Are you Toyota's ideal customer for the Prime?

Same as the Volt?

 

Just how many screen swipes and "button" pushes is it to get the same radio station playing that it was on from the previous trip? How responsive are those volume buttons on the right? Is there a mute function?

Related: If you have Pandora (or some similar service) on your phone connected with bluetooth, same question... how many steps it it to get it to play (assuming it is up already on the phone)? Is radio and bluetooth connected audio a pain to switch between?

 

Know your audience.

GM had a major upset with Two-Mode. They targeted those yearning for a better giant SUV. Unfortunately, the result wasn't that efficient, didn't offer comparable power, and was very expensive. So, GM moved on, targeting those yearning for a better compact car for that next attempt. It didn't lack in power, but wasn't as efficient as hoped and was very expensive.

All along, I kept asking the same question over and over and over again... Who is the market for Volt? The reason was simple. I wanted clarification about what audience GM would seek for gen-2 Volt. Unfortunately, the lower price and improved efficiency didn't do any good. Turns out, they targeted those same buyers, resulting in flat sales. No growth.

Toyota isn't making that same mistake. Seeking out a niche group doesn't make any sense with a goal of wanting to sell the vehicle in high volume. They targeted the masses instead. It starts with drawing in enthusiasts, but offering compelling mainstream features instead. Power & Range is traded for a much lower price and much higher efficiency.

To grow the market, you must do more than retain the strongest traits of Prius though. This is how the seat variation in back and the large screen come into play. We will quickly see the initial interest from enthusiasts be replaced by ordinary traditional buyers. How that's accomplished is the magic part. This seemingly strange rollout availability is simply a build up for demand. Salespeople get used to the paradigm shift. Once that happens and enough early owners share their experiences, supply is ramped up. Showroom floor discoveries begin. Growth is achieved.

 

People who read these forums.

 

I guess Toyota didn't want people with family's to buy the Prime. Seating for 4 and limited cargo space. Most of America wants big SUV's. All I need is enough room for my family. Seating for 4? Really?

 

All I have to say about seating is if you need more seats you need a bigger vehicle. A bigger vehicle won't be as efficient which is what this prius is designed to be. Prius V or rav4 hybrids are more family oriented.

 

Excellent summary.

I see the situation with Prius Prime very similar to Prius of the past. A lot of people complained that it wasn't as big enough to fit a large driver. We continually had to point out that if you wanted a fullsize vehicle, you had to buy a fullsize vehicle. Prius was a midsize, for midsize people.

Now, we have to point out that Prius is a midsize, for midsize families. You can still fit 2 carseats in back. You can fit 2 teenagers in back too. So, saying that "Toyota didn't want people with families to buy the Prime" is quite misleading. If you have a fullsize family, you should buy a fullsize vehicle.

 

niche market.

 

I have a family of 4. This will be the perfect car for us. 5 people don't fit in my 2004 Prius anyway.

 

Well the 2 Prius I currently own seat 5 people so I'm slightly confused by your statement. I don't need 5 seats everyday but there are times I do. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a car to seat 5. I also know I'm not the only buyer that feels this way.

 

I feel the same way. There are 5 people in our home & 6 vehicles. Minivan 7 seats, SUV 7 seats, Lexus 5 seats, Camry 5 seats, 2 Prii 5 seats. For short trips we all ride together in one of the Prii.
Dropping to a 4 seater is not an option. Hopefully by the time I'm ready for another car there will be a 5 seat Prime.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Mine doesn't because having two car seats or booster seats in the back leaves about 6 inches between them. I don't know anyone that narrow.

 

Understood, and I agree completely, but look at it this way... You wouldn't buy a 2 seater vehicle if there were 3 people in your family would you?

I tried to put 5 adults in my prius a couple times, it was like clowns in a phone booth. Not comfortable for anyone. even though the 3 in back were on the petite side.

For me as a commuter vehicle, 4 seats is fine. Even the lack of cargo space is possibly okay...as a commuter. The wife has a rav4 and we have a truck for when we need more seating or cargo space. A loaded prius with 5 people is also very sluggish and uses more fuel.

The vehicle purchased should be applicable to the purpose it will be used for. With 4 seats this vehicle obviously is not the right tool for the job For you. Hopefully Toyota will see the light and release a 5 seater. maybe they'll have a prius v prime in development. Until then, they are trying to make the most efficient car possible. I look at it Like the truck guys outdoing each other on horsepower and towing capacity. but prime is going for efficiency.

 

it's definitely going to be a personal decision for each buyer. some it will work for, and others it won't. the lift back being full rear seat is really not a part of the equation, except for those trying to decide between the two.

 

People who download the owner's manual before the cars are even off the transport ships. Then actually read them page by page and exchange information.

 

Those, me included, that focused on two-mode's highway efficiency were disappointed. The city efficiency was brought up to nearly the level of the highway, which is big on such vehicles.
No hybrid truck offers comparable towing and hauling to the ICE model to date.
Yes, the cost was its downfall. Perhaps GM will do better with the $500 eAssist on these class of vehicles

In ten months, Volt sales are higher than last year's, and matches 2014's. 2016 has a chance at being the best sales year for the model. Monthly Plug-In Sales Scorecard

Low fuel prices and Americans' preference for crossovers has been a damper on all true car sales. The gen2 Prius success over the gen1 isn't the norm, and had help in high and increasing gas prices.

Yet improved handling is the big improvement for the gen4 and Prime, and talk of improved power with the Prime's dual motor use were highlight at the introduction. Then the Prime's interior packaging was botched.

You weren't the target audience. They are in Japan.

 

It's just my wife and baby. So we have 3 people. I prefer to keep the car seat in the middle which wouldn't be a option in the Prime. There are a lot of times we go places with her parents so I need seating for 5 sometimes. It's a bigger pain to take 2 cars then find parking for 2 cars. Sure the Prius doesn't fit 5 comfortably but it's nice to have when needed. My other problem is the lack of trunk space in the Prime. I have stroller and so need cargo room. Hopefully in a few years it will seat 5. I really wanted to buy the Prime so I'm disappointed.

 

Seems like there's a "sea change" at Toyota. I'm normally very averse to such euphemisms; not sure why, but I like the feel of this one. And this is not just with the Prime: the whole Prius line. There was an extra-long pause leading up to the unveiling of 4th gen, you could feel the frantic action behind the curtains.

So who's a typical Prius customer now? Youngish, flippant, impressed by electronic "trinkets", part of a large, deep-pocketed demographic? Who knows.

 

Did someone in Japan get confused and put them on boats to USA first? Generally the target audience always gets the goods before everyone else.