A Prius Expert’s Review of the 2018 Prius Prime

Tideland Prius · Feb 8, 2019

Raytheeagle said: ↑

Oh I’m on the @bisco chlenge path .

That puts me at August 2024 before the upgrade.

Should have our 2010 at 350k miles at that point and I should be ready for the next gen Prime .
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Possibly midlife update of the next gen!

That's impressive. Yeah there was technically nothing wrong with my Gen 3 but I really wanted an EV experience . My Gen 3 was a baby at just over 100,000 miles (even included road trips! Yeah we don't commute as far as Americans... unless you're in Ontario.... or going to hockey practice in the Maritimes)

Raytheeagle · Feb 8, 2019

It should be around the mid gen refresh, so that could also tip the hand.

Or if things are still together good enough, I’ll keep running the old gal.

My commute is 38 miles one way and since moving back here in early 2014, I’ve racked 120 k miles in about 4 years.

Currently at 196,500 miles and going strong though. But I’ve also got my eye on the Rivian.

If I parked that on “Silverado Row”, I’m not sure the others would know what to think.

Tideland Prius · Feb 8, 2019

Raytheeagle said: ↑

Currently at 196,500 miles and going strong though. But I’ve also got my eye on the Rivian.

If I parked that on “Silverado Row”, I’m not sure the others would know what to think.
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Raytheeagle · Feb 8, 2019

Tideland Prius said: ↑

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I’m just hoping that would be the reaction and not a door ding.

I know the Fix Or Repair Dailies are not highly though of and are relegated to a different parking area.

bwilson4web · Feb 8, 2019

Tideland Prius said: ↑

. . . Yeah we don't commute as far as Americans... unless you're in Ontario.... or going to hockey practice in the Maritimes)
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And I thought all Canadians migrated to Florida in the winter ... when and where I get my currency exchanged at the drive throughs.

Bob Wilson

Tideland Prius · Feb 9, 2019

bwilson4web said: ↑

And I thought all Canadians migrated to Florida in the winter ... when and where I get my currency exchanged at the drive throughs.

Bob Wilson
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Well that’s not a commute....

Tideland Prius · Apr 27, 2019

Update: Today, I decided to drive as the car suggested. I accelerated according to the Eco Accelerator Guide and glided as much as possible. I took the slower routes where possible or feasible. Unfortunately, I do have terrain to contend with. Traffic was mostly favourable for this type of driving (and unfavourable if you were in a hurry ha!). I was able to glide like I used to with the Gen 2 before the population boomed (now we have more than 2x the registered number of cars on the road than we did in 2006... yay)

However, I ended the day with a new record - 11.4kWh/100km or 5.48 miles/kWh. I did see as low as 11.1kWh/100km (5.63mi/kWh) in the middle of the day.

One thing I did notice - this car glides exceptionally well... And I thought the Gen 3 on its Bridgestone Ecopia EP20 were LRR. (The Goodyear Integrity on the Gen 2 were crap)

A tip for any owner, try letting go of the accelerator earlier and glide... you'll be surprised at how much momentum is retained.

bruceha_2000 · Apr 27, 2019

Any hints on HOW to get the Prime to glide? I could do it easily in the Gen IIs, couldn't get it in daughter's 2010 and can't in my Prime. Seems the Gen II had a nice big "gap" between pressure on the pedal and no pressure which has not been brought forward in the newer generations.

jb in NE · Apr 27, 2019

Tideland Prius said: ↑

testing with the JBL audio system
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This brand has a nickname history of "junk but loud."

Tideland Prius · Apr 27, 2019

bruceha_2000 said: ↑

Any hints on HOW to get the Prime to glide? I could do it easily in the Gen IIs, couldn't get it in daughter's 2010 and can't in my Prime. Seems the Gen II had a nice big "gap" between pressure on the pedal and no pressure which has not been brought forward in the newer generations.
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Yeah the Gen 2 was the easiest to glide. Well for me, I just depress the pedal until I don’t see any bar on the HSI. I no longer worry about seeing no arrows on the Energy Monitor because the Prime has a big enough battery that I’m not worried about small uses of electricity compared to a standard Prius where that battery will eventually have to be recharged if you kept using it so we wanted true glide.

jb in NE said: ↑

This brand has a nickname history of "junk but loud."
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Hmm interesting. I had a pair of JBL computer speakers that came with a desktop back in 1999 and I kept it until 2017. I thought they sounded fine (wasn’t expecting B&O or B&W levels of clarity since they were just desktop speakers) but they did the job better than another set of JBL speakers that came with a desktop in 2003 (those were junk) or Sony speakers in 2001 (not great either).

bruceha_2000 · Apr 27, 2019

Tideland Prius said: ↑

Yeah the Gen 2 was the easiest to glide. Well for me, I just depress the pedal until I don’t see any bar on the HSI.
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Thanks.

FrankH · Apr 28, 2019

Tideland Prius said: ↑

I finally joined the plug in crowd in the middle of January. I decided to give it a few weeks before I write a review to give me some time to get used to the car, figure out ownership and establish daily habits. I’ve owned a 2005 Prius, 2010 Prius and 2016 Prius and have briefly driven the 2012 Prius c, 2012 Prius v and 2012 PiP.

Each Prius generation has improved upon the the last. Yes, there were a few hiccups (let’s not mention the 6.1” Display Audio system or the reduction of storage cubbies again) but the overall package has generally improved. I will touch upon areas that could be changed and offer different perspectives so that those who are read this can see both sides of the story and why certain decisions were made.

I'll have a summary at the bottom if you prefer a TL;DR version. If you want to read the long version, maybe grab a cup of your favourite hot beverage before continuing.

Exterior:
I’m in the camp that likes the design of the Prime. The quad LED headlight gives it a premium look and the decision to run the high beams at super low power when the low beams are on (basically to act as accent lighting) is a great choice from a design perspective. It’s distinctive and looks like a premium vehicle when you see another Prime driving towards you. The rear lighting design is cool too and I like the CHMSL (3rd brake light) design where the light fades from the centre.

One thing that I like and dislike at the same time are the indicators. I like that they’re LEDs and are at the corner, however, they seem really delicate and because they protrude out, they seem vulnerable to parking lot damage. While they are similar to the Gen 3 which also had corner indicators, the Gen 3 ones don’t protrude from the body as aggressively as the ones on the Prime. One of Toyota's stubborness is the refusal to add side mirror indicators. They finally added sliding visors to the 2019 Prius (and hopefully that makes it over to the 2020 Prime) but side indicators are still missing.

Other design elements that I appreciate include the upper door character line that goes from the vertical plane to the horizontal plane (from door to rear spoiler) and the lower rear door character line that gives a darker shade from certain angles. If you wash your Prime by hand, the number of angles on the body and light pieces is just mind boggling. For example, I had no idea the plastic piece at the tip of the rear spoiler (where the 3rd brake light is housed) has a concaved area that runs the width of the piece. Even though I saw it in real life at the NY Auto Show reveal, I didn't notice that concavity until I washed my own Prime. I'm wary of the acrylic panel given the reports on PriusChat so I'll have to pay attention if I'm going down a gravel road or just following a vehicle after the road has been sanded.

The doors close with a really nice thud; it does sound more Camry and less Yaris. The additional rubber seal between the front and rear doors help (not sure if that's for sound insulation or for aerodynamics). The more solid doors help with audio dampening as well imo. The hatch also latches with a more pleasant sound than the last two generations of Prii.

