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Upcoming Prius?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by darkleafar, Jun 26, 2018.

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  1. darkleafar

    darkleafar Member

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    I'm a Prius v 2012 owner, and looking for my next car.

    I'm looking for this knowledgeable community to give me advice on my next choice.
    A
    Let me start by saying this : If the Prius Prime was a five seater, I would have bought it already. Similarly, if the top tier Prius 2018 was a PHEV, I would have bought it already.

    So in summary, I need a moderately spacious 5 seater, and I want it to be a PHEV.

    I had a fantastic time and loved my Prius v, so.i would prefer to go with a Prius again. However I want a current model year, and what I am looking for Prius no longer offers.

    However, I heard some rumors that there are upcoming Prius models that might meet my needs. Is there any truth to that? If anyone knows, I would figure this community would be the first to know.

    My best leading choice right now from the current models available is the Hyundai Ioniq PHEV.

    I also like the sonata, but after the February announcement in the Chicago auto show, the promised sonata 2018 PHEV never came out. It's not on their website and I can't seem to find any info as to why it got delayed (they had claimed it would be released Q2 2018). Any info on this?

    Any other cars you guys would recommend that fit my needs?

    I've also considered Chevy Volt, but I found it too expensive.

    Took a look at Honda clarity, but the wife doesn't trust Honda lol.

    Thank you for your guidance!
     
    #1 darkleafar, Jun 26, 2018
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i haven't heard any rumors of a 5 seat phev coming anytime soon. or at all.
     
    #2 bisco, Jun 26, 2018
  3. darkleafar

    darkleafar Member

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    I can't remember where but I saw mention of a "larger Prius" replacing the empty spot left by the Prius v. I also heard rumors of a 5 seater prime
     
    #3 darkleafar, Jun 26, 2018
  4. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    At this stage there is nothing TOYOTA has hinted at. BUT - with IONIQ coming as 3 versions (EV, PHEV & hybrid), I'm sure TOYOTA rushed to the drawing board for a re-think. Whether that is 2019 or 2022, we can only guess at. To be honest, I can't understand why PRIME never had a 5 seat option - maybe they'll rush that to market as an interim?

    They may look at 2 different cars entirely, like GM did with Bolt and Volt. The other issue is the tendency of the marketplace toward SUVs rather than wagons or hatches - so the RAVE-4 might be what they go with as a PHEV, unfortunately. Like a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV copy.
     
    #4 alanclarkeau, Jun 26, 2018
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    not sure where the v stands, i think japan is getting a new one. no plug afaik, there is a huge thread here.

    an engineer at toyota said they could add a 5th seat to prime if sales were slow and they thought that was the reason.
     
    #5 bisco, Jun 26, 2018
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  6. darkleafar

    darkleafar Member

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    Another quick question : how does a PHEV operate when you don't charge it? Does it revert to a regular hybrid? It is my understanding that a portion of the battery is reserved for hybrid use and another bigger portion for the PHEV range. So when the gsd engine kicks in is it recharging just the hybrid portion, or if you drive it long enough will it recharge the whole battery to 100% without plugging it in ?
     
    #6 darkleafar, Jun 28, 2018
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  7. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    There was a lot of discussion about this a long while back - it seems there is NO reserved section. I vaguely remember one respondent said that on an extremely long downhill drive, his battery was charging from almost empty to almost full. One also thought that because there is a bigger battery, they were able to get better economy at some times even if not being able to plug it in.

    The "reserved" section, I think was the "full" and "empty" part of the PRIUS battery - when your battery shows full - it's not really full, nor when it's empty - that part is kept out of normal operational use for good longevity of the battery.

    Maybe a search of PriusChat, you might find that discussion.
     
    #7 alanclarkeau, Jun 28, 2018
  8. darkleafar

    darkleafar Member

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    Are you referring to all phev or just Prius ?
     
    #8 darkleafar, Jun 28, 2018
  9. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Wouldn't have a clue what VOLVO, MERC, MITSUBISHI, AUDI et at do it - the discussion was on PriusChat forum - at least a year ago I guess.
     
    #9 alanclarkeau, Jun 28, 2018
  10. Since2002

    Since2002 Senior Lurker

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    I'm going from memory also but I think in HV mode only regen will charge beyond the HV portion of the battery. And even then I think there may be some type of upper limit that is less than what regen in EV mode will do.

    As far as I know charge mode is the only way to use gasoline to charge the EV portion of the battery.
     
    #10 Since2002, Jun 28, 2018
  11. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    A PHEV will operate as a hybrid if the EV portion of the battery is depleted.

    The gas engine will just recharge the hybrid portion of the battery in HV mode if the battery is low (like a Prius). Only those models with a “Charge” function can use the engine to charge the EV portion of the battery (e.g. Prime, Clarity, Sonata and I think Outlander but my 100% sure).

    If you regen for long enough (e.g. down a mountain), it will recharge the
    EV portion of the battery.
     
    #11 Tideland Prius, Jun 28, 2018
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  12. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    And unless plugged in, the car will only charge the EV portion to "80%" charge in "charge mode". Which isn't really 80% but as close as you are allowed to get. ;) From my reading of the owners manual. So you'll have to find a mountain pass to descend. ;)

    The V is still being sold here in Canada, and probably elsewhere as well. Maybe it wasn't selling well in the US?

    Next model for Prius sometime between 2020 and 2022?
    The V is about due, if Toyota want to continue with it.

    There was a lot of talk from Toyota about a "full line" of hybrids, but now that they've had to jump on the EV bandwagon maybe that has taken a "back seat".
     
    #12 David Beale, Jun 28, 2018
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    not all phev's are created equal. you really need to investigate the ones that pique your interest and test drive.
    don't rely on salesweasels to know anything.
     
    #13 bisco, Jun 28, 2018
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  14. Butch Washington

    Butch Washington Junior Member

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    I like the Prime as a four seater. If you need a five seater might I suggest the 2019 RAV4 Hybrid. its not a plugin but it soon may be.
     
    #14 Butch Washington, Dec 26, 2018
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 27, 2018
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    new prime may have 5 seats, get yours now
     
    #15 bisco, Dec 27, 2018
  16. docboy

    docboy Junior Member

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    If the Rav4 Hybrid has a plug in option for 20mile all electric, count me in.
     
    #16 docboy, Jan 2, 2019
  17. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    Toyota has never offered a spacious 5 seatwe PHEV unless you consider the PiP. Is was not as spacious as the Prius v and the Prius v was not a PHEV.
    The closest now to the Prius v is the RAV4 Hybrid. The 2020 model is supposed to come out this Spring. The 2019 Prius this Spring has AWD-e as an option too.
     
    #17 Prodigyplace, Jan 2, 2019
  18. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    You might have to look at the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV - TOYOTA hasn't sounded inclined to go the PHEV route. But, as others are ramping up production, TOYOTA might join the party. I think some of the Germans and VOLVO might have Plug-In SUVs.
     
    #18 alanclarkeau, Jan 2, 2019
  19. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    Is that available in Aussie Land? Perhaps Toyota is due for an education on PHEVs in Australia.
     
    #19 Prodigyplace, Jan 2, 2019
  20. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    I'ts been here about 3 years - I considered it when I bought the PRIUS, but I don't really like truck/SUVs, prefer hatchbacks. AUDI also had the eTron hatch Plug-In, almost double PRIUS price. AUDI/VW weren't the flavour of the month at the time with Dieselgate fallout, so I steered well clear. BMW & Merc had the 330e and C300e Plug-Ins too (? numbers might be wrong) but I didn't want a sedan again either.
     
    #20 alanclarkeau, Jan 2, 2019
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