New Prius or New Camry Hybrid?

Redesigned model just came out, right? Is its ADAS any good? ADAS is where Toyota shines.

 

I had a 2013 Scion iQ (tiny car with a 1.3L engine) that got over 40 mpg. I always wondered what amazing mileage one would get with a hybrid option....80 or 90 mpg??? We'll never know!

 

Is the trunk bigger? When I looked online it said the cargo space is 15 cu ft and the prius is 20cu ft. Maybe the prius measurement is with the tonneau cover off? Or is it more about the shape of the trunk space? I think that regardless of whatever sedan or smaller hatch back you get, the floor space is probably what matters most to people, since stacking things isn't always easy with groceries or a stroller for example.

We have a stroller wagon that takes up a lot of the prius trunk with the tonneau cover on, but I've seen these things in corolla's and camry's, and they take up most of the trunk all the same. Except in mid size sedans the floor is longer, so you get a bit more stuff around the edge.

For our second car, I wouldn't mind something a bit bigger like the camry as the kids get older. But I really do like that the prius is small and easy park, all things considered. The versatility of putting seats down is huge too. Though, I still prefer my matrix for getting ikea furniture and other such things. The front passenger seat folds down so you can get a full 8 feet flat space back to front and it makes a big difference. Plus it has a wider hatch.

 

With the Prius, you can take the headrest off the front seat, slide it forward, then recline it back to create a fairly level surface. I've had 10' boards in mine. (You just need a couple blankets to protect the seat, dash, and door.)

 

I never tried this... It may come in handy when the matrix gives up the ghost.

Rock chips on the roof skin I didn't notice have begun to rust and bubble, including right where the windshield is placed. We're hoping some rust converter and simple wire brush might buy us another 2 years before it leaks and we can get another second car.

Two kids within 5 years of buying a house and the parental leaves associated means we've been making 2/3s of our expected income for a while. And while we haven't been hurting financially, we havent exactly had the opportunity to do a LOT of saving for a second car (when we would rather pay the loan of the new car off faster).

Basically we can dump our emergency savings into a newer used car, the existing car loan, or we can keep a buffer in case of something like needing a new roof or windows instead. And we'd rather just keep the old local driving bessie going as long as possible.

Doing the math dumping savings saves us maybe 3k over 4 years vs our current plan. Which, honestly, isn't worth the risk that comes with needing to go borrow for an emergency event in the future at whatever rate is offered at the time.

 

Probably more like 45 mpg. LOL

 

The 2025 Corolla hybrid starting price is $23,625 and increases to $27,990 for the XLE which now comes with a 10.5 inch multimedia screen, according to the Toyota site.

The 2024 Prius starts at $27,950 and reaches $36,365 for the Limited. (2025 Prius is not out)

Those are significant price differences for cars with comparable mileage ratings.

The Corolla is a much better deal, and both are likely to be very reliable.

 

It is not really a better deal. You are getting less features with a Corolla. You get what you pay for. There is no added profit in the Prius.

 

The top Prius costs $9,000-plus more than the top Corolla hybrid.

What do you get with the Prius that makes it a car that’s $9k better?

Save the $9,000 and put it in a CD or treasury bills.

 

So I went for a Costco run and everything fit in the Camry's trunk. I had to swap it back into my Prius at the end of the day and I had to move bigger items (case of water, towel paper) to the back seats as it didn't fit in the Prime's trunk. I could have maybe removed the cover and stack it high but I'm not sure it'd have been better. Could have folded the seats, which is usually what.I do, but regardless, all the same stuff fit in the Camry's trunk without overflowing. My understanding is the trunk is bigger on paper because you get more vertical space but the rear glass is pretty slanted and limits space quite a bit.

I will have to try Hammersmith's trick for boards! I'm assuming he slides them right under the glove box or in front.

I wouldn't be able to gauge much about a stroller since I don't use one. However, the Prius trunk isn't super wide and the Camry's trunk seemed much wider. I have no clue how it compares to older gen Camry though but it looked like you could put a stroller horizontally in the Camry more easily than the Prius.

I like the Prius, and I've moved and helped people move with it, but the trunk space is nothing like a Matrix or even a Yaris. I had a Yaris for a short bit and I've shoved so much big ridiculous stuff in there that I could never fit in the Prius. To me in the Toyota lineup, closest thing to a Matrix cargo space wise is something like the Rav4 which is cavernous with the seats down. The Camry did feel like a better stock ride and was much quieter on the highway. Handling on the Prius is easy with different tires but the sound insulation is a nice difference and not something I could do easily on the Prius. Depends how much highway driving you'd do but I'd probably keep the Matrix as long as I can.

