Prius Prime vs Volt compared at same price

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by prestoOne, Mar 9, 2018.

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  1. prestoOne

    prestoOne Junior Member

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    The Prius Prime and the Chevy Volt are the same price for me.

    The Volt MSRP and price in some places is $7K more but thanks to the government I get them for the same price.

    I have sat in but not driven the Prime and the Volt. I like the space in the Prius. The reliability is a coin flip to me I own a Corolla and it is reliable but everyone i have talked to loves their Volt. No Prius owner talks yet. It is new here.

    I need some experience from those that have experience driving the Prius.

    1) One of the things bothering me about a Prius Prime purchase is "hey that one is 7K more but I can get it at the same price". What am I missing in the Prime that is in the Volt?

    2) The Volt has an 85Km EV range (double) but 30% worse mileage after that. Basically I drive 30Km per day winter and summer for now and for the next 8 years. Can a Prius owner help me gauge what I am giving up with the Prius?


    Estimated resale value on these cars. Is it about the same?

    thanks so much.
     
    #1 prestoOne, Mar 9, 2018
  2. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    Welcome!

    @Mendel Leisk and @Tideland Prius are a couple of Canadian Prius owners. Tideland can better explain to us the Canadian trim offerings since they are different than what is offered in the US.

    Although most of the users here are in the US, there is a fair size international crowd too. @bisco and @jerrymildred are a couple of user here with the older plugin Prius.

    @bwilson4web has a lower trim Prime and has been a Prius owner for a long time.

    I have tagged these people so they will see this thread & respond.
     
    #2 Prodigyplace, Mar 9, 2018
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome!
    1) price isn't always a reflection of options and etc., you really need to break it down, piece by piece.

    2) do you not do any driving besides the 30km a day? weekends? if the prime does 30km on a charge, it's a no brainer.
     
    #3 bisco, Mar 9, 2018
  4. ForestBeekeeper

    ForestBeekeeper Active Member

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    With my Prius Prime, in the summer I can normally drive 18 to 24 miles [28 - 38km] on a charge. In winter the first 6 miles [9km] of each trip is on ICE as the vehicle warms up.

    I think it would be critical for you to have access to charging while at work each day.
     
    #4 ForestBeekeeper, Mar 9, 2018
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  5. prestoOne

    prestoOne Junior Member

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    My thought is Will it still do that 30Km on a single charge in 5-8 years?
     
    #5 prestoOne, Mar 9, 2018
  6. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    It looks like Toyota Canada rates the Prime at up to 40 km EV. If their rating is based on the US EPA rating, you may be able to get more than that depending on driving conditions.
     
    #6 Prodigyplace, Mar 9, 2018
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  7. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    How much depletion in EV range has @bisco seen with his plugin? The batteries are similar,
     
    #7 Prodigyplace, Mar 9, 2018
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i'm down about 15% after 6 years and 38,000 miles ev, 18,000 hv. most of it in the first year. and prime is much better tech.
     
    #8 bisco, Mar 9, 2018
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  9. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    First start with your requirements that come in mandatory and optional. The mandatory means it must be in the car. The optional can be assigned a weighting to evaluate different cars. Let me give an example:

    MANDATORY
    • dynamic cruise control
    • automatic emergency braking
    • space for wife and two dogs
    OPTIONAL
    • gas range and efficiency
    • electrical range and efficiency
    • internal volume with two passengers
    • affordable
    The mandatory requirements define the cost of the car which is an optional 'affordable' requirement. Cars that come with it standard tend to have a lower cost. But you'll have to evaluate your local cost IF you accept these as mandatory.

    Gas and electrical range and efficiency are weighted values. If each is given an equal weight, the Volt is:
    model gas range efficiency electrical range efficiency
    1 Prime 615 mi (984 km) 1.9 gal(USA)/160 km 25 mi (40 km) 25 kWh/160 km
    2 Volt 360 mi (576 km) 2.4 gal(USA)/160 km 53 mi (85 km) 31 kWh/160 km
    3 2014 i3-REx 78 mi (125 km) 2.6gal premium (USA)/160 km 72 mi (115 km) 2.9 kWh/160 km

    There are four independent variable for three cars. Depending upon your weighting any of these four variable could identify the optimum car.