Interior:
The interior is a place of mixed feelings from a long time Prius owner. Let’s start with the front. The front seats are wonderfully supportive for my body type. They’re aggressive enough to hold you during harder cornering but not so aggressive that you’re rubbing against the bolsters every time you enter or exit the vehicle. I find them comfortable but I haven't driven for long hours yet. The Gen 2’s seatback was the narrowest which was fixed with the Gen 3 but the Gen 4/Prime adds more bolstering. I found the default lumbar a bit more natural and more supportive, thus I required less bulge on the lower lumbar area than I needed to on my Gen 3. Speaking of the driver’s seat, apparently Toyota made a change midway through 2018 as my power seat switches are missing the chrome accents that other members here have on their cars. The front passenger seat is mounted higher than on our Gen 4 Touring; that was unexpected but something to consider if you carry passengers and have to contend with ingress/egress or simply if you need more headroom. It’s not as high as the Gen 3 but noticeable enough when I switch between our Gen 4 and the Prime.

The centre console box is smaller than both previous generations which is a bummer and I do not like the fact that it isn’t double hinged like it is on the Prius v. This needs to be fixed. The box is fortunately deep enough to store a small tissue box. The lack of charging points is disappointing for a 2018 car but then again, I was equally disappointed with the 2010 and the lack of USB/iPod connectivity back then (which was fixed in Sept 2009 in the US but was never fixed in Canada). The 2019 Prius has more USB charging ports so it’s promising for the 2020 Prime midlife update. The USB placement is ok for those who constantly plug and unplug their phone but it’s inconvenient for those who use USB or iPod units. A charging cable cutout for the centre console lid would be appreciated so that I can hide my iPod in the centre console box without pinching the cable. Alternatively, one USB port inside the console and one outside can cater to both types of users. Of course one could just use BTA and leave the phone on the wireless charger to charge. In Canada, I’m disappointed at the lack of Entune availability. Yes it’s not the most robust of software but it has some nice features like traffic, weather, remote charging, remote A/C and charging station POI which are all missing in Canada.

The 11.6” HD MFD is under utilized in my opinion. A birds eye view camera system from the Camry or RAV4 will help fill the bottom half of the screen in reverse. I find the rear view camera a bit dim (I’m using the default brightness and contrast for both day and night mode) so I adjusted the contrast +1 for day mode and the brightness +2 for the night mode for the camera. This seems to get me the results I want (and an image similar to my Gen 3). I was impressed with the 2010 Prius’ rear view camera quality and was a little disappointed with the 2016 Prius. I haven’t noticed anything that stands out on the Prime and I assume they're using the same camera as the 2016 Prius. However, the MFD resolution is different so that might result in a different perceived image quality. USB video is also quite small in “full screen” mode. It really should be the lower half of the screen without the borders it currently has.

The inset nav screen (for dual screen or freeway mode etc) is a floating design and I would prefer having it locked into the corner. I do like the navigation instructions (it’s clear and early enough) and it’s nice to see the instructions on the HUD.

With the low sun angle in the winter and at certain angles, the glare from the screen is insane. I don’t mean that I can’t see the screen but the fact that the screen and the metallic black trim around the screen are reflecting the sunlight towards my eyes. It’s a rare occurrence but it’s quite blinding when it does occur. It comes from the top right corner.

The design of the dashboard is nice and the satin chrome accent is tastefully applied. The painted metallic black trim around the screen and the cup holders remind me of the Gen 2 and its painted upper glovebox area. The glovebox in the Prime is woefully small; the two manuals and quick guide practically take up the entire box. I would much prefer a larger glovebox for the next generation please. (Or even a dual glovebox). I feel like the “swoosh” on the passenger side could’ve accommodated a small shelf so it feels like a lost opportunity there. As it stands, it slants down towards the door so if you put a pen or a chapstick, it will slide and fall out when the front passenger door is opened.

The rear seats are decent but a bit upright. The door armrest is a good height (they were too low in the Gen 3). The rear centre console box armrest is too low but I like the fact they added the box. Some may disagree since animals or people cannot lie across the seat. I prefer the box for extra storage since we lost a lot with this new design. The official rear legroom numbers keep decreasing with each generation and by numbers alone, it appears tight (33.4" for the Prime vs. 36.0" for the PiP). However, in real life, it is adequate and not as tight as the numbers suggest. The rear floor is no longer flat but I don't know if the crease is due to body rigidity or some other packaging/design reason. Given that it's a 4-seater, it doesn't really matter but I suppose it's the same floorpan as the Gen 4 which will matter (or if the Prime gets 5 seats). With a 4-seater design, I wish there was a pass-through option. As it stands, you lose a passenger carrying capability when you fold down any side of the 60/40 split folding seats.

(The following paragraphs on the JBL audio were edited on Feb 5, 2019)
The JBL audio system is only found in the Prime in Canada; the regular Prius cannot be equipped with a JBL audio system. This system has a more solid bass and with the better damped doors, it doesn't rattle (and the mirrors do not vibrate) as easily as they did before. The bass is also less muddy at higher volumes than the Gen 3. The mids/highs sound clearer too. However, I found the mid to be too strong in FM radio and slightly high in iPod so I did drop the mid setting in both sources. I dropped the treble in FM as well to -1. I don't bother with satellite radio (that and SiriusXM keeps calling once you listen to it.. and they have, since I bought the car. Argh). I haven't tested out the audio system by sitting in the back seat (In the Gen 3, there is a noticeable difference in audio between the front and rear seats. I think Toyota just cheaped out on the rear speakers in the Gen 3) so I'll see if Toyota kept the quality speakers all around or opted to just put better ones in the front and "adequate" ones in the rear.

I managed to carve out an hour to just sit in the car and listen to a variety of music. I am listening to it on an iPod Nano 4th Generation in R&B equaliser mode with a cable connected to the USB port.

The clarity of the songs are definitely a step up from the 2010/2011 JBL Audio systems (2013-2015 were changed so I can't comment on those) and let's not even talk about the "JBL Audio" of the 2004/2005 Prius. At a volume of 15-17, treble set at -1 and mid set at -2 with the bass at +2 (+1 also works), I was able to hear certain softer instruments of the songs (especially in the intros) that I either couldn't hear before or were just muddled into the louder portions of the song. It would behoove you to listen to the songs at a slightly higher volume if you wish to hear the nuances of the song. For normal driving, it's usually set at 4-7 because the Prime is so quiet but bumping them up to 15 or so makes the songs come alive. Vocals sound a bit better once I put the Mid back to 0. Anything by Michael Jackson sounds absolutely fantastic. Bass-heavy songs such as hip-hop or EDM sound solid with the audio system able to distinctly hit each of the low frequencies instead of mushing them into some sort noise analogous to a whale call; basically anything in the Top 40s work well with this audio system. The midrange/tweeters at the top of the dashboard are set a touch too high which is why I had to lower them down a touch. However, I found songs by Céline Dion are brought forward if the treble was nudged up to +1 and the mid set to 0. The only genre I found lacking was anything in the Rock department. Van Halen, Duran Duran and even Bonni Tyler sounded flat. The system has trouble with the electric guitar. The Cult - She Sells Sanctuary sounded good (surprisingly... maybe it's the recording I have?). Classical sounded ok but I think my mp3 versions aren't of the best quality.

I find the audio system is better suited for pop, EDM, techno and Hip-Hop music. It's ok for classical and I suspect it'll need more tuning for something like Rock. Vocals don't seem to be as powerful as they were in my Gen 3 but I may have to play with the equalizer a bit more. I am not an audiophile by any means but I do appreciate a nice sound so while it's no Mark Levinson or Bowers & Wilkins (I can definitely pick up on the clarity of those speakers), the JBL audio system in the Prius is good enough for its purpose. If I had to make a change, I would prefer a few more physical speakers to create a fuller soundstage. The "10-speakers in 6 locations" basically means it's a 6-speaker system but they improved the perceived quality of the sound with separate front speakers (a tweeter and a midrange up top with a subwoofer in the front doors) rather than a full range in the front door and tweeters on the dash. I'm guessing this is as good as it will get for a "commuter" car without having to incur extra costs (such as C-pillar speakers for the rear passengers or creating the same soundstage for the rear passengers which I suspect is unnecessary for the targeted demographic of Prius owners). I am satisfied with the current setup, it is an improvement over the last two JBL audio systems (god the Gen 2's one was awful... we basically kept it as an 8-speaker audio system and disconnected 9th front centre speaker the entire time) and a slight improvement over the basic 6-speaker setup in our Gen 4.

