2019 model will have a normal backseat

Will that also be the case in the States?

 

too bad, i was hoping for the full hatch, they would've had another customer

 

You mean lose the bump?

 

I want it to gain back the load rating.

 

adding the fifth seat to volt made a world of difference

 

I sit in the corner till it gets a spare.

 

It's also the cheaper fix.

 

what minor improvements does the battery need?

 

Hummm, the rear centre console or space for a tiny person to sit on middle rear seat, I don't need either. Like most minivan, removable rear seat to make the bigger cargo is what I want.

 

I don't see Toyota changing battery capacity or chemsitry for a small improvement in a low volume car. Perhaps if they had more plug ins.

Liquid cooling has a high cost for small packs, and the Prime can always fall back to the ICE in high temperature cases. Plus there is plenty of space for the current battery; it just needs to be repackaged.

There isn't much space under the rear seat of a car. I took the rear seat out of the HHR. Put in easy disconnects, and it will still be a pain to remove the seat with the narrower cabin and doors than in a minivan. Besides, the Prime's charger may still be there.

 

When I was in our dealership, ostensibly to get some oil, my eyes flitting around, I saw one 4th gen sitting on the lot, and two Primes rolling.

 

Good points. With current design, maybe there aren't much free space in PRIME. I had second row captain's seats removed and third row bench seats stowed in our older Sienna to make completely flat 8'x4' cargo space for drywall and plywood. I miss it terribly.

 

If they're finding more space in the Prime, I'd vote for a spare tire, not a 5th seat.

 

it would have to be square or rectangular

 

BUT!.... you are all missing the big question! will the 2019 come with the solar roof?

 

not if they are adding a seat

 

That's a real long shot though.

Even the previous plug-in gen, with less range, didn't have a spare. It'll hopefully happen, in some plug-in vehicles, has to happen sooner-or-later. But for now it seems like the engineers take the easy route: turf out the spare when they're looking where to put extra batteries.

I think it'll take consumer resistance before that will change.