 1000 miles so far. If I can't use the old rim, either buy 20-inch snow tires and put them on the OEM rims or buy smaller rims with dedicated tires. Either way, it will be very expensive.

 

Assuming that you can make the 17" wheels fit, would you like the snow tire "deal" of the century ?


Rob43

 

Sure. I am looking at TireRack and DiscountTireDirect. The least expensive 17 inch rims with studless winter tires combo are going to run around $1k (without TPMS). If I go with OEM size 235/55/20 winter tires and install them on the OEM rims, the least expensive winter tires on TireRack is GEOLANDAR I/T G072 - SIZE: P235/55R20 on special closeout sale at $135 each. $540 total shipped and add $100 for mounting and balancing. It will be cheaper than $1000 option, but I will have to spend $100 twice a year for changing tires.

 

I was in the same boat as the OP was. I went to the dealer and compared the two apples to apples or for better terms XLE prius to XLE prius prime Here is what I noticed

Prime offered more in the trim package. It had the 11,6 inch screen, native navigation, and the apple car play. The 2019 xle prius did not have that. I did not want the app for nav.

Now its a preference. living in downstate new york, I will tell you all wheel drive does sort of help in snowy weather but, I would much rather have a 2 wheel drive with a good set of nokian snow tires on it in a major snow storm.

I went with the prime because it is somewhat more efficient and has that electric only mode, along with the large screen. I could not live with the regular prius

 

This "deal" assumes that your old 17" wheels work/fit, which it does look like a 17" wheel works on that chassis. So you'd need to do a quick test fit to make sure. If the HB was close (a few mm's) but it didn't fit, I'd personally run a 3" sander flapper wheel through it to open the HB up.

Looks like your shipped price would ~$372.



Rob43

 

Of topic a bit...but the awd-e discussion reminded me that I've see a LOT more Gen4's on the road around here lately. It's odd...they basically just showed up out of nowhere after a long time without seeing many at all. I should be on the lookout to see how many of 'em are the awd-e model.

 

Just tried to put the smaller 17-inch wheel. No, it doesn't work. The center bore is too small. It will be too much work to machine all four wheels to make them fit into the hub. Even if made to fit the center hub, don't know if it clears the caliper or not.

It would be much easier to source used 18" OEM wheels for this car and fit them with winter tires. The lower trims of this car comes with 18 inches wheels and 235/65R18 tires. I found a reasonable price on used wheels on eBay.

 

That's unfortunate about the HB's.

The 17" wheels do fit because nissan offers a 17" wheel for that chassis...



Rob43