Cargo:
Coming around to the rear, the area is wide and spacious but the height really is the limiting factor. All my reusable shopping bags are taller than the distance between the floor and the tonneau cover so there's always a bulge when I pull the cover. The higher load floor also reduces the effectiveness of the grocery bag hooks on each side as the bag usually isn't hanging due to the higher floor. This definitely needs to be addressed. I do like the grab handle added to the roller-type tonneau cover. I lament the loss of the underfloor bin to store emergency items such as the tire inflator, first aid kit, plastic bags and tie down straps. I did manage to fit most of them in the smaller cut-outs on each side as well as the passenger-side underfloor cubby. The rear most underfloor cubby is mostly taken up by the charging cable. I haven't taken it on a road trip but I suspect it will definitely have to be done without the tonneau cover so I'll have to take that into consideration. The rear hatch is nicely damped and weighted for opening and closing. The dual grab handles (vs. one grab handle on the regular Prius) is the same as it has been on the Gen 2 and 3 Prii but the location is different. On the old Prii, one pulls down in the same motion that one would grab a pull cable on a tram or a bus to indicate to the bus driver/tram conductor that one wishes to stop at the next stop. On the Prime, it's a hand slot which makes closing awkward (and sometimes requires you to actually push down on the Toyota emblem to finish closing the hatch). I prefer the previous method as you can close the hatch in one motion.

The Drive:
Ok I've made you wait long enough. The drive is the biggest change for any Prius owner (well sort of... I mean we did have EV Drive Mode for short distances). First reaction? WOW! Every reaction since then? Wow, wow, wow. Honestly, this is my favourite Prius to drive. (Sorry 2016... you've been bumped down the list). It's supremely smooth, quiet and just effortless to drive. Sure, it doesn't have the kickback of a Tesla or a Volt but the power delivery that Toyota appears to have dialed in, is one of smoothness (like a V12 in a Rolls-Royce... but with 1/5th of the power lol). I haven't tried full throttle acceleration (break-in period plus, like any conscientious Prius driver, I'm trying to get the best kWh/100km rating) but initial acceleration from a stop in everyday driving is adequate. I have mentioned repeatedly on this forum that I wish the Prius and Prime were faster and I still do. But Toyota has done well with what they have, balancing efficiency with driveability.

In hybrid mode, the engine comes on smoothly and mostly stays in the background. Under hard acceleration, you'll hear the engine (that's normal) but if you stay within the Eco Accelerator Guide area, the engine noise will be kept to a minimal. The power does feel a bit weaker in hybrid mode and you do have to press the accelerator slightly harder to get the same amount of acceleration (I noticed my speed starting dropping when I ran out of charge and went into hybrid mode). Hence, the car feels much peppier in EV Mode (with the car in Eco Mode) than it does in hybrid mode (where Eco mode, appropriately feels like Eco mode). The difference is noticeable but not as dramatic as the Volt between its EV mode and Mountain Mode.

The steering wheel is definitely lighter than my Gen 3 but I think it's a touch weightier than the Gen 4 Touring (which is surprising... maybe it's because of the extra 200kg of curb weight or just the way they programmed the electric power steering). My Gen 3 had the 15" wheels so it had the 17.6:1 steering ratio (not the quicker 14.1:1 for the Gen 3 Touring or Gen 3 V/Five for US model). The Prime obviously has a quicker steering ratio (13.4:1) and feels much more natural. It was tedious to drive the Gen 3 at slow speeds around a car park because of the number of hand-over-hand motions as I manoeuvre the car park; it's much easier in the Prime.

The suspension tuning is definitely on the softer side compared to our 2016 Prius Touring (with its Touring-spec suspension and larger 17" alloys). It rides more comfortably but the 2016 Touring will corner better and it feels more nimble than the Prime. Both are a huge step up from the last two generations. I suppose "comfortably firm" is what I would term the ride. On the road, the Prime is quiet and is the quietest a Prius has ever been. Tyre noise is omnipresent, no doubt a consequence of the harder compound. Wind and road noise is non-existent at lower speeds. I haven't much experience at higher speeds but I didn't notice any excessive wind noise.

Someone who tracks their car or races will have a better idea than I do but based on my limited knowledge, the Prime's settles into a corner fairly quickly on initial turn-in. The front bound damper setting is stiff - great for the turn-in, maybe a touch harsh for certain speed bumps (the sharp kind, not the smoothed/rounded ones). It sits in between the Gen 3 (which felt like it was weak at the knees) and the 2016 Touring (which feels more like a sporty-ish compact car). Body roll is more apparent than the 2016 Prius Touring going into a corner on a downhill but it's negligible on an uphill corner. In either scenario, it's much better than my Gen 3 (I'm sure the solar roof didn't help the centre of gravity situation on my Gen 3). Coming out of a corner, the Prime feels more confident; it feels like there is greater grip in the rear tyres. Again, I don't race or do track days but I'm guessing it's a combination of the suspension geometry, the lower centre of gravity, stiffer chassis (have you seen the number of braces under the car?!?) and the better weight distribution (56:44 vs. 61:49) that results in what I'm feeling. I feel like the Prime can benefit from the larger 215/55R17 tyres for better braking performance and cornering ability but it will result in the loss of AER and possibly a slightly harsher ride. I suppose Toyota stuck with 15" because the US market is focused on EV range and this setup gives the best combination of ride and EV range while in Japan, the range is more than enough and priority is placed on handling and how the vehicle looks.

The stiffer chassis and laser screw welding (LSW) should result in less body twist as the car ages. My parkade has a steep ramp and with the Gen 3, it resulted in a body twist every time I exited the parkade as I made a sharp right after cresting the ramp. As the car aged, the hatch would creak whenever the car was subjected to an odd angle road (like turning at the top/bottom of a ramp).

Under braking, the regenerative braking is better blended than on the 2016 Prius (and almost in line with my Gen 3). When I first got the 2016 Prius, I felt like Toyota took a step back. The brake transition from regen to friction was rougher than in the Gen 3, more akin to the Gen 2's system. It appears Toyota has tweaked the setting as I found the Prime's transition to be much smoother. Coming to a stop is also the smoothest in any Prius. The ECB can be a bit hard to modulate compared to the hydraulic system. (Those old enough will remember that you can lift off your foot just before you come to a stop to catch the front suspension rebound and have a completely smooth stop for you and your passengers with the hydraulic system. It's harder to modulate with the ECB). While I can't objectively state it, it feels as though the Prime's friction brakes come on earlier in the CHG section of the HSI to better blend the braking force; a compromise to be made to create a more natural braking feel I suppose. While I haven't had to test the Prime's braking system (I managed to anticipate a bad move by a fellow motorist last week so I avoided a collision with someone who couldn't follow the curved dashed lines in an intersection and decided my lane was theirs at the other end of the intersection), I'm a little skeptical about the size of the rotors with the width of our tyres and the weight of our car. The last time a Camry wore 15" wheels, it weighed 1,300-1,400kg and had 205/65R15 tyres. The Prime is heavier and has narrower tyres so I suspect our braking distance is going to be longer than average. The wider 215/45R17 tyres from the Prius Touring may help increase grip.

