Compare 2020 vs 2021 Prius Prime XLE?

I owned the 2020 XLE, and I now own the 2021 Limited. The 2021 is much better. TSS 2.0 is a huge improvement over TSS 1.0. The car feels self-driving at times thanks to the lane-keep assist that switches on smoothly and even silently at times. The steering is also improved from the 2020, and it's sharper and more responsive.

I would get the Limited because of the blind-spot monitor and rear-cross-traffic alert, as well as many other goodies. You can also wait until December or so for the 2022 in case they become standard. The Blue Magnetism color is a delight, and I like it much better than the Classic Silver Metallic I owned before.

 

I just upgraded to the 2021 from the 2020. A few more differences:

• The humming sound is much louder at slow speeds - all the 2021 and newer Toyota electric models are stuck at the high volume setting for the pedestrian awareness noise, as that is no longer user or dealer configurable
  
• The car can engage and set cruise control as low as 19mph, which is great for residential streets. The 2020 and previous had a minimum of 27 or 28mph with no leading car.
• Middle console storage bin lost an inch or two in depth. Not very noticeable, but I'm pretty sure the previous year was a bit deeper.

 

Some more minor differences:

 

why would they change the configuration of those hoses?

 

It looks like they went back to having an expansion overflow tank like what previous generations used.

 

Always making "improvements."

Although, I was just looking for something today in that bin. I sure had to root around for a while before I gave up and decided to look elsewhere.

 

2 more "improvements"....

 

I remember reading an article about how automakers deal with currency fluctuations. The theme seemed to be that they can't change prices so they make minor adjustments to change the production costs. The article mentioned stitching in the seats and other changes that only real fans would notice. I don't know if that is what is going on here, but it sure was an interesting concept.

 

I think I like the matte look on the 2021 pillars, but how it looks may depend on the body color. I wonder what 2022 model will bring for more "improvement".

 

I liked the matte look on my wife's trim two '17 Prius ... until I put on the adhesive window vents. After cleaning the area for the tape with alcohol, the part of the pillar that I cleaned beyond the tape area dried looking like someone swiped an almost dry paintbrush with white paint on it. I keep treating it and waxing it and it goes away for a while and comes back. The gloss on my Prime didn't do that. If you get the matte, be careful.

 

Thanks for the warning. It may not be the matte that is the problem. Maybe, cheaper finish on them? I will have to see the real one if I really like it or not, but in general, I like the matte finish better than the glossy on anything.

 

Meanwhile, many are complaining about the glossy exterior finish pieces on the new Ford Bronco Sport because of micro-scratches.

In general, glossy black surfaces are pretty universally panned by YouTube reviewers because of scratches and fingerprints (interior).

It seems you can't win.

SM-N981U ?

 

Looked into getting a Scion xA. Dealer told us if we ordered next week we could get the upgraded stereo for no charge because there was a disruption in the standard unit's delivery to the factory.

 

Do they still make Scion? I thought Toyota discontinued that brand.

 

This was years ago. The xA was one of the original models with the smaller xB. Was looking at it over the xB, because the latter couldn't get side airbags. It was cancelled before the brand was.

 

That's what I thought. Years ago, I helped someone who just moved to the US for a purchase process of a car. Her English was not perfect yet. She wanted to buy a small new Scion, I can't remember A or B or C, but, it was sold at a Toyota dealer I have dealt with before. What I did not know then was that even though it was sold at a regular Toyota dealer, Scion brand pricing was "no-haggle" I think similar to the Saturn branded cars back then. I had to disappoint her that I could not get the price any lower than as advertised. lol