12” Info Media screen

I despise them, think they’re primarily a cheap-out measure by the manufacturers. Heat/vent controls in particular: tactile/ergonomic controls you could readily adjust without taking your eyes off the road used to be the norm. Then came lame combos of unergonomic buttons and LCD displays. And now touch screens, which make adjustments while driving totally dangerous, akin to texting.

 

I thought the 2023 Prius does have control knobs and buttons for "important" things? Am I wrong?

 

I see three categories of H/V controls:

1. Completely distinct, tactile, easy-to reach, ergonomic controls, eyes-on-the-road possible.
2. Finicky, uniform buttons/toggles, often multi-purpose, aided by lcd displays. Protracted eyes-off-the-road required.
3. Touch screen.

In my estimation, the 2023 Prius falls into category 2. Excerpt from 2023 Prius Owner's Manual:



^ For a little levity, do you see the temperature setting "knob" (item G)?

For comparison, here's an excerpt from an older, base model Honda Fit Owner's Manual. The lower levels have this system, while the top levels "upgrade" to a much less intuitive/tactile system, partially aided by display screens:

 

Thanks @Mendel Leisk ...the controls don't look optimal...no knobs..and I like knobs! At least they are there, I guess.

Edit - why does the diagram of the controls depict buttons...but the captions mention knobs? Confusing...

My favorite control scheme ever has been the Prius V wagon. The large control knob is easy to reach and very simple to use. Just brilliant design.

 

Yeah the temp “knob” is in-fact a toggle, in a row of identical toggles. And the temp indicator is an LCD display. So to set a temp takes protracted eyes-off-the-road. Ditto for fan speed, and vent mode.

I’m doing a thread hijack I know.

 

i don't think we know much about the media screens yrt. but knowing toyotas past performance, they are likely to be disappointing, and they have vaguely spoken about monthly charges for certain features, so hold onto your wallet!

 

Mendel, I wonder if any can be set using voice control?

Daisy, I’m also curious as to what can be done without a subscription. Like GM and others, I assume many things that use their over-the-air OnStar-like system will need a subscription, That’s something I haven’t seen in any of the reviews I watched. They show how things like Airplay work, but nothing about subscription services.

 

You can definitely connect your phone to avoid having to have any kind of subscription for GPS, etc. From what I can tell, a subscription will only be necessary if you want the built-in GPS with “points of interest” and if you want the digital key and “Hey Toyota” voice command features. I’d imagine can use your phone voice commands to make calls and whatnot.

 

Knob in this case means mulitposition button. You push it multiple times to toggle through settings.

 

I think you can at least push the toggle switch up or down, cycle either way through the displayed settings. This helps in particular with mode: with our gen 3, you push the button, it cycles one direction only, and you overshoot you guessed it...

Yeah to call these systems an "advance", over old-school sliders and knobs (with intermediate detents and stops at both ends) is absurd. As someone once told me, we're going backwards.

 

When those sliders and knobs originally physically moved flaps and valves, or the vacuum lines that controlled them. Yeah, an electronic button is lower cost than a knob or slider, but it is also more reliable in terms of part count.

 

I can live with toggles. I'm liking the setup more now.

However, I really wish we could get a model without the video screen. I'm one of the few that would rather use my phone for maps and such. A model without the video screen...but with the video rearview mirror would be a great option. But that will never happen.

 

if i can't use it with winter gloves on, i'm not interested

 

See, I don't understand that view. Why would you want to use a much smaller screen that you might have to look down for(unless you're using some type of phone holder) when the other option is a screen 2-6 times bigger that also sends information to what's basically a heads up display? Especially when that larger screen is able to be connected to your phone to to use all the same apps?

I mean, I kind of get it if you love Google Maps and the car doesn't have Android Auto or something(like the situation in my Ford Ranger), but the gen5 has wired and wireless versions of both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You're going to be able to use the same apps on the big screen as on your phone screen, but the big screen will be easier to see and closer to road line of sight. And for navigation, the car's system will send the basics to the main instrument cluster so you won't even have to look away from the road.

 

Are you able to say: "Hey, Toyota. Set the temperature to 72 degrees." ?

(Unfortunately, the only climate control voice commands examples in the manual are AC on/off, temperature, and fan speed. Commands for changing modes and rear defroster will have to be tested in person to see if they are recognized.)

 

Our first car didn't even have a radio. Our kids one day in the back seat, brought along a little transistor radio we'd picked up. First time for piped-in sound in the vehicle. Cranked it up, it was that infamous strippers theme music...

I can just picture an aircraft pilot, saying "Hey Boeing, full flaps down and reverse engines. Please..."

 

The Entertainer. Scott Joplin. Composed in 1902.

 

True. However, I have tried carplay and didn't like the interface very much...likely because I'm 'used' to the phone interface. I'm sure I'd get used to carplay in time though.

With that said, I just find the console screen somewhat unnecessary. For example, our Prius C didn't have a console screen. All the info existed on the tiny LCD on the dash and that was more than enough. That paired with the phone was just fine. I did go ahead and add a console unit with a screen though because my daughter wanted one and it was easy to add the backup camera to it. yes...our Prius C didn't even have a backup camera...

 

The small screens are bigger than the rearview mirror. I'd rather that for the back up camera. Those are now mandatory.

I do understand the dislike of a touchscreen in a car. I'd prefer a separate input device, like a touch pad in the parent's Acura. Then the screen can be mounted in a spot better to glancing at while driving.

Now I don't care for speaking to machines. If I'm alone in the car, I want to just be talking to myself.