From the driver's seat, the visibility is much improved over the Gen 3 and nearly rivals the Gen 2. Forward visibility is great for a modern car and I don't have to look around the A-pillar as much as I had to with the Gen 3. The more upright windshield helps push the A-pillar a bit forward, allowing for line of sight of crosswalks out the side window. The Gen 3 went with a cockpit design (hence the flying bridge and the enclosed design) while the Gen 4/Prime is inspired by the Gen 2 and it shows. It a wider-feeling cabin with a greater sense of airiness. I feel like the front doors are longer as I can sit further back in the Prime. The Gen 2's visibility was aided by the high seating position but that felt like you were sitting on the car, not in the car. In the Prime, I can see out quite well but yet feel cocooned inside the vehicle. The view out the back is quite good for a Prius and I have no qualms with reversing into a spot looking out the rear window without the aid of the backup camera or sonar sensors. The other great thing about the seating position of the Prime is that I can confidently pull up to the curbside without inducing curb rash. I could do that easily with the Gen 2 (even after driving the Gen 3 for 5 years, I could hop back into the Gen 2 and know I will not curb the wheels). However, I could never quite figure that out with the Gen 3. I would always stop too far and would have to reverse and adjust so that I could park/stop closer to the curb. I have no idea why and it bugged me for the entire length of ownership. The one area where visibility has decreased is the right-hand shouldercheck towards the passenger side three-quarter area. The removal of the rear quarter window results in a larger C-pillar and a larger blind spot. The improved rearward visibility means that the auto-dimming mirror, for the first time in a Prius Liftback, actually works as intended!! Hooray! I don't know if it's because of the extra dip in the rear spoiler due to the Prime's dual wave rear window but the headlights finally hit the light sensor and the mirror will dim as expected.

The side wing mirrors are, happily, wider to cover a better area and reduce the total arc degree of blind spots when adjusted correctly. It's a bit of a surprise since I thought a wider mirror would reduce the total aerodynamic coefficient (as the housing would have to stick out more) but I'm ok with the slight reduction for the wider piece of glass. I think the height has been reduced but I cannot confirm that without taking measurements off the glass of the Gen 3 & Prime. A nice surprise that isn't listed in the brochure or the specification sheet is the water-repellent front door glass. (It is mentioned in the technical manual). I don't know if all Prime models get it (I assume it comes with the acoustic front door glass which means, it's possible that all Primes and the Four/Four Touring models of the Prius or the Limited for 2019+ have the water-repellent windows too). I've come to appreciate the drier glass on rainy days. You can tell if you have the water-repellent glass when you run water over it - Watch the water sheet down in the rear door windows but watch the water bead and run off on the front door windows).

At night, the LED low beams are wonderful as they cast a wide area of light. Throw (amount of light visible down the road) is adequate but not exceptional. The high beams cast a very noticeable, nearly round, area of light towards the centreline of the car. Automatic high beams work well but I wish we had the matrix LED system.

The Prime Prius:
When it comes to efficiency, the Prius is the one to beat. While technically the Ioniq Electric Plus (PHEV) is rated higher at 15.6kWh/100km or 136MPGe vs. the Prime's 15.8kWh/100km or 133MPGe, I think the Prime will win in the real world. I've consistently beaten that number with light use of the climate control and agreeable temperatures (read: above freezing), usually in the 13.0kWh/100km range (150MPGe+). In the recent western Canada deep freeze, it's risen to 17kWh/100km (dropped to 123MPGe) with heater use. The Prime is insanely efficient. The one day I ran out of charge and had to do a 20km urban round trip in hybrid mode, I achieved 3.6L/100km (65.3mpg) going there and 3.8L/100km (61.9mpg) coming back. I don't think I've ever gotten that in my Gen 3 even in the summer! The larger battery definitely helps and the Prime wants to stay in EV mode as long as possible (similar to the Gen 4's software). I saw the battery drop to around the equivalent of 6 bars (for seasoned Prius owners) but by the time I got to my destination, it had recharged back to above the HV/EV threshold (still stayed in HV though). The extra buffer definitely helps with mpg so those wondering if the Prime gets better mpg than the regular Gen 4, under certain circumstances, it does. In Canada, we have a lot of free charging stations (some have free parking, others have paid parking) so additional electricity cost is negligible other than the one you pay for at home. This helps extend the range of the Prime as I hop from one destination to another. It's been 2.5 weeks and the fuel gauge just left "F".

As with previous Prii, it becomes a game to see what's the best kWh/100km efficiency you can achieve. Hybrid mode mpg is a given but I'll be curious to see what the highway numbers will be. I will be doing a trip later in February and I suspect I will be one of the drivers so that will give me a chance to try out the hybrid mode on an extended highway run.

It isn't all sunshine and daffodils. I would definitely prefer a longer AER. 40km is fine if you're in flat land but go up a hill and boom, I lose 20% just by climbing 3-4km uphill. A longer AER will allow for more flexibility in HV/EV mode. I suppose that means a smaller gas tank, lower total range and maybe a smaller engine. I don't envy the engineers and designers who have to figure out how to package, design and price the next generation Prime - do they inch up the price to accommodate the requests of enthusiasts or try and keep the price down by better packaging a smaller battery? I'm in the longer range camp but hopefully $/kWh comes down enough that Toyota can do both - increase range and keep MSRP increases to a minimum.

The Prime has succeeded in become the best Prius that Toyota has to offer and now it comes with a ride that's more compliant and handling that is, at the very least, comparable to modern compact cars rather than a second thought.

Complaints:
The Prime is wonderful in so many ways and of course there is room for improvement and I hope Toyota can take some of these ideas that PriusChat members have expressed and continue to improve their vehicles.

The biggest of course is the reduced cargo area. Packaging isn't the problem as @RonMc5 found out, there is a large gap beneath the battery (slightly taller than the width of a canned beverage) so the battery definitely can be lowered if Toyota chooses an alternative way to cool the battery without actually changing the battery's size or chemistry.

Toyota has provided lots of info in the 4.2" MID but it is missing a few things. I would like an EV/HV ratio (similar to the A/C load %) and a separate HV mpg readout and not a blended mpg readout. The current EV Driving Ratio includes the % when the engine is off in hybrid mode. I suppose that is EV mode but I’d like to know the % I was actually in the car’s EV mode parameters too.

In Canadian models, when you use the "Split" screen for the speedo's 4.2" MID, one of the options is kWh/100km instant readout. The problem is that it goes from 0-10 kWh/100km. Considering that the Prime is rated for 15.8kWh/100km, a more useful scale would be 0-20 or 0-30kWh/100km. As it stands, the bar is ALWAYS full unless you're coasting or very lightly touching the accelerator which makes that readout impractical. I think the US readout is better scaled. This carries over to the Fuel Consumption screen where 1km and 5km bars are shown. The bars are almost always maxed out unless I go down a hill or coast for 1km. It’s equivalent to giving the Prius a 0-30mpg gauge - it’s always going to be full bars since it’ll do better than 30mpg.

On the MFD, the Trip Information and Past Record screens left over from the regular Prius only work in HV mode. They do not show regen in EV mode. The only way I can see it is if I go full screen on the Energy Monitor, then click the top right icon to show the Battery/Engine/Climate control usage pop-out screen. There, I can see total trip energy recovery and past minute energy recovery.... but it's a small screen that requires a full screen Energy Monitor.

The RCTA pop-up shows both sides and you have to see which mirror is flashing its BSM icon. A supplementary system where the RCTA pop-up also shows which side (with the red flashing triangle) would be appreciated.

The charging flap is really large and if Toyota could switch over to CCS so that we can have a smaller charging flap, that would also be appreciated. In tight spots, the flap can sometimes be knocked close by the neighbouring EV owner, reaching for their charging cable.