    Purchase price depends on local market.

    GOOD LUCK!
    Bob Wilson
     
    #9 bwilson4web, Mar 9, 2018
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2018
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  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Just food for thought: does it have to be a plug-in, or would you consider regular Prius as well. Do you value the 5th seat, spare tire? How important is it go electric-only, vs very good mpg?
     
    #10 Mendel Leisk, Mar 9, 2018
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  11. prestoOne

    prestoOne Junior Member

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    I am not considering hybrids or EVs since this is my only car.
    EV for all my weekday and most weekend travel.
    Hybrid for longer summer trips, we just don't have the charging infrastructure here right now.

    The big attraction of the Volt (or Clarity) is that 85Km range and how that is a nice buffer for battery degradation due to temp or time.

    Resale in 5 years....Prius becomes easier if it resales for close to the Volt.
    Is the extra 7k cost of the Volt simply the battery is one thing I am trying to figure out.
     
    #11 prestoOne, Mar 9, 2018
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  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you might have to repost in other cars, or add onto a volt thread for opinions.
     
    #12 bisco, Mar 9, 2018
  13. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    1. Umm...bigger battery? and I guess real leather as optional equipment (Toyota offers cloth or synthetic leather). Prime does have the safety stuff (as well as full-speed radar cruise control) as standard equipment.
    2. Can't speak for the Volt but folks here have been exceeding the 40km in the summer but in the winter, it'll be 30-40km. I think Volt owners have been exceeding the 85km in the summer too. The Prime does allow you to get away without installing a home charger but if you have access to a Level 2 240V charger anyway, then the extra charge time for the Volt isn't bad (Since you're only charging 1/2 as often)

    Here's some pros and cons. It appears you're comparing the base Prime to the base Volt LT?

    Prime Pros:
    • Toyota reliability and experience with hybrids
    • Standard Toyota Safety Sense P (AEB with pedestrian detection, full-speed radar cruise control [i.e. works down to 0km/h], lane departure alert w/ steering assist and auto high beams)
    • 5.5 hour 120V charge time (vs. 13 hours for Volt)
    • 2 hours 10 mins 240V charge time (vs. 4.5 hours for Volt)
    • Longer total range (1,024km). Gives you flexibility as to when to refuel. (Volt has a 672km range)
    • Prius-like fuel economy in hybrid mode
    • Independent multi-link rear suspension
    • Full LED exterior lights (Except reverse lights)
    • Temperature-regulated SofTex-wrapped heated steering wheel
    • Auto up/down for all 4 windows
    • World's first vapour-injected heat pump (can run the heater without the engine as low as -10°C)
    • Remote Heat/Cool (which I believe is different from the Volt's remote starter system). This system doesn't use the gas engine but rather the Li-Ion battery
    • Pretty cool carbon fibre rear hatch (Saves 8 lbs over the standard aluminium hatch of the regular Prius) with a dual-wave rear glass
    • Honestly, I think it handles just a bit better than the Volt (credit Toyota's TNGA platform)
    • 40% thermally efficient 1.8 litre engine (just behind the new Camry's 41% thermally efficient 2.5 litre engine which is the world's best at the moment for gasoline engines)
    • Front side window acoustic glass

    Prime Cons:
    • It's slow (0-100km/h in 10.5-11 seconds in hybrid mode and about 12 seconds in EV mode. But it is peppy in the 0-50km/h range)
    • Seats 4 (although it does have a covered centre console box in between the seats and an armrest)
    • The cargo area is raised, reducing the height and creating an uneven floor when you fold down the rear seats
    • No rear wiper because of the dual wave rear glass
    • Smart Key System is only on the driver's door on the base model (higher trims add the front passenger door and rear hatch)
    • Because there's no Entune system, Canadians are "starved" of traffic and weather information (gathered through HD Radio.. but for some reason, we need Entune to process the data - even though we have HD-radio-capable head units. It also means we don't have access to mobile apps that the Volt has because it requires Entune)
    • Low ground clearance (4.8" is a touch lower than the standard height for passenger cars.. which is around 5.1-5.5"). Good for aerodynamics.. could cause problems over higher speed bumps in mall areas or steep driveways
    • Prime Plus owners can chime in but with my limited experience, the base model's method of setting up a charging schedule seems more long winded and troublesome with the 4.2" MID vs. the higher models where the charging schedule can be done on the larger 11.6" touchscreen
    • No Apple CarPlay or AndroidAuto


