Featured Toyota Prius sales have tanked, 4 reasons why

They're basically flying off the lots as soon as they come in. Hyundai is completely supply constrained.

They're also very hard to distinguish from the Elantra, at least looking from the rear at a distance like on a highway.

 

Am I the only Prius driver that has never had an anti-Prius incident of any sort? Is it maybe because the v isn't as obviously a Prius from behind?

 

No, you are not. Neither my wife, nor I, who both drove Prii for a time, have had any issues.

 

Does a test drive count?

Bob Wilson

 

I have seen exactly one Ioniq. From the behind, which is the view I typically see.

That is why I have no complaint about Toyota/Lexus grilles. I rarely see that ends of the car when I'm in traffic.

Didn't have any in my Gen 2. Since moving here, I get tailgated all the time.

What's the hurry? Everyone drives like their pants are on fire and they can't find anyone to pee on them. Sorry, y'all, you're not worth PWR mode.

/rant

People must be unhappy the football season's over, apparently there are no sporting events to watch.

 

I have seen multiple Ioniqs, a few Niros, a couple of Gen 4s (a small enough amount that I could count them all on one hand) and only 1 Prime in my area.

 

I had not either..until our road trip to Utah this summer. Got 'coal rolled' on the back roads around Moab! The idiot stopped after he did it too...and I just waved at him.

 

When I had the Prii, I was told I was driving a vagina on wheels, but that was about it.

 

Tough crowd.

 

Some men would consider that a kind of blessing.

 

Prius did it's thing, now it's time for "Corolla Hybrid" to take the sales numbers.

Toyota sold 1.52 Million hybrid vehicles worldwide this year, up 8% compared to last year. So maybe Prius sales have tanked, but Toyota hybrid sales definitely have not tanked.

 

The Corolla Hybrid is not available in the US.

 

The major difference is the split rear window on the Ioniq.

Europe might have surpassed North America for hybrid sales last year.

Yet. Toyota hybrids are doing great in Europe, but not the Prius. That is likely because of the import tax, but there are rumors that Toyota is cancelling the popular Aqua in Japan. It and the Prius c will be replaced by a Yaris hybrid.

Hybrid system components and packaging have reached the point where you don't need a hybrid only model. So why develop one when you can just make a hybrid version of a better selling model without compromise.

 

Please give an example.
The 48 volt "mild hybrids" that are coming compromise the fuel economy available with a full hybrid to maintain the industry (auto & oil) investment in the ICE engine as a primary means of propulsion.

EDIT: Nevermind. I read that as "full hybrid model" not "hybrid-only model".

 

@Trollbait already gave some examples.

The Yaris Hybrid already exists (and has for several years) in the European market, and has just been launched in the Japanese market as the Vitz Hybrid. Shorter wheelbase than the (closely related) Aqua/Prius c, and a bit taller to compensate, but identical battery/fuel tank packaging, under the rear seat.

The Auris Hybrid (aka Corolla Hybrid in Australia, and extremely closely related to the Lexus CT 200h here) has basically the same battery packaging as the Gen 3 Prius (which it's somewhat related to, and uses the same powertrain) - over the rear suspension, with a false floor behind the battery.

And then, the new Camry and Avalon Hybrids follow the under-seat battery packaging pioneered by the Aqua/Prius c and Yaris Hybrid, and used by the Gen 4 Prius, to not compromise trunk space at all.

Also, as far as the Prius c not getting much better mileage than the Gen 3 Liftback, there's a couple factors there. The old 1NZ-FXE engine isn't that thermally efficient compared to the 2ZR-FXE (in Gen 3 or especially Gen 4 form), and then the aerodynamics are inferior - the car's smaller, but has a higher drag coefficient due to the conventional hatchback shape, instead of the Kammback shape of the Prius Liftback. You could do a Kammback on a car that size, but then it'd be a 2 seater (or have nearly useless back seats), and be much less useful, especially in the Japanese market, where maximizing passenger space in a small footprint is important (and the light weight ensures good city mileage, where they're using it the most).

 

Sorry.
I mixed up hybrid-only model with a full hybrid.
Coffee too weak today, I guess.

 

Maybe copy the styling & match the features of something with huge demand?
Just a thought ... (ducks behind couch)



.

 

He said something appealing. That looks rather blank & bland, to me.
A few people might even think you confused appealing with apalling. (Is there room behind that couch?)

 

i hear there might be a few 100 thousand that are thinking otherwise

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