I assume this will come with Entune 3.0 but in the off-chance it doesn't, Toyota Canada needs to include ways to monitor our charge. I don't want to be that guy who accidentally leaves the car plugged in but not charging because I have no way of monitoring when my car will be done charging (if I end up staying longer at my destination than my car will take to fully charge).

Improvements:

I would like to see some sort of anti-glare or better yet, auto-dimming feature for the wing mirrors.

Naturally, TSS-P 2.0 (or will it be 3.0 by the time the next gen Prime arrives?) would be nice.I like the low-light pedestrian detection given our northern latitudes and longer winters.

Additional sound absorption or sound reflection material in the wheel wells to reduce tyre noise would be appreciated and will round out the list of noise complaints.

I would like a longer range for AER. As it stands, I can lose 20% of SOC just by climbing a hill towards a nearby freeway; that's really depressing.

A flat cargo floor (from bumper to rear seat) is a must and 5 seats.

More in-cabin storage for small items. A larger glovebox that can fit more than just the manuals

More USB charging ports

An extendable driver's seat thigh support (manual is fine)

LED interior lighting

Better energy consumption screen. The Consumption screen in the MFD doesn't show regen in EV mode and really is never used unless I'm in HV mode. The consumption screen in the MID only shows 1km and 5km intervals (previous it had the option for time OR distance) and the scale in Canadian models make it worthless - it goes from 0 to 10kWh/100km. The car is rated at 15.8kWh/100km so.... the bars are almost always maxed out which doesn't provide me with useful information.

For Canadian models, we need a way to monitor our car's SOC and have smartphone-enabled remote climate.

Summary:
Congrats on getting to the end (or if you skipped to here, hopefully this covers everything you wanted to know). I will be comparing the Prime to the Gen 2, Gen 3 and Gen 4 Prius that I have/still do own.

I like the futuristic design but some elements like the indicators seem susceptible to parking lot damage (e.g. shopping carts/trolleys)

All around visibility has improved over the last two generations of Prius making it easy to position the car. It also means that the auto-dimming mirror.

Much improved cabin for space and seating position

I lament the loss of storage cubbies that the last two generations had. Bring them back!

The 11.6" HD MFD is under-utilized. Toyota can do so much more with it

Needs more USB charging ports

Needs a double-hinged centre console box lid

Much improved ride quality and handling

A little concerned about the possible long braking distance (just doing the math with the weight of the car, the size of our tyres and the size of the brake pads/rotors)

EV mode is peppy for around town driving

HV mode is amazingly efficient too

LED lights are good at night

Would like to see a longer all-electric range (hilly terrain significantly cuts down on range)

Would like to see (hear?) tyre noise reduced

Needs some reshuffling of data presented to the driver for EV/HV driving

Canadian models lack connectivity so I can't check SOC or start/stop charging or do remote climate via smartphone like the competition (Ford, Honda, Hyundai).

Next gen must have a flat cargo floor

Prefer to have 5 seats (mostly for the competition)

Need to include an energy consumption screen. The fuel consumption ones on the MID and MFD are ineffective in EV Mode

Phew, that's all for now.

Edit1: Added more impressions about the JBL Audio now that I had one-hour to just sit and listen to different songs.

Edit2: Added impressions about the fuel consumption screens and improvements needed
Click to expand...

Tideland Prius said: ↑

I finally joined the plug in crowd in the middle of January. I decided to give it a few weeks before I write a review to give me some time to get used to the car, figure out ownership and establish daily habits. I’ve owned a 2005 Prius, 2010 Prius and 2016 Prius and have briefly driven the 2012 Prius c, 2012 Prius v and 2012 PiP.

Each Prius generation has improved upon the the last. Yes, there were a few hiccups (let’s not mention the 6.1” Display Audio system or the reduction of storage cubbies again) but the overall package has generally improved. I will touch upon areas that could be changed and offer different perspectives so that those who are read this can see both sides of the story and why certain decisions were made.

I'll have a summary at the bottom if you prefer a TL;DR version. If you want to read the long version, maybe grab a cup of your favourite hot beverage before continuing.

Exterior:
I’m in the camp that likes the design of the Prime. The quad LED headlight gives it a premium look and the decision to run the high beams at super low power when the low beams are on (basically to act as accent lighting) is a great choice from a design perspective. It’s distinctive and looks like a premium vehicle when you see another Prime driving towards you. The rear lighting design is cool too and I like the CHMSL (3rd brake light) design where the light fades from the centre.

One thing that I like and dislike at the same time are the indicators. I like that they’re LEDs and are at the corner, however, they seem really delicate and because they protrude out, they seem vulnerable to parking lot damage. While they are similar to the Gen 3 which also had corner indicators, the Gen 3 ones don’t protrude from the body as aggressively as the ones on the Prime. One of Toyota's stubborness is the refusal to add side mirror indicators. They finally added sliding visors to the 2019 Prius (and hopefully that makes it over to the 2020 Prime) but side indicators are still missing.

Other design elements that I appreciate include the upper door character line that goes from the vertical plane to the horizontal plane (from door to rear spoiler) and the lower rear door character line that gives a darker shade from certain angles. If you wash your Prime by hand, the number of angles on the body and light pieces is just mind boggling. For example, I had no idea the plastic piece at the tip of the rear spoiler (where the 3rd brake light is housed) has a concaved area that runs the width of the piece. Even though I saw it in real life at the NY Auto Show reveal, I didn't notice that concavity until I washed my own Prime. I'm wary of the acrylic panel given the reports on PriusChat so I'll have to pay attention if I'm going down a gravel road or just following a vehicle after the road has been sanded.

The doors close with a really nice thud; it does sound more Camry and less Yaris. The additional rubber seal between the front and rear doors help (not sure if that's for sound insulation or for aerodynamics). The more solid doors help with audio dampening as well imo. The hatch also latches with a more pleasant sound than the last two generations of Prii.

Interior:
The interior is a place of mixed feelings from a long time Prius owner. Let’s start with the front. The front seats are wonderfully supportive for my body type. They’re aggressive enough to hold you during harder cornering but not so aggressive that you’re rubbing against the bolsters every time you enter or exit the vehicle. I find them comfortable but I haven't driven for long hours yet. The Gen 2’s seatback was the narrowest which was fixed with the Gen 3 but the Gen 4/Prime adds more bolstering. I found the default lumbar a bit more natural and more supportive, thus I required less bulge on the lower lumbar area than I needed to on my Gen 3. Speaking of the driver’s seat, apparently Toyota made a change midway through 2018 as my power seat switches are missing the chrome accents that other members here have on their cars. The front passenger seat is mounted higher than on our Gen 4 Touring; that was unexpected but something to consider if you carry passengers and have to contend with ingress/egress or simply if you need more headroom. It’s not as high as the Gen 3 but noticeable enough when I switch between our Gen 4 and the Prime.

The centre console box is smaller than both previous generations which is a bummer and I do not like the fact that it isn’t double hinged like it is on the Prius v. This needs to be fixed. The box is fortunately deep enough to store a small tissue box. The lack of charging points is disappointing for a 2018 car but then again, I was equally disappointed with the 2010 and the lack of USB/iPod connectivity back then (which was fixed in Sept 2009 in the US but was never fixed in Canada). The 2019 Prius has more USB charging ports so it’s promising for the 2020 Prime midlife update. The USB placement is ok for those who constantly plug and unplug their phone but it’s inconvenient for those who use USB or iPod units. A charging cable cutout for the centre console lid would be appreciated so that I can hide my iPod in the centre console box without pinching the cable. Alternatively, one USB port inside the console and one outside can cater to both types of users. Of course one could just use BTA and leave the phone on the wireless charger to charge. In Canada, I’m disappointed at the lack of Entune availability. Yes it’s not the most robust of software but it has some nice features like traffic, weather, remote charging, remote A/C and charging station POI which are all missing in Canada.