    Volt Pros:
    • Longer AER (85km vs. 40km) allows for unplanned trips in EV mode
    • Technically seats 5 (though the middle seat isn't comfortable)
    • More squared off cargo area (vs. the Prime's wider but shorter cargo area... so it depends if you carry wide things or taller things more often)
    • Mobile App to control/check vehicle functions/status
    • Apple CarPlay/AndroidAuto
    • OnStar Services
    • Location-based charging (knows to charge immediately when you're away from home. On the Prime, you have to activate "charge now" or unplug and plug in the charger to start charging immediately)
    • 8" touchscreen (7" is standard on the Prime. 11.6" 1920x1080 HD is optional)
    • Faster from 0-60. Feels like a modern 4-cylinder compact car
    • Rear seat side airbags
    • Front passenger knee airbags
    • Automatic heated front seats and heated steering wheel (auto engage depending interior temperature)
    • LED reading lights and dome lights

    Volt Cons:
    • Tight rear seats for taller passengers
    • Active safety equipment is optional on Premier trim only
    • Engine will run below approximately 0°C (ERDTT in Volt owner's speak) to run the heater.
     
    #13 Tideland Prius, Mar 9, 2018
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  14. prestoOne

    prestoOne Junior Member

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    Thank you Moderator of the North!

    This whole thread was great for me. thank you all.
     
    #14 prestoOne, Mar 9, 2018
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  15. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    You're welcome!

    Oh I forgot, there is a CHG Mode for the Prime which allows you to charge the battery (up to 80%) so that you can run on EV later on (e.g. charge up on the highway before you get into town and then you'll have enough juice to travel within town in EV mode or in times where you can't charge up overnight/during the day).
     
    #15 Tideland Prius, Mar 9, 2018
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  16. Old Bear

    Old Bear Senior Member

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    With the Prime, you get this very pleasant 1-minute Toyota of Canada advert with an attractive young woman reciting the praises of the Prime:



    For a more serious and detailed analysis, I am sure that other PriusChat regulars will comment.
     
    #16 Old Bear, Mar 9, 2018
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  17. kevins007

    kevins007 Active Member

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    I drove a Volt but never drove the Prime. Flew to Maine and bought the Prime and drove it back to Wisconsin.
    So what did I base my decision on? Toyota is the leader in hybrid technology and Toyota’s quatilty is unmatched by Chevy.
    And after 9,000 miles I can say that I am very satisfied with my decision.
     
    #17 kevins007, Mar 10, 2018
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  18. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    #18 El Dobro, Mar 10, 2018
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  19. Oniki

    Oniki Active Member

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    30 km is well within the Prime's EV range, perhaps for the life of the car.
    On long drives the Prime will have ~ 40% better MPG
    The Prime safety features are reason alone to buy over the Volt
    Volt depreciation is considerably higher than the Prime
    Prius reliability is stellar
    Toyota customer support is stellar

    If I was OP I would find this to be an easy choice.
     
    #19 Oniki, Mar 10, 2018
  20. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    The Prime has only been out for a year. It is hard to say what its depreciation will be longer term. Some aren't happy with the PiP's rate.
    It is mostly for the battery; the Volt has almost 10kWh more than the Prime.

    The Volt has liquid thermal management of its battery pack. It will warm the pack for more efficient charging. In comparison, the Prime's battery heater is for just keeping the pack's temperature above the point charging and discharging it can damage it. Now, level 2 charging might be needed for that battery heating, but is worth the investment for cabin climate preconditioning. The Prime can do that on level 1, but not at the same as charging. Level 2 charging is also slightly more efficient.

    I think the new Volt still has Mountain Mode that gen1 owners were using as a charge mode. Which might be why Mountain mode is still around. It will only take the battery up to 40% charge, but it is starting with more total battery.
     
    #20 Trollbait, Mar 11, 2018
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