Feeling Conflicted with my 2020 Limited....

i am also considering a bev. a mistake? not if you can make the finances work.

 

Yeah, PRIME and all other PHEV are the stepping stones for BEV. Go for it if BEV suits your lifestyle. I wish I could make that transition sooner than later. But in my area, even with LEAF PLUS EV range, the car can be bricked without juice. And BEV cost more to operate, at least compared to 4Gen Pruis or PRIME for our local.

 

In our local, the electricity rate is very high at 21c/kWh and gas price has been relatively low below $2.50/gal. For PRIME at this rate, running the engine on gas to drive HV is cheaper than charging the battery at home to drive EV. I know of no other BEV that would run more cost effectively than PRIME (or Gen4 Prius) for fuel (= electricity) use. AND, considering the reliability of Toyota, the maintenance costs specific for the engine part of PRIME (or Gen4 Prius) is almost negligible.

 

I'm in a very similar situation as you. Four months and 4000 miles, and really like my Prime XLE, but the EV driving is so much more enjoyable than HV! I've gotten used to the technology, and feel that reliability will still be stellar over the long run.

Biggest cons for me are the reduced cargo space, and 25 mile range. Just barely enough for my commute, so I usually just make it on EV by 0.5 miles, or have to use a tiny bit of gas. Annoying in my situation.

However BEV is probably not for me yet, since the charging infrastructure is not quite there yet, and we have taken some longer trips.

In the end, the Prime ia good enough for me to keep, but may seriously consider the RAV4 Prime when it's out. Takes care of my two biggest concerns, and still allows long road trips and cargo hauling.

 

I would stick with the PHEV. Depending on your normal daily use, a PHEV has the advantage of a BEV, but without the disadvantages of a BEV on a road trip.

 

Do you have another vehicle for longer trips? I myself prefer the prime since I dont have to worry about range anxiety.

 

If I spent $35k+ on a Limited, I'd have the same thoughts. Leaf, or just few $ more for a Tesla... And don't forget about the Bolt - at current prices it's a very, very nice value proposition.

That's why I stick with premium/xle.

 

That's the main reason I traded my PiP in on a Prime. It was often kind of nerve wracking wondering if the ICE was going to fire up as I pulled into my driveway. I didn't mind so much that the engine would run, but I didn't want it running for just 30 seconds. Most days, I made it easily, but in hot or "cold" weather, it was iffy.

I think, we could do well with a BEV as long as we had the Prime for trips. I thought I'd miss the cargo space of the Gen 3 & Gen 2, but it has not been an issue for me with the Prime. But I think I might be frustrated having just barely enough EV range for my normal commute. As it is, the roughly 30 miles I get now is perfect. I have over 2,400 miles so far on this tank. I'll need gas pretty soon, but last time I got it was two months ago today.

If a BEV will cover at least 200% of your regular commute so you have range to spare and you have another car for road trips, I'd think a BEV would be a great option.

 

Chevy Bolt is about the same price or even cheaper if you consider LT model. I am considering trading my Prime but still hoping that Chevy will drop the MSRP price of Bolt.

 

Yeah, that would really annoy my bank balance.

 

Every time another TESLA spontaneously combusts I'm reminded by my wife why she said NO

 

I could not be happier with my Prime Limited! Yes, EV is addictive, but I‘m a fairly conservative driver and so find the gas/hybrid mode pretty pleasant, too.
I do see what the OP means, though, about feeling disappointment when the EV miles reach zero. When the car is fully charged, I feel like I did when I was a freshly licensed teenager, waiting for an excuse to borrow dad’s car!

 

If the BEV meets your need for your daily travel and you have an extra car for long trips then go ahead and swap.

 

Not to mention that with the PiP, you had to run the ICE to get heat. Running battles with my wife on cold days with trips that otherwise were within EV range

 

I get that. Over the course of my life I've owned a couple of cars that seemed great in the showroom but that I never really warmed up to once I started driving them. It happens.

Personally, I don't notice that much difference between EV and HV mode in normal driving. Maybe that has to do with my driving style. (ECO mode fits my driving style well. I'm that old guy you're swearing at as I gently accelerate from a stop light.) Sometimes I try to eke out the miles in EV mode, but most of the time I just... drive.

 

...and why we got the LE.
Final net price, including expensive CA sales tax: $18,7xx +/-
All kinds of incentives, rebates, etc. Hard (impossible I believe) to find a more economical, new car, with the safety features we wanted (DRCC), with a lower cost to own and operate. My VW was purchased in the same vein - a "loaded" model costs 40% more and has the same chassis and engine. Mind-boggling to us.

OP if you care about finances, run the numbers. With the tax credits and rebates, selling/trading a near new Prime might not be a big loss like it would be for a "normal/ice" vehicle. Heck, I think we could "make" money on ours! Otherwise I could never advocate for getting rid of a recently bought car to get into another one.