There are several different Gen 4 Prius trim levels offered in the US. Some have option packages that can be added. Prius 2 - base model with NiMH battery & spare tire Prius 2 Eco - Li-ion battery. No rear wiper or spare tire. Highest MPG. Prius 3 - Spare tire and additional features. Prius 3 Touring - 17" wheels instead of 15" Prius 4 - High end model with 15" wheels Prius 4 Touring - 17" wheels See http://www.toyota.com/Prius
I would speculate that your driving experience will be influenced greatly by the environment you are driving in, and I have no idea what road conditions and driving environment in Kenya is like. Objectively, I would say The Prius is designed to be driven like any other vehicle. Hybrid Synergy Drive, means the vehicle will demonstrate unique behaviors, such as shutting off at stops when warmed up and the battery charged. Such as starting out from stops on battery power. But overall...you can expect to start it up....and drive it. Toyota has gone to great lengths to homogenize the Hybrid driving experience. The "ownership" experience now means you own a hybrid. Which means you own a vehicle that has regular Internal Combustion Engine parts and various unique Hybrid elements. These are also designed to simply work. Like any vehicle, they aren't a problem...until and only IF they become a problem. The singular element that with enough time absolutely will by definition become a decision, is the Hybrid Battery. But their life-span is reportedly very good. Most get a decade or longer...and plenty of miles. Not really being familiar with driving conditions around and in Kenya...my only real advice would be, be aware of The Prius's low ground clearance. Also you want to keep the hybrid battery fan clean and working well. There are threads about this. How The Prius will work in your specific driving environment? Well let us know. I would say, The Prius is designed to be used in various driving conditions. and environments. It should be able to be driven in any environment a regular vehicle can also tackle. But it is by design....NOT a 4 wheel drive vehicle. And would struggle in extreme environments just as any standard vehicle would. If you are only aware of 5 in your area? You are a pioneer for your region. Which would lead me to a separate concern and that is where you will find maintenance and repair support? But.... Best of luck....and enjoy. You will get the benefit of EXCELLENT fuel economy, and low emissions. PS. I just googled images of the Toyota Fielder.... Which I have never seen in North America. But in comparison? I would say The Prius should be perfectly utilizable in any environment The Corolla Fielder can operate. No hands on experience with it...but it appears to be outwardly a similar hatch-back design. I can't remember the year now....but my mother decades ago, owned a Corolla Station Wagon. It's been a while since Toyota has offered that to North America. The Matrix has been the offering. Interesting...The Fielder looks like a nice vehicle.
Thanks alot for the info and encouragement. A toyota fielder is fantastic. We have a handful of gen II PRIUS but the 2010 model is what I was referring to. The matrix is the equivalent of toyota ALEX/RUNX which is like a fielder in a different body. I'm hoping the prius will be as good as the fielder if not better. Our major roads are pretty good I wd say but some of the minor roads leading to most homes are uneven morrum roads Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
Congrats! I grew up in Kenya. Hopefully your roads are better than what I grew up on. We had Land Rovers, Combis, and 4 wheel drive Peugeots. They have now paved the road almost all the way from Nairobi to where I grew up- up country.
Sure EthelMertz most of the major roads are now way better than what we used to have Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
