To Do list on my third Prius Prime

I am with you on the value of the LE model. If I had a choice, LE would have been the one I bought. Toyota rebate and the tax credit is a fixed amount, so for LE, it represents 38% OFF the MSRP whereas the same amount of discount is only 31% OFF for the Ltd. But, for this purchase, Ltd was the only one and supposedly the last 2021 PP they had. If I wanted the LE model, I had to go out of state to purchase it. I was not that desperate.

I just hope when I am ready to sell it, it will appraise for more than a LE, maybe not a full $5K more but at least $2-3K more to make the trading to the next car more economical.

 

Strange. I have exactly the same one as your Sabrent 4-Port USB 2.0 Hub with Individual LED lit Power Switches (HB-UMLS). It has worked on both the 2017 PP Premium and the 2020 PP LE. But come to think of it, on the 2017 PP Premium with 11.6" screen, it was showing only one USB at a time. I can't remember if the HU had the ability to recognize more than one USB at the same time. On 2020 PP LE, it was definitely working to show two different USBs simultaneously.

BTW, Sabrent (and other brands making clones) also sells USB3.0 version of the same hub. This one did not work on my 2017 and 2020 PPs. I have not tried using USB hubs on my new 2021 PP Ltd. I will report how it works.
Sabrent 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub with Individual LED Power Switches | 2 Ft Cable | Slim & Portable | for Mac & PC (HB-UM43)

 

Yes, I have both 2.0USB and 3.0USB versions of Sabrent 4 ports USB hubs. On my 2017 model, the 3.0USB hub did not work. The 3.0USB hub worked fine on my computer, so it was not defective. The 3.0 USB is supposed to be downward compatible, but somehow Toyota HU does not like the USB3.0 hub. I believe it is only USB2.0 spec. I also have a mix of both USB2.0 and 3.0 thumb drives. I have not sorted out the combination, but I think both 2.0 and 3.0 drives worked on the 2.0 hub connected to 2017 and 2020 PP.

 

After 10 days of the new PP ownership, I pulled the trigger on buying a custom-made Canvasback cargo liner. I was thinking of a DIY cargo cover, but even if I successfully cut the material to fit the cargo area, it will not going to cover the side of the cargo. The OEM cargo tray is functional for protecting the deck, but it does not protect the side of the cargo nor the back of the rear seats especially when it is folded down. I had an old bedspread quit I was using to cover the entire cargo area for my previous PPs. See the photo below. But without at least some mod, like velcro tape, it would not stay on the side of the cargo.

I will see how well this custom-made cargo liner is going to function compared to a cheap old bedspread method. It was very pricy for what it is. But if it really protects the very hard-to-clean black felt-like cargo material on the PP, it may be money worth spending. But, the item is made to order. I won't get it for 4-6 weeks.

 

I did not buy bulbs from the link in the video. I just posted the video for installation reference. I think what I bought are generic T10 W5W and festoon base 31mm led bulbs, but the spec may not be correct. I can't remember the exact specs. They are cheap, less than $1/pc from amazon, like this one. If it fits and the light turns on, I call it good. I do think the Gen3 bulbs are compatible with PP, but I do not know the specs on all of the bulbs in PP. Unfortunately, the PP manual is not helpful for this. There is no list of bulb specs for internal lights.

EDIT: I just looked at the link in the video. No way I am paying $34 for 6 bulbs (Standard) or even more expensive $61 for the same 6 bulbs (Premium). I know I paid less than $20 for more than 20 bulbs over 2 years ago and used them on all of our vehicles. They all work fine, and now more than 2 years, none has burned out so far on our PathHy.

 

Finished installing the Spacer Mesh seat cover by CoverKing on my new PP. I picked a two-tone color that matches the exterior color, Titanium Glow. Very nice fit on the upper portion, but the bottom part is a bit loose. With Softex material underneath, the antiskid pad that came with the kit was a must.

It gives Moonstone-look. But the looks aside, I really like the super breathable material. I just could not stand sitting on the sticky Softex seat.

 

Finally received a custom-made Canvasback cargo liner which I ordered almost a month ago. It is very well made out of heavy-duty canvas material. Fit perfectly to the contour of the PP on the deck, sidewall panel, and back of the rear seats. I purchased separate sidewall covers and the longest bumper apron. All are held in place with the sewn on velcro. They weren't cheap. Someone who is good at sawing can probably be able to make something like this at a much more reasonable cost. But if you can't DIY, this is extremely good protection for the black "felt-like" upholstery material that covers the trunk area of PP.

If you ever keep furry friend(s) in the rear cargo space, then this liner is going to be a perfect solution. As most of the owner of PP is aware, that black "felt-like" material is hair, fur, lint, dust, small debris magnet. Once it gets on it, it gets tangled into the fabric and will not come out even with a powerful shop vac. Although the canvas material is synthetic and somewhat water-repelling, I suspect it is not 100% waterproof. I decided to keep the cargo deck tray on top of it to protect the traction battery under the deck from a large amount of water spell if that ever occurs. Besides, it is much easier to wash the rubber cargo tray than wash the liner. This one is a must-have for a dog lover PP owner.

 

Well, compared to my old quit (see my comment #29)... they were expensive. I guess $179 for the cargo liner is OK, but then $50 for the small side covers, and $35 for the bumper apron... Total $264+TAX. I probably could have skipped the bumper apron. That piece is the most overpriced of all three I think. But... now I have a unified theme.

 

For my first long out-of-town trip, I placed the lithium battery jump pack under the passenger seat. It is a perfect fit. Then I put the full-size spare in the rear seat well. To make the spare tire locked in, I removed the rear seat headrest, folded the rear seat, and placed it under the front passenger seat as well.

 

Last week's my first 10+ hours driving in a single day on the 2021 PP Ltd proved to me that the seat is lethal to my butt. My butt was so sore and numb. By the end of the trip, I could hardly walk. Strangely, I did not have this problem with the 2017 PP Premium when I drove the same 10+ hours/day trip numerous times. I drove my 2020 PP LE for a max of ~5 hours/day a few times, but I don't remember the seat being so uncomfortable either. Just like the exterior trim pieces and window switches on the 2021 model, did Toyota cheap out on the seat material in the 2021 model from the previous models?

For my second 10+ hours driving on the 2021 PP Ltd yesterday, DR.Flink Memory Foam Tailbone Pillow to rescue. I use this pillow for my work sitting at a computer station all day. It relieved the pain and provided the comfort I needed for this long trip.