Thinking of buying the new Prime

Sorry to hear about you losing your tesla in the LA fires.

Helpful table here. Not to aware of current market but will likely depend on how long you are willing to wait, how far you are willing to travel, how much above sticker you are willing to pay dealer. Dealer mark up varies from dealer to dealer and often hidden in dealer installed options.

The have the XSE premium trim. Very happy with it. The cost for the digital rearview mirror which I do not have is $200 but if you have two cars that are equal in every other option getting the digital rearview mirror is a no brainer in my opinion. I would say the Advanced technology package which I do not have is also worth the $1085 when you consider how difficult or impossible it would be to add it aftermarket. Heated rear seats at $350 would likely be appreciated by rear seat passengers if you plan on any trips to cold climates. Dashcam is easy to install after purchase.

On the other hand the other trims LE and XSE do not have those options and several other options like JBL and the 12.3 inch screen but have most of what makes it a great car and at a significant discount. Digital key I have but do not use it all that often. Did not work with old iPhone 11 but works much better and reliably with new iPhone 16.

Solar charging roof was really rare when I purchased my car in 2023 and I don't think I have seen it on any car I have come across on the roads but does look like it is available on several models available. Hard to make a practical case for it though unless you like to park in the sun.

Premium paint is a very personal choice. I do not have it and am still very happy with Midnight Black Metallic exterior.

The wheels on the two higher trim levels are beautiful but not very practical when it comes to shopping for tires. Very limited tires available for 19" wheels. I purchased aftermarket wheels early on so I would have a wider selection of tires available. Easy change and am very happy with both the look and the ride with new wheels.

That highlights most of the differences in trims.

 

Oh man, add that to the list of what can kill a Toyota....Rust, Accidents, California wildfires!

We almost got a new Prius last year, checked them all out, but then my wife test drove a Corolla Hybrid and liked how much smaller it was. (And they have an AWD version which is good in the Colorado winter.)

I recently read Toyota is coming out with a Plug In Hybrid for the Corolla in 2026....that's interesting!
I'm REALLY hoping Toyota brings the V-6 back to the Tacoma and V-8 for the Tundra (non-hybrid and non-turbo)....I want to replace my 2014 Tundra V-8 but don't like the current selection of trucks enough. (She pulls our camper.)

 

True for the federal tax credit when buying. A lease company could pass on the amount if going that route.

No differences between years.

I'm seeing all three trims. One might be cut off on the mobile site. Should be able to select the third.

It is the wheels. Hybrids with larger wheels also have lower efficiency, as will any other car. They add weight to the worst spot. Swapping wheels is easier than trying to add upper trim features though.

 

That was true a year and a half ago when purchasing a vehicle. Federal tax credits did nothing for the Plugin Prius. They changed the terms and loosened the restrictions for leasing and I am not familiar with those.

Here is an article about how Leasing sidesteps the Federal tax credit requirments. Not sure if you lease a new plug in prius if you can get the credit but the answer a year ago seemed to be yes.

California Air Resource Board also has the Clean Cars 4 All Program. Requires trade in of 8 year old or newer. Currently income based. Link here.

There are a lot of aftermarket wheels available at very good prices.

 

A car bought for leasing is a commercial use, and commercial purchases don't have the same requirements as consumer sales.

To get the best fuel economy, the tire size also needs to be the same width.

 

If you’re leasing, congress is looking at the loophole

 

Here's a reasonably priced gen4. 2022 Toyota Prius Prime Hatchback Available Near Torrance | 16465084
I prefer them over the gen5 larger and heavier battery, but you do get 40 miles range in EV mode. Depending on what your paying per KwH to charge. The gen4 seems to get better gas mileage, smaller engine - lighter car.
Don't know what your really looking for, but this would be more economical from a financial point of view, including sunk and operational cost.

Just my 2 cents

 

I've been absent for awhile too, and returned recently to learn more about the new generation of Prius I'm looking to buy. The premium version has all the bells and whistles; mostly additional safety items. The rear view mirror that uses cameras is a brilliant invention, which I had to have, and the 360 camera view is also a great feature. Visibility is an issue on the latest Prius, but the cameras mitigate the risk.

We looked at the 'middle' trim level first, appreciating the glass roof and not really wanting to save about 10% of the purchase price to give that up. I also thought the extra 10% for the features of the premium model were well worth it. It's not a cheap car, but I kept the last one for 21 years, and at that rate might not need another one after this....Yes, of course it's going to be silver.

 

Regarding the rearview mirror camera, adjusting to the mirror as a screen can be difficult for some. Has to do with the fact looking at the screen means shifting focus, which doesn't happen when using the mirrors.

 

My rear view camera lens gets a bit messy, in the rain. Water obscures the lens, so image is worthless. Don't know if the new system has air foils or something to keep the lens clear.

 

I've yet to actually use the mirror, because of course I don't have the car yet, and I'm sure it will take some getting used to. But the rain is a good point - we get lots of that where I live, so I will have to be diligent about cleaning off the lens. At least I won't have to see my backseat passengers making funny faces at me.

Also, I wonder if it's legal to obscure the rear window with extra junk in the trunk...honestly, officer, I can see fine. Look!

 

Many buyers care more about looks than efficiency, so the higher trims have bigger wheels on a majority of models.
Can't order the smaller wheels. Toyota might have to adjust the window sticker to reflect the mpg change.

 

!!!!Bling!!!! Mommy & Daddy says your buying something sensible and efficient - so they go with whatever looks nice.....

 

That's a good question about wheel size.. The worst of it isn't the mileage loss, it's that we're limited to only two or three lousy choices for tires.

 

According to the specs I looked up on Toyota Canada, the premium model comes with a rear camera washer.

 

As long as you have both side mirrors, I believe that satisfy the written law. If a trooper was going to write you up for that, he/she probably has a quota to meet and they would've found something else to write you up for.
IMHO; They should be pulling over those lifted cars and trucks w/o mud flaps or tires extending beyond their fenders. That's responsible for most of the damaged windshields and paint chips on the hood of your car.