Is Gen 5 Prius really better-looking than Gen 4 Prius Prime?

I saw a silver LE and a black LTD today.

Silver, while being a boring color, blends in well with Gen 5. The car still looks like a cute little Japanese car. It is hard to mistake it for a Lamborghini.

Now, the black LTD looked totally different. I saw it immediately after the silver one, and I did not recognize it as a Prius. I said to myself, “Now, that car looks a lot more aggressive than the Gen 5 I just saw! Hmm, is that a Dodge Dart??” When I came closer, I realized that it was a black Gen 5 LTD. The chrome emblems were all covered with black film, and you could barely read the “P R I U S.” The black does wash away the features of Gen 5, especially the rear-bumper cutouts, the latter of which is actually a good thing, but it makes it look like an aggressive sporty car. It probably does run hot under the sun though.

I also regularly see a white Prius Prime XSE (or XSE Premium). I don't like the glossy black trim.

 

Yes, there is a government study that says that silver or white cars are considerably more efficiency when you use the A/C (and the heat pump in the winter in case of Prius Prime) than black cars.

Silver and white cars are cooler, says study

Potential benefits of solar-reflective car shells: Cooler cabins, fuel savings, and emission reductions—ScienceDirect

 

Someone parked a blue Gen 5 Prius LTD next to the Turquoise Jewel yesterday.

I think they are both very good-looking cars.

Gen 5: More contemporary-looking but more wannabe, more blocky-looking, less aerodynamic.

Gen 4 Prime: More creative-looking but more goofy, slimmer-looking, more aerodynamic.

I am OK with both cars’ looks. I would like an updated car with TSS 3.0 vs. TSS 2.0. However, more importantly, I wouldn't like car payments (mine ending in a little over a year).

Speaking of contemporary, I think the glossy black rubber trim, which is very common now, will go out of fashion fast.

One thing that is amazing is that I have never seen a paint job that hides dust as much as blue magnetism (spirited aqua metallic), including silver and gray. The Turquoise Jewel hasn't been washed in six months, but it still shines with no visible dust!