The 11.6” HD MFD is under utilized in my opinion. A birds eye view camera system from the Camry or RAV4 will help fill the bottom half of the screen in reverse. I find the rear view camera a bit dim (I’m using the default brightness and contrast for both day and night mode) so I adjusted the contrast +1 for day mode and the brightness +2 for the night mode for the camera. This seems to get me the results I want (and an image similar to my Gen 3). I was impressed with the 2010 Prius’ rear view camera quality and was a little disappointed with the 2016 Prius. I haven’t noticed anything that stands out on the Prime and I assume they're using the same camera as the 2016 Prius. However, the MFD resolution is different so that might result in a different perceived image quality. USB video is also quite small in “full screen” mode. It really should be the lower half of the screen without the borders it currently has.

The inset nav screen (for dual screen or freeway mode etc) is a floating design and I would prefer having it locked into the corner. I do like the navigation instructions (it’s clear and early enough) and it’s nice to see the instructions on the HUD.

With the low sun angle in the winter and at certain angles, the glare from the screen is insane. I don’t mean that I can’t see the screen but the fact that the screen and the metallic black trim around the screen are reflecting the sunlight towards my eyes. It’s a rare occurrence but it’s quite blinding when it does occur. It comes from the top right corner.

The design of the dashboard is nice and the satin chrome accent is tastefully applied. The painted metallic black trim around the screen and the cup holders remind me of the Gen 2 and its painted upper glovebox area. The glovebox in the Prime is woefully small; the two manuals and quick guide practically take up the entire box. I would much prefer a larger glovebox for the next generation please. (Or even a dual glovebox). I feel like the “swoosh” on the passenger side could’ve accommodated a small shelf so it feels like a lost opportunity there. As it stands, it slants down towards the door so if you put a pen or a chapstick, it will slide and fall out when the front passenger door is opened.

The rear seats are decent but a bit upright. The door armrest is a good height (they were too low in the Gen 3). The rear centre console box armrest is too low but I like the fact they added the box. Some may disagree since animals or people cannot lie across the seat. I prefer the box for extra storage since we lost a lot with this new design. The official rear legroom numbers keep decreasing with each generation and by numbers alone, it appears tight (33.4" for the Prime vs. 36.0" for the PiP). However, in real life, it is adequate and not as tight as the numbers suggest. The rear floor is no longer flat but I don't know if the crease is due to body rigidity or some other packaging/design reason. Given that it's a 4-seater, it doesn't really matter but I suppose it's the same floorpan as the Gen 4 which will matter (or if the Prime gets 5 seats). With a 4-seater design, I wish there was a pass-through option. As it stands, you lose a passenger carrying capability when you fold down any side of the 60/40 split folding seats.

(The following paragraphs on the JBL audio were edited on Feb 5, 2019)
The JBL audio system is only found in the Prime in Canada; the regular Prius cannot be equipped with a JBL audio system. This system has a more solid bass and with the better damped doors, it doesn't rattle (and the mirrors do not vibrate) as easily as they did before. The bass is also less muddy at higher volumes than the Gen 3. The mids/highs sound clearer too. However, I found the mid to be too strong in FM radio and slightly high in iPod so I did drop the mid setting in both sources. I dropped the treble in FM as well to -1. I don't bother with satellite radio (that and SiriusXM keeps calling once you listen to it.. and they have, since I bought the car. Argh). I haven't tested out the audio system by sitting in the back seat (In the Gen 3, there is a noticeable difference in audio between the front and rear seats. I think Toyota just cheaped out on the rear speakers in the Gen 3) so I'll see if Toyota kept the quality speakers all around or opted to just put better ones in the front and "adequate" ones in the rear.

I managed to carve out an hour to just sit in the car and listen to a variety of music. I am listening to it on an iPod Nano 4th Generation in R&B equaliser mode with a cable connected to the USB port.

The clarity of the songs are definitely a step up from the 2010/2011 JBL Audio systems (2013-2015 were changed so I can't comment on those) and let's not even talk about the "JBL Audio" of the 2004/2005 Prius. At a volume of 15-17, treble set at -1 and mid set at -2 with the bass at +2 (+1 also works), I was able to hear certain softer instruments of the songs (especially in the intros) that I either couldn't hear before or were just muddled into the louder portions of the song. It would behoove you to listen to the songs at a slightly higher volume if you wish to hear the nuances of the song. For normal driving, it's usually set at 4-7 because the Prime is so quiet but bumping them up to 15 or so makes the songs come alive. Vocals sound a bit better once I put the Mid back to 0. Anything by Michael Jackson sounds absolutely fantastic. Bass-heavy songs such as hip-hop or EDM sound solid with the audio system able to distinctly hit each of the low frequencies instead of mushing them into some sort noise analogous to a whale call; basically anything in the Top 40s work well with this audio system. The midrange/tweeters at the top of the dashboard are set a touch too high which is why I had to lower them down a touch. However, I found songs by Céline Dion are brought forward if the treble was nudged up to +1 and the mid set to 0. The only genre I found lacking was anything in the Rock department. Van Halen, Duran Duran and even Bonni Tyler sounded flat. The system has trouble with the electric guitar. The Cult - She Sells Sanctuary sounded good (surprisingly... maybe it's the recording I have?). Classical sounded ok but I think my mp3 versions aren't of the best quality.

I find the audio system is better suited for pop, EDM, techno and Hip-Hop music. It's ok for classical and I suspect it'll need more tuning for something like Rock. Vocals don't seem to be as powerful as they were in my Gen 3 but I may have to play with the equalizer a bit more. I am not an audiophile by any means but I do appreciate a nice sound so while it's no Mark Levinson or Bowers & Wilkins (I can definitely pick up on the clarity of those speakers), the JBL audio system in the Prius is good enough for its purpose. If I had to make a change, I would prefer a few more physical speakers to create a fuller soundstage. The "10-speakers in 6 locations" basically means it's a 6-speaker system but they improved the perceived quality of the sound with separate front speakers (a tweeter and a midrange up top with a subwoofer in the front doors) rather than a full range in the front door and tweeters on the dash. I'm guessing this is as good as it will get for a "commuter" car without having to incur extra costs (such as C-pillar speakers for the rear passengers or creating the same soundstage for the rear passengers which I suspect is unnecessary for the targeted demographic of Prius owners). I am satisfied with the current setup, it is an improvement over the last two JBL audio systems (god the Gen 2's one was awful... we basically kept it as an 8-speaker audio system and disconnected 9th front centre speaker the entire time) and a slight improvement over the basic 6-speaker setup in our Gen 4.

Cargo:
Coming around to the rear, the area is wide and spacious but the height really is the limiting factor. All my reusable shopping bags are taller than the distance between the floor and the tonneau cover so there's always a bulge when I pull the cover. The higher load floor also reduces the effectiveness of the grocery bag hooks on each side as the bag usually isn't hanging due to the higher floor. This definitely needs to be addressed. I do like the grab handle added to the roller-type tonneau cover. I lament the loss of the underfloor bin to store emergency items such as the tire inflator, first aid kit, plastic bags and tie down straps. I did manage to fit most of them in the smaller cut-outs on each side as well as the passenger-side underfloor cubby. The rear most underfloor cubby is mostly taken up by the charging cable. I haven't taken it on a road trip but I suspect it will definitely have to be done without the tonneau cover so I'll have to take that into consideration. The rear hatch is nicely damped and weighted for opening and closing. The dual grab handles (vs. one grab handle on the regular Prius) is the same as it has been on the Gen 2 and 3 Prii but the location is different. On the old Prii, one pulls down in the same motion that one would grab a pull cable on a tram or a bus to indicate to the bus driver/tram conductor that one wishes to stop at the next stop. On the Prime, it's a hand slot which makes closing awkward (and sometimes requires you to actually push down on the Toyota emblem to finish closing the hatch). I prefer the previous method as you can close the hatch in one motion.

