Ex-gen 4 owner about to get a 2021 Prime

I haven't noticed any outward changes between the 2020 Limited we just traded in towards a 2021 Limited. One of the reasons we made the swap was for the TSS2.0 upgrade (love it!). The generous trade in, dealer incentive, mfg rebates, Federal and State tax incentives made it a "must do" for us... and we got to try on a different color.

 

Thanks. Find anything on the Wind chill white Pearl?

 

Well I found an unofficial post that it was color coat plus clear coat. So looks like the red has an extra layer which is interesting.
Ordered touch up paint and it comes in two bottles. Base coat and then clear coat.

 

Titanium oxide is a common material; it's in white paints and tooth paste. I wonder why there isn't other IR reflective paint options.

 

Pretty much hit and miss. Several blues! Red and white at some dealers. The black interior is better than I thought so I bought the white with black interior.
Dealers are anxious to get rid of the blues.

Was considering getting a second one but still on the fence as my Highlander is too new to get rid of.

Also need to get motivated and do some more center front low speed auto stop tests. I will be angry if the deleted that for the lane lines display.
Probably user error but Toyota will do some weird stuff sometimes and not inform people.
A Child's life is more important than any additional smoke and mirrors.
All worked fine in my 2019 Limited Regular Prius. Maybe!
No apps on the 11.6" display unless I hook my iPhone up with a USB cable. Not the mama!
I use my USB port for 32 GB of tunes and consider deleting etune and replacing it with the Toyota app a marginal move. But I could be wrong as time unfolds.

So far, 100% run over the safety cone tests on the center front.
Side note is that the RAV IV Prime is out everywhere.

 

They have a red one here with moonglow which is what I wanted but it involved a dealer exchange rather than get a better deal with the one on the lot.
Straight up cash here as Florida does not have any incentives. I was lucky to get $500 off and that took a lot of dealing.

 

OK test 10-20 on auto stop and MPG results.
Warns me but does not stop with a center traffic cone. Will not see a Home Depot bucket in the center of the front. When I hang a cooler bag over the cone it stops. Seems the sensors may be adjusted too high and not straight ahead or slightly toed in.


MPG. Repeat of other tests show that possibility 85% is the spot where driving in HV will stay charged after a full cord charge.
Odd finding. Looks like 74.3 MPG after resetting the trip odometer at the 85% charge point with casual mixed driving.

This Prime is very miserly on gas.

 

Tell the dealer to have it charged up for pickup (all three of ours came with a full tank of gas and fully charged). Be cautious using LDA w/SA (Lane Departure Alert with steering Assist) or even cruise control on those icy mountain roads. Either operation, especially the Steering Assist can present {ahem} "excitement" to your drive on slippery roads. You can definitely feel the corrections it makes!

Congrats and enjoy your new Limited!

 

1. Very good advice above! Have the dealer charge it. Only 5 ish hours!

2. I can verify that the road sign feature is a gimmick. Sorry! The sign pops up when ever there is a speed zone change even with no sign present. And sometimes fail to pop up with a big sign in front of you if the speed zone sign is the same speed.
However it is a good reminder to watch your speed without looking at the navigation screen or the HUD navigation information.

3. Still testing the auto stop slow speed features. Only issue so far is the exact front centerline with some objects. Rear seems to be fine! This is similar to most limited in the last few years. I think the center line road trace function is the culprit as the front sensors are different and more advanced.

4. As for testing MPG and drivability, my advice is to fully charge it at the dealer and always drive in HV/Hybrid mode (you will be on the road constantly and this is the best option). Also you can charge it at the hotel if you get a bottom floor.

Once it drifts down to 85% charge status it gets a steady 74ish MPG with normal Prius Hybrid power and probably better than a normal Prius with more power.

This is a fat pig on wheels if you run the battery down and drive in forced HV mode.

You have to push the HV button every time after you start it.

In pure EV this is a rocket but like most rockets they burn out fast.
Probably 29ish miles in gentle town an country driving and closer to 24 on the deathway.

5. Nice feature I just activated! Over speed limit warning! Use it! I have mine set at 5MPH. I would not go more than 10 MPH over for a warning.

6. Put 40-42 PSI in all your tires! It does make a difference. And I love the 15" wheels and tires and glad to get rid of the low rider curb scrapper crap.

7. Contrary to popular opinion on this forum, the rear cargo area behind the rear seat stinks for space. My wife is very unhappy with the double whammy on deleted cargo space and also no spare tire to rub salt in the wound.
Plead with the dealer to throw a doughnut in the back from an old vehicle in the used car lot. Do not go on a long trip in the middle of nowhere without a spare, truck size spare tire in a can, and a plug kit (something good to drink). Don't drink the radiator fluid!!!!!! But you could get a gallon of whisky for antifreeze and medicinal purposes.

8. Most important: keep a gallon of dry red wine for emergencies (minimum). You never know when you will need it (just don't drive after more than a half of a glass). Some states have go to jail open container laws so be careful. Never know what happens on the road again/
Willie Nelson / On The Road Again - Bing video
Keep the passenger seat empty. I made that mistake in college and will never do that again.

9. Take your USB stick with MP3 tunes.

10. Auto headlights are better in this model as well as the 2019's.

11. Turn on all the safety features with maximum warning.

12. Same on line recognition/ that won't be fixed until there is a standard worldwide on road paint and faded lines actually get painted!

13. COVID and everything else in life. In grade school my German science teacher worked for Bayer pre WW2. He always took an aspirin at 1100 sharp everyday.
He said it prevented heart attacks. This was in 1957!
Nothing has changed at all. Blood clots are the real killer! Vitamin D, A, as well as B complex. You know I had forgot what he taught me until in 1985 when a USAF Flight Surgeon told me (at my flight physical) to consider an aspirin everyday and why. That night I remembered all that Dr. %$#@##$$%% taught me, What a great man. Some of us were lucky to get the real deal in public school.

Final note is Toyota is very slow to adapt new technology as you found out. The most advanced Toyota is the Prius limited with the advanced technology option if available.

I am still stuck with the Prius because of reliability and dependability. But would consider a Subaru or an advanced EV in the future. Most of the other brands have a very poor track record.

20 Most Reliable Cars of the Decade According to Consumer Reports (cheatsheet.com)

Safe fun travelling my friend.

 

I don't think there is a jack in the back! Will look again today but I do remember seeing a lug wrench. Maybe!

Me bad, it is under the rear seat in a slide in door.

Did a recheck of some driving options and checked the Auto EV mode for a short drive.

Was curious what the normal range spread for this mode?

This might be a better option if it doesn't drain the battery down to the first bar (seems to mix HV/engine in certain situations). TBD

 

Jack is under the left side rear seat. Your car should have come with a bag of tools that has a lug wrench, jack handlebar, and towing eyelet bolt inside. It is usually stored in the long bin under the deck on the trunk.

The EV auto for the most part behaves exactly the same as EV mode. It turns HV (engine) only if you really floor the pedal, but otherwise, it does not switch back and force.

 

How do you get to the jack under the rear seat?