What are your thoughts on the Gen. 4 Prius?

The REx has a pretty small gas tank - have you mapped out all the stops or are you bringing along some gas cans? And do be careful on the highway - you know the deal with performance in REx mode. Speaking of which . . .

. . . which is excellent advice, although it won't make the gas tank any larger.

 

It won't make the gas tank physically larger, but it'll allow the fuel pump to run for 2.4 gallons worth, rather than shutting off at 1.9 gallons.

 

Ah, so the advice was more excellent than I thought.

All the same, even 2.4 gallons isn't much of a dent in 800 miles, so it sounds like bwilson will have many snacking opportunities.

 

What does all of this have to do with the Gen 4?

 

I think it was something like "My thoughts on the Gen4 Prius LB are that I bought a used BMW i3 instead."

 

for some reason, someone unhappy with the gen 4 safety system options decided that derailing this thread would be a good way to spit in toyota's face.

 

Calm my Prius friends. I'm well aware of the operational weaknesses of the i3-Rex and how to handle them. I've also got a clue about the 2016 Prius, all models, and sad to say, what is missing. In a year, 2017, things may change.

Today, we sold our 03 Prius and sent it to a good home, our housekeeper who also takes care of my wife. So we have an opening that an i3-Rex could fill if the price is right. A 2016+ Prius with some combination of TSS-P, 1.5 kW inverter, tow package, or rear-wheel drive could become a solution … if the position isn't filled.

Bob Wilson

 

So, getting back to the subject of the thread... I've currently got a 2005 Prius. My thoughts on the 2016:

1. I like the futuristic space alien design. People who want a car that looks "restrained" or "elegant", i.e. like every other car on the road, can go buy a Camry hybrid or a Ford Fusion or something.

2. Don't like the central display. It's just lazy penny-pinching by Toyota. The 2005's speedometer is perfectly positioned, to the point where I miss it any time I drive a rental car.

3. That white plastic is going to start to go yellow and look like shit after 5 years, and there doesn't seem to be any alternative.

Other than 2 and 3, I like the car. If it wasn't for those two issues I'd be pretty tempted to buy one. As it is, I'm going to look at the Volt or maybe wait for the Tesla 3 or Bolt.

 

white won't yellow if it has the proper additives. hopefully, toyota has done it correctly.

if the central display is throwing you a curveball, there's probably a lot more going on. all the best with your decision.

 

First week of April I test drove 2016 Prius TRD v1 with 18 inch wheels トヨタ プリウス | カスタマイズカー | TRD Ver.1 | トヨタ自動車WEBサイト and 2016 Prius modelista "iconic" version 東京オートサロン2016 | トヨタモデリスタ in Japan then when I came back to Houston Texas I test drove 2016 Prius Gen 4 model 4 touring. Forget 2016 Prius Gen 4 model 4 touring, I want Prius TRD v1 with 18 inch wheels or the Prius Modelista "iconic" version with 18 inch wheels, lighted seat, lighted antenna, side mirror and door lighted handles, 展示車両紹介 | 東京オートサロン2015 | トヨタモデリスタ What about the standard Prius Gen 4 model 4 touring? after test drives and feel, I have no standard feeling.

 

You'll get used to all those things. After you drive it for a couple of days, you get used to it. The HUD helps because it places the speedometer in your line of sight. I don't think the white will ever discolor and look like an old, yellow dishwasher.

 

(a) Black plastic appliqué everyone keeps talking about, sold in the PriusChat shop:
2016 Prius Lower Console/Shifter Appliqué Package - OEM - PriusChat Shop
OR
(b) Buy a Model 2 ECO, where everything is black to start with
OR
(c) Paint it

[EDIT]
Forgot:
OR
(d) Order the already-black Model 2/2 ECO parts from Toyota (probably horribly expensive, but, hey, you already paid more for one of the higher-end models)

 

It seems to be a pearlescent white on mine, is it the same on the US models ?

 

i haven't seen anything but pics here. i'll leave it to owners to describe. some love it, others have covered it, but i don't think yellow will ever be an issue.

 

Yes

 

I picked up a 2016 Four Touring to replace my 2006 Pkg 7 which I really liked. I've gotten a new car every 10 years because I usually need one after 10...not so with the 2006. There were precious few Priuses to look at here in my area--even now I have the first Four Touring in a five county area. I am now suffering buyer's remorse however. The seats are even more uncomfortable than they were in the 06. The voice command no longer works for many of the car's functions like it did in my 2006...it only adjusts this nosey infotainment system that I will NOT signup for or register. And I will never even try XM--waste of money because I do not live in my car like many do. I paid an extra $200 to cover up that gawd-awful white and there's still far too much of it showing in my opinion--it's way more ugly than the photos online show! The cover-up is that gawdy shiny black plastic--I much prefer the interior in my 2006. The storage is sorely lacking--the glove box will not even hold the paperwork and manuals that come with the car. Speaking of which, there are 2 5/8" of manuals/instruction books not including the lovely leatherette binder that they come in. The cover won't even snap shut. Who reads all this stuff?

The fuel economy isn't what they said it is--I'm a very careful driver and was getting 51 mpg in my 2006. Now I'm only getting 48 mpg...what gives? The ride is not measurably better, nor is the car much quieter except for the engine whine--that's definitely reduced. The under-board storage in the trunk area is pathetic...might as well not even be there. The trunk mat, trunk roll cover and seat backs are made of shabby materials. My 2006' roller cover is much nicer than the new rollup in the Four Touring.

I bought the Four Touring for all the included-safety-features. If they don't work any better than voice activation, infotainment system, on-board storage and seats, then I'm definitely SOL. The 17" wheels look nice and the exterior body styling is polarizing per the reviewers, but I do like that quite a bit. I wish cloth or more appropriately REAL LEATHER were options on the Four Touring. This plastic seat cover stuff is really cheap looking and feeling and the car reeks of some sort of plasticizer or solvent.

The display options are mind-boggling, but I suppose that is remedied by pouring over the encyclopedic tome of an owners' manual.
In short, if you have an older Prius that you really love, save yourself the disappointment of this new one and KEEP your old one. My 2006 was running fine and trouble-free. I made a serious error in thinking that 10 years was a perfect time for a new car!

 

If you wanted cloth and the safety hardware, a Three with the advanced technology package would've given you that, without the fuel economy hit of the 17" wheels. (The fuel economy ratings were done on the 15" wheel model.)

 

I feel for you...please tell us more :O

When I test drove the car I felt like I couldn't justify of Gen 3 trade-in. Yeah, the spare tire compartment feels so cheapened...

You should be getting better mpg though, is this on the display or is this measured? I also don't get why the storage compartments are less...and don't get why Toyota said this car is cheaper to make yet we feel it more in our wallets...

 

A few comments:

• Your choice of the Touring with 17" tires is why your mileage isn't what you'd expect
• The softex material is very nice. Soft and comfortable in hot or cold conditions. It reportedly lasts longer than real leather and it's what Toyota now uses in the Lexus.
• Loss of storage cubbies and spaces - I agree. That's where this model is a downgrade from my Gen 3
• From the few miles I've driven mine so far, it it WAY better than my Gen 3 in ride, body roll, steering and quietness!
• The white plastic - nobody likes that and the applique is the best way to hide most of it

 

Holy smoke! Your review wins top honors in the Negative Hall of Shame!

I can relate to some of your gripes. Maybe we all should have rented a 2016 model for a week, before purchasing. The short little "test drive" is not enough. And the media reviews are biased (or bought off by Toyota.)

But that 60 mpg I'm getting... that cures a lot of them complaints.