The Drive:
Ok I've made you wait long enough. The drive is the biggest change for any Prius owner (well sort of... I mean we did have EV Drive Mode for short distances). First reaction? WOW! Every reaction since then? Wow, wow, wow. Honestly, this is my favourite Prius to drive. (Sorry 2016... you've been bumped down the list). It's supremely smooth, quiet and just effortless to drive. Sure, it doesn't have the kickback of a Tesla or a Volt but the power delivery that Toyota appears to have dialed in, is one of smoothness (like a V12 in a Rolls-Royce... but with 1/5th of the power lol). I haven't tried full throttle acceleration (break-in period plus, like any conscientious Prius driver, I'm trying to get the best kWh/100km rating) but initial acceleration from a stop in everyday driving is adequate. I have mentioned repeatedly on this forum that I wish the Prius and Prime were faster and I still do. But Toyota has done well with what they have, balancing efficiency with driveability.

In hybrid mode, the engine comes on smoothly and mostly stays in the background. Under hard acceleration, you'll hear the engine (that's normal) but if you stay within the Eco Accelerator Guide area, the engine noise will be kept to a minimal. The power does feel a bit weaker in hybrid mode and you do have to press the accelerator slightly harder to get the same amount of acceleration (I noticed my speed starting dropping when I ran out of charge and went into hybrid mode). Hence, the car feels much peppier in EV Mode (with the car in Eco Mode) than it does in hybrid mode (where Eco mode, appropriately feels like Eco mode). The difference is noticeable but not as dramatic as the Volt between its EV mode and Mountain Mode.

The steering wheel is definitely lighter than my Gen 3 but I think it's a touch weightier than the Gen 4 Touring (which is surprising... maybe it's because of the extra 200kg of curb weight or just the way they programmed the electric power steering). My Gen 3 had the 15" wheels so it had the 17.6:1 steering ratio (not the quicker 14.1:1 for the Gen 3 Touring or Gen 3 V/Five for US model). The Prime obviously has a quicker steering ratio (13.4:1) and feels much more natural. It was tedious to drive the Gen 3 at slow speeds around a car park because of the number of hand-over-hand motions as I manoeuvre the car park; it's much easier in the Prime.

The suspension tuning is definitely on the softer side compared to our 2016 Prius Touring (with its Touring-spec suspension and larger 17" alloys). It rides more comfortably but the 2016 Touring will corner better and it feels more nimble than the Prime. Both are a huge step up from the last two generations. I suppose "comfortably firm" is what I would term the ride. On the road, the Prime is quiet and is the quietest a Prius has ever been. Tyre noise is omnipresent, no doubt a consequence of the harder compound. Wind and road noise is non-existent at lower speeds. I haven't much experience at higher speeds but I didn't notice any excessive wind noise.

Someone who tracks their car or races will have a better idea than I do but based on my limited knowledge, the Prime's settles into a corner fairly quickly on initial turn-in. The front bound damper setting is stiff - great for the turn-in, maybe a touch harsh for certain speed bumps (the sharp kind, not the smoothed/rounded ones). It sits in between the Gen 3 (which felt like it was weak at the knees) and the 2016 Touring (which feels more like a sporty-ish compact car). Body roll is more apparent than the 2016 Prius Touring going into a corner on a downhill but it's negligible on an uphill corner. In either scenario, it's much better than my Gen 3 (I'm sure the solar roof didn't help the centre of gravity situation on my Gen 3). Coming out of a corner, the Prime feels more confident; it feels like there is greater grip in the rear tyres. Again, I don't race or do track days but I'm guessing it's a combination of the suspension geometry, the lower centre of gravity, stiffer chassis (have you seen the number of braces under the car?!?) and the better weight distribution (56:44 vs. 61:49) that results in what I'm feeling. I feel like the Prime can benefit from the larger 215/55R17 tyres for better braking performance and cornering ability but it will result in the loss of AER and possibly a slightly harsher ride. I suppose Toyota stuck with 15" because the US market is focused on EV range and this setup gives the best combination of ride and EV range while in Japan, the range is more than enough and priority is placed on handling and how the vehicle looks.

The stiffer chassis and laser screw welding (LSW) should result in less body twist as the car ages. My parkade has a steep ramp and with the Gen 3, it resulted in a body twist every time I exited the parkade as I made a sharp right after cresting the ramp. As the car aged, the hatch would creak whenever the car was subjected to an odd angle road (like turning at the top/bottom of a ramp).

Under braking, the regenerative braking is better blended than on the 2016 Prius (and almost in line with my Gen 3). When I first got the 2016 Prius, I felt like Toyota took a step back. The brake transition from regen to friction was rougher than in the Gen 3, more akin to the Gen 2's system. It appears Toyota has tweaked the setting as I found the Prime's transition to be much smoother. Coming to a stop is also the smoothest in any Prius. The ECB can be a bit hard to modulate compared to the hydraulic system. (Those old enough will remember that you can lift off your foot just before you come to a stop to catch the front suspension rebound and have a completely smooth stop for you and your passengers with the hydraulic system. It's harder to modulate with the ECB). While I can't objectively state it, it feels as though the Prime's friction brakes come on earlier in the CHG section of the HSI to better blend the braking force; a compromise to be made to create a more natural braking feel I suppose. While I haven't had to test the Prime's braking system (I managed to anticipate a bad move by a fellow motorist last week so I avoided a collision with someone who couldn't follow the curved dashed lines in an intersection and decided my lane was theirs at the other end of the intersection), I'm a little skeptical about the size of the rotors with the width of our tyres and the weight of our car. The last time a Camry wore 15" wheels, it weighed 1,300-1,400kg and had 205/65R15 tyres. The Prime is heavier and has narrower tyres so I suspect our braking distance is going to be longer than average. The wider 215/45R17 tyres from the Prius Touring may help increase grip.

From the driver's seat, the visibility is much improved over the Gen 3 and nearly rivals the Gen 2. Forward visibility is great for a modern car and I don't have to look around the A-pillar as much as I had to with the Gen 3. The more upright windshield helps push the A-pillar a bit forward, allowing for line of sight of crosswalks out the side window. The Gen 3 went with a cockpit design (hence the flying bridge and the enclosed design) while the Gen 4/Prime is inspired by the Gen 2 and it shows. It a wider-feeling cabin with a greater sense of airiness. I feel like the front doors are longer as I can sit further back in the Prime. The Gen 2's visibility was aided by the high seating position but that felt like you were sitting on the car, not in the car. In the Prime, I can see out quite well but yet feel cocooned inside the vehicle. The view out the back is quite good for a Prius and I have no qualms with reversing into a spot looking out the rear window without the aid of the backup camera or sonar sensors. The other great thing about the seating position of the Prime is that I can confidently pull up to the curbside without inducing curb rash. I could do that easily with the Gen 2 (even after driving the Gen 3 for 5 years, I could hop back into the Gen 2 and know I will not curb the wheels). However, I could never quite figure that out with the Gen 3. I would always stop too far and would have to reverse and adjust so that I could park/stop closer to the curb. I have no idea why and it bugged me for the entire length of ownership. The one area where visibility has decreased is the right-hand shouldercheck towards the passenger side three-quarter area. The removal of the rear quarter window results in a larger C-pillar and a larger blind spot. The improved rearward visibility means that the auto-dimming mirror, for the first time in a Prius Liftback, actually works as intended!! Hooray! I don't know if it's because of the extra dip in the rear spoiler due to the Prime's dual wave rear window but the headlights finally hit the light sensor and the mirror will dim as expected.

