Prius Offroad 1.5" Lift Spacer Review

I wish I would have known about the code before I ordered. Mine has been on for about a month and I have noticed no handling or mpg changes. I keep wanted to pull the trigger on bigger tires but I don’t really want to spend the money and lose a few mpg. Super tempting though! It would give me an extra 2 inches of clearance. That would be higher that a RAV4!

 

I installed the Prius Offroad lift kit on my brand new, one week old, Prius Prime with only 300 km (180 miles) this last weekend. I could not be happier with the resulting increase in clearance. No more fear of bottoming out on my 5 degree steep concrete driveway or getting hung-up on snow this winter.



When I brought the PP home last Tuesday, I was not comfortable with only 1.5" of clearance to the bottom of the front bumper when approaching my driveway. I had been trolling this forum prior to taking delivery of the PP and was aware of the Prius Offroad lift kit because of your post Mavi, thanks. The evening the PP was picked up at the dealer, I ordered the lift kit and was able to install it without issue this last weekend.

Without Lift Kit (stock):


With Lift Kit:


For those considering installing the Prius Offroad lift kit, do not hesitate. It is a very high quality product that has been well thought out and given a considerable amount of attention to detail. The written instructions were well laid out and I appreciated the references to the required torque values on reassembly. If considering it as a DIY, I would consider it a moderate level of difficulty for those comfortable with working on vehicles.

For those considering the install as a DIY, here are a few things to be aware of and a few tips:

• Although there currently is no installation video for the front lift spacers for a Gen 4 Prius Prime, the steps are very similar to that in the Gen 3 front lift spacer video. A few differences are:
  • The plastic trim below the windshield is anchored using a full length tab on the bottom of the trim that engages in a slot below the windshield. After removing the two push pins on each side, the trim has to be lifted out of the slot near vertically. IMO, it is best to start separating the plastic trim from the slot at the center of the bottom of the windshield and working your way in both directions towards each hood hinge.
  • Once released from the slot, arcing the trim upwards at the center allows it to clear the hinges without having to remove the end caps (as shown in the Gen 3 video).
  • The wiper motor is only held with 2 screws and a pin/grommet arrangement near the firewall. After removing the two mounting screws, sliding the wiper motor assembly toward the passenger side releases the grommet from a slot at the firewall.
  • The top strut fasteners project thru the metal pan on the Gen 4. Therefore, there is no need to remove the pan as shown in the Gen 3 video. This saves a lot of time.
  • There are washers between pan and the strut support metal under the pan in a few locations. Be careful not to move the washers when removing or installing the strut back into position.
  • Prior to reinstalling the plastic trim under the windshield, clean the tab along the trim, and the slot under the windshield of debris.
  • When reinstalling the plastic trim, arc it high in the center with the end caps installed on the trim. this will allow the trim with end caps to clear the hinges.
  • I coated the tab on the trim with silicone grease to make it easier to insert the tab in the slot.
  • Bungy cords helped the keep drive shafts from disengaging from the transaxle (?).
• The rear installation video for the Gen 4 accurately describes the installation.

I hope this helps!

 

I should have also mentioned that after installing the lift kit 2 days ago, I had a wheel alignment this morning. I was very happy to see that the tech was able to get all the parameters to within spec.



Assuming the parameters were within spec prior to the lift kit being installed, the report provides some insight as to how the lift kit affects the parameters prior to the wheel alignment.

 

How does it look if using the stock 15" wheels / tires?

I'm waiting on a 2022 Limited Prime and am considering these, but will not be getting new wheels / tires yet.

 

Also, how does this affect fuel economy?

 

iPhone ?

 

I suspect not at all in urban driving. No highway miles on mine yet to comment, but others report there is no penalty.


iPhone ?

 

Does installing the lift kit affect the warranty at all? (for future reference)

 

Probably depends on your dealer.


iPhone ?

 

I know that I am extremely interested in this just for raising it off the ground so we don't have to roll out of the car. 15 inch tires are going the way of the dodo bird so what size tires are recommended with this mod? Do the wheels have to change as well? Thanks.

 

PriusOffroad makes some comments on tire sizes on their website.

BTW, winter seems to be behind us and I am so happy I did the lift kit soon after the purchase. We had the second highest snowfall on record this winter. Snow banks are still over five feet high on our yard.

iPhone ?

 

have you all seen this? @43.4 MPG with 2"-inch lift kit
https://black.jmyntrn.com/toyota-prius-tire-options/product/general-atx-2/

 

there is a group of folks who went from a big truck or another gas guzzler who feel no remorse for any drop when you are starting at the top of the mpg chain... less than 7mpg lost from 50mpg compared to getting less than 19 is a huge win! so yeah, they bought the Prius for the mpg but refused to be confined by the mpg forces and wanted their Prius to look bad nice person!

plus, i like to get rowdy in my prius----> Tallest Lifted Toyota Prius Lift Kit - 12" inches of ground clearance from ground to oil pan - YouTube

 

Really?
Someone buys a Prius for the MPG, (and maybe environmental/Not sending money to Saudi reasons),
And they do a mod that makes it less efficient strictly for STYLE reasons?
That's suffering for your fashion!!!

Me? I'm selling off my stock Level 5 17" wheels and bought stock 15" wheels just to get close to the MPG the EPA says it should be getting. I can barely get into the 40's at ~77MPH on Road Trips.
Who needs fashionable 17" wheels with really new tires, cheap?

 

id clean egr, replace plugs/injectors and clean the intake manifold spotless and see where you are at.. those wheels are nice!

I acquired the prius, and it wasn't my first choice when all things split. to think, I didn't know what id bought when I bought it and actually disliked it being in the driveway... little did I know it was top of the line plugin. my choice was f450 dually with a travel trailer, very happy the prius was forced on me, I would've spent way too much on something that doesn't get me as far for less and easier than the Prius. I could add so much on this thing that i get 25mpg(from colorado to alaska with bad o2 sensor code due to the engine almost toast was at 19mpg) and still feel I'm winning... different strokes for different folks aye!

 

It's hard to understand your words.
Are you saying you had a prius that was getting 25 -19 MPG?
You should buy my 17" wheels because they look 'nice' and you don't care about MPG???

 

The Prius is a terrible car from an aesthetic or social status perspective. I can't imagine why anyone would buy one if they weren't in it for maximizing MPG.

 

yep, while driving from colorado to alaska, couldnt get a new o2 sensor and wasnt gonna let it stop the drive.
and yes, 17" wheels from the factory look great and make the car look better. there is a different type of care about mpg for some, coming from a big motor car or lifted truck and starting with 60mpg at best driving slow... to making it look better and getting 43 in a prime... still winning and to know the other vehicles on the mountain might get 19mpg... its all on how you look at it really.

whats the saying? one mans trash is another mans treasure.. or.. something. I've had more ladies want in the Prius than anything other than a motorcycle... everyone that sees the Prius is immediately captivated and in my opinion, is at a higher status than most luxury or exotic vehicles...
literally hear all the time, i never liked a prius until yours or thats the only prius ive ever liked.. badass prius... think outside the box man! plus a differene buying it for someone else and it being part of the split you kept... you didnt buy it for yourslef for the mpg... youd rather get the 850 gran coupe or something like that