 

Cargo space for wagons, hatchbacks, and SUVs is measured to the ceiling. A few might publish to the top of the seats(GM did for the Volt), but they need to measure the entire space for the EPA. Interior volume is used for sorting into the EPA size classes. Fueleconomy.gov specs are to the ceiling.

The standard for measuring the cargo and trunk space is also different. Cargo is basically just using a tape measure. It can overestimate the actual space, as the nooks around wheel wells and such could be included. Trunks are measured by using faux suitcases. Fill the trunk up to the point it can be closed, and then add up the suitcase volumes. It underestimates the trunk volume.

The kammback slope to the Prius hatch makes using all the space tricky compared to cars with a more square back.

I think the Corolla Cross would be the closest to an actual Matrix replacement.

 

Ah that must be it. I didn't know that's how they measured it! It's interesting to hear about the stroller thing in the camry too.

I find the costco trips are fine so far for what we normally go and get. I have to put some of the toiletries in the backseats. But yes, I do plan on keeping the matrix as long as possible.

The downside to the corolla cross is that they've gotten big. At that point you're almost better off with a RAV4. But I don't like big cars, and our next big commitment car we want to be an EV if possible too. So we'll see what happens.

Maybe I just find a newer matrix (ours is an 03) used when this one goes and drive that for a few years as a second car to save money while we wait for more EV options to arrive that could fill that smaller hatchback form factor in the future. I'd like it to be a toyota given how good they've been to me over the years compared to the other cars I've had. Or maybe we just find a rock bottom lease deal on something we do not want for long and live with the fact its a poor min/max long term financial decision, but could be a good short term solution for reliable/safe if there's a wild promo. Like that crazy nissan leaf lease deal I remember seeing the US got not too long ago that made it extremely cheap to run one of those for 3 years.

If only there was a plug in or EV corolla cross the R4P is extremely expensive.

 

Between the two it would be the bigger Camry for me.

If cost is the factor, a Corolla Cross.

But personally I would be looking at the Toyota Crown Signia for a better luxury ride and sound proofing in a Japanese built vehicle even though it is more money.

2025 Toyota Crown Signia | Toyota.com

In reality the upcoming new gen RAV4 may be worth waiting for.

 

The Signia is a great car(as was the outgoing Venza), though both are too big for my needs. But if I had a family of 3-4, including at least one kid in activities...

 

I forgot the Cross is an option as I rarely see them! I never got to sit in them so not too familiar but seems like a good option.

I see a lot of people suggesting the Signa but at the pricepoint I'd take the Sienna! Looks like all the space in the world and if I recall they were decently comfy.

 

I've seen the cross locally. It's a bit awkward to be honest. It doesn't look nice when you actually walk around it. Being behind one in traffic I was struck by the fact that the muffler was super exposed and visible well below the body line of the rear bumper cover too, along with other parts of its undercarriage. It sits higher than a corolla but I don't know that it should.

The old matrix was only minimally higher off the ground than the corolla of the time. And everything looked "neater" as a result. And I think someone else on the boards here had test driven one and said it felt kinda floaty, and not as well glued down as the sedan corolla, prius, or even the RAV.

But I havent driven one so I can't say for sure.

If I had to take the same price between Signa and Sienna, I'd probably go with the Sienna as Prii would. I have kids, and if the gas useage is ultimately similar, then the sienna would offer more space too. Plus minivans are versatile with removable seats, so if it allows for the two back rows to be swapped out, then you can haul a LOT of stuff including full 4x8 sheets of plywood.

 

Yes, the new 2025 Civic Sedan & Hatchback Hybrid with 200 hp, Motortrend tested the 0-60 in 6.1 seconds! I test drove them both and they are phenomenal and the size is between the Corolla & the Camry, the backseats are roomier than the Prius.

 

As a possible point of reference, one of my sons traded in his Corolla for a Honda Civic.. He regrets moving away from Toyota.

Recently, i had t replace my totalled 2017 Prius. I have a deposit on a 2025 Camry XLE to be delivered at the end of November. The Camry will have a MUCH better ride that the 2017 Prius 2. It larger, heavier, and has more ground clearance too.

 

The Prius is for my wife. I may replace my 2018 Q5 in 12 mo with either the Camry or the Civic hybrid. I like the Civic and it's size a lot but would prefer a smaller wheel and I have yet to test drive the Camry.

 

I know my youngest son regrets his Civic but he had in-law pressures to buy a Honda. He was much more satisfied with his Toyota.