Thank you to the forum. Picked up new Prius today.

I would add about 12 people have seen the car now and every single one says wow, that looks sporty for a Toyota Prius and far nicer than the previous versions which looked to them quirky. To be honest that is what kept me away from Prius. Maybe the 3rd generation was starting to look tempting. After 2 days ownership I can say I love my Prius!

 

That's a good looking Prius. Congratulations. And good photo.

Now if I can be unnecessarily snarky, and negative?

I really think the looks of the Gen 4 Prius sharp.
BUT...
From the angle of the photo, from the front, from the sides...all great.
Just don't take a picture of the rear end...because I think Toyota really blew it.

But it's still OK...because how often are you in the parade driving in reverse?

 

I call it the origami rear end

 

I don't mind the rear it is different and definitely better to my eyes than the quirky looking previous rear ends. Side view definitely the best.

 

They did away with the origami look in 2020. It's not nearly as weird looking now.

Nice ride, @SPB-CH!

 

It is the most relaxing car I have ever driven and I am quite happy travelling within the speed limits and saving fuel! I find the car comfortable with the optional alcantara leather seats. Cruise control works brilliantly. The heater cooling arrangements with individual settings is far superior to my previous car. DAB radio just works! So glad I decided to go for the Prius AWD.

 

I was surprised that my visiting family said the same about my 2019 - that it looks sporty.

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Question for the rest of you, without starting a new thread over it (I searched the forum and google): I read one post who wrote that Gen4's come with a jack even if one doesn't have a spare tire. They indicated that the jack is beneath the rear seat.

Before I go pulling up the rear seat, is this true?

 

Look in Owner's Manual. It for sure would not require prying off the seat.

 

AFAIK, on all Gen IVs, the jack and sealant/inflater, or jack and spare tire, are in the rear, under the "trunk" floor.

 

In the 2019 Prius manual:

 

Thank you. So all we really need, then, is some form of spare tire/wheel combo that would fit the car.

No lie - Monday after work I visited Costco to have a leak repaired on the passenger's side rear tire. They found a screw. At 12:30 on Tuesday I found a bolt-headed metal screw in that same tire, and was back at the same Costco at 1 PM. The same mechanic fixed the same tire, and the same guy rang me up. They couldn't believe that someone wasn't intentionally putting screws into my tires as Tuesday made the third time I've had a screw in one of the OEM tires fixed in about four weeks.

I'm now feeling a desire to have a spare tire.

 

I sort of want to pry off the rear seat, anyway, to see what secluded storage I can utilize, even if it's only just for a $10 bill.

 

Mambo Dave and others w/o a donut spare tire:

I've researched the formed foam parts required to convert to material to securely hold a donut spare. It isn't cheap.

Retail: around $900

Online, from various dealers that discount parts: around $500, plus shipping, W/O the tire/wheel. That's another $200ish.

So, it's not cheap to do it right, and have the spare secured under the "floor" of the trunk.

 

Go ahead! Pry away! If you're like me, you'll break something that will be more than the $10 you want to store there!!!!

 

Yeah, I think I read your post - thank you for your insight and experience. At most I would store a spare, secured, and other things without the foam parts. At this point it's about not being stuck in the middle of nowhere. As long as the mount is down under there where I can attach something to to hold the spare in place in case of roll-over, that's all I think I'd need.

 

You have a good point. The securing threaded bracket for the wheel is already there (unused) in our Touring, it might still be there in the 2019, 2020 models. It would be easy, with appropriate elastic straps, to secure the jack/handle inside the wheel. .