The side wing mirrors are, happily, wider to cover a better area and reduce the total arc degree of blind spots when adjusted correctly. It's a bit of a surprise since I thought a wider mirror would reduce the total aerodynamic coefficient (as the housing would have to stick out more) but I'm ok with the slight reduction for the wider piece of glass. I think the height has been reduced but I cannot confirm that without taking measurements off the glass of the Gen 3 & Prime. A nice surprise that isn't listed in the brochure or the specification sheet is the water-repellent front door glass. (It is mentioned in the technical manual). I don't know if all Prime models get it (I assume it comes with the acoustic front door glass which means, it's possible that all Primes and the Four/Four Touring models of the Prius or the Limited for 2019+ have the water-repellent windows too). I've come to appreciate the drier glass on rainy days. You can tell if you have the water-repellent glass when you run water over it - Watch the water sheet down in the rear door windows but watch the water bead and run off on the front door windows).

At night, the LED low beams are wonderful as they cast a wide area of light. Throw (amount of light visible down the road) is adequate but not exceptional. The high beams cast a very noticeable, nearly round, area of light towards the centreline of the car. Automatic high beams work well but I wish we had the matrix LED system.

The Prime Prius:
When it comes to efficiency, the Prius is the one to beat. While technically the Ioniq Electric Plus (PHEV) is rated higher at 15.6kWh/100km or 136MPGe vs. the Prime's 15.8kWh/100km or 133MPGe, I think the Prime will win in the real world. I've consistently beaten that number with light use of the climate control and agreeable temperatures (read: above freezing), usually in the 13.0kWh/100km range (150MPGe+). In the recent western Canada deep freeze, it's risen to 17kWh/100km (dropped to 123MPGe) with heater use. The Prime is insanely efficient. The one day I ran out of charge and had to do a 20km urban round trip in hybrid mode, I achieved 3.6L/100km (65.3mpg) going there and 3.8L/100km (61.9mpg) coming back. I don't think I've ever gotten that in my Gen 3 even in the summer! The larger battery definitely helps and the Prime wants to stay in EV mode as long as possible (similar to the Gen 4's software). I saw the battery drop to around the equivalent of 6 bars (for seasoned Prius owners) but by the time I got to my destination, it had recharged back to above the HV/EV threshold (still stayed in HV though). The extra buffer definitely helps with mpg so those wondering if the Prime gets better mpg than the regular Gen 4, under certain circumstances, it does. In Canada, we have a lot of free charging stations (some have free parking, others have paid parking) so additional electricity cost is negligible other than the one you pay for at home. This helps extend the range of the Prime as I hop from one destination to another. It's been 2.5 weeks and the fuel gauge just left "F".

As with previous Prii, it becomes a game to see what's the best kWh/100km efficiency you can achieve. Hybrid mode mpg is a given but I'll be curious to see what the highway numbers will be. I will be doing a trip later in February and I suspect I will be one of the drivers so that will give me a chance to try out the hybrid mode on an extended highway run.

It isn't all sunshine and daffodils. I would definitely prefer a longer AER. 40km is fine if you're in flat land but go up a hill and boom, I lose 20% just by climbing 3-4km uphill. A longer AER will allow for more flexibility in HV/EV mode. I suppose that means a smaller gas tank, lower total range and maybe a smaller engine. I don't envy the engineers and designers who have to figure out how to package, design and price the next generation Prime - do they inch up the price to accommodate the requests of enthusiasts or try and keep the price down by better packaging a smaller battery? I'm in the longer range camp but hopefully $/kWh comes down enough that Toyota can do both - increase range and keep MSRP increases to a minimum.

The Prime has succeeded in become the best Prius that Toyota has to offer and now it comes with a ride that's more compliant and handling that is, at the very least, comparable to modern compact cars rather than a second thought.

Complaints:
The Prime is wonderful in so many ways and of course there is room for improvement and I hope Toyota can take some of these ideas that PriusChat members have expressed and continue to improve their vehicles.

The biggest of course is the reduced cargo area. Packaging isn't the problem as @RonMc5 found out, there is a large gap beneath the battery (slightly taller than the width of a canned beverage) so the battery definitely can be lowered if Toyota chooses an alternative way to cool the battery without actually changing the battery's size or chemistry.

Toyota has provided lots of info in the 4.2" MID but it is missing a few things. I would like an EV/HV ratio (similar to the A/C load %) and a separate HV mpg readout and not a blended mpg readout. The current EV Driving Ratio includes the % when the engine is off in hybrid mode. I suppose that is EV mode but I’d like to know the % I was actually in the car’s EV mode parameters too.

In Canadian models, when you use the "Split" screen for the speedo's 4.2" MID, one of the options is kWh/100km instant readout. The problem is that it goes from 0-10 kWh/100km. Considering that the Prime is rated for 15.8kWh/100km, a more useful scale would be 0-20 or 0-30kWh/100km. As it stands, the bar is ALWAYS full unless you're coasting or very lightly touching the accelerator which makes that readout impractical. I think the US readout is better scaled. This carries over to the Fuel Consumption screen where 1km and 5km bars are shown. The bars are almost always maxed out unless I go down a hill or coast for 1km. It’s equivalent to giving the Prius a 0-30mpg gauge - it’s always going to be full bars since it’ll do better than 30mpg.

On the MFD, the Trip Information and Past Record screens left over from the regular Prius only work in HV mode. They do not show regen in EV mode. The only way I can see it is if I go full screen on the Energy Monitor, then click the top right icon to show the Battery/Engine/Climate control usage pop-out screen. There, I can see total trip energy recovery and past minute energy recovery.... but it's a small screen that requires a full screen Energy Monitor.

The RCTA pop-up shows both sides and you have to see which mirror is flashing its BSM icon. A supplementary system where the RCTA pop-up also shows which side (with the red flashing triangle) would be appreciated.

The charging flap is really large and if Toyota could switch over to CCS so that we can have a smaller charging flap, that would also be appreciated. In tight spots, the flap can sometimes be knocked close by the neighbouring EV owner, reaching for their charging cable.

I assume this will come with Entune 3.0 but in the off-chance it doesn't, Toyota Canada needs to include ways to monitor our charge. I don't want to be that guy who accidentally leaves the car plugged in but not charging because I have no way of monitoring when my car will be done charging (if I end up staying longer at my destination than my car will take to fully charge).

Improvements:

I would like to see some sort of anti-glare or better yet, auto-dimming feature for the wing mirrors.

Naturally, TSS-P 2.0 (or will it be 3.0 by the time the next gen Prime arrives?) would be nice.I like the low-light pedestrian detection given our northern latitudes and longer winters.

Additional sound absorption or sound reflection material in the wheel wells to reduce tyre noise would be appreciated and will round out the list of noise complaints.

I would like a longer range for AER. As it stands, I can lose 20% of SOC just by climbing a hill towards a nearby freeway; that's really depressing.

A flat cargo floor (from bumper to rear seat) is a must and 5 seats.

More in-cabin storage for small items. A larger glovebox that can fit more than just the manuals

More USB charging ports

An extendable driver's seat thigh support (manual is fine)

LED interior lighting

Better energy consumption screen. The Consumption screen in the MFD doesn't show regen in EV mode and really is never used unless I'm in HV mode. The consumption screen in the MID only shows 1km and 5km intervals (previous it had the option for time OR distance) and the scale in Canadian models make it worthless - it goes from 0 to 10kWh/100km. The car is rated at 15.8kWh/100km so.... the bars are almost always maxed out which doesn't provide me with useful information.

For Canadian models, we need a way to monitor our car's SOC and have smartphone-enabled remote climate.

Summary:
Congrats on getting to the end (or if you skipped to here, hopefully this covers everything you wanted to know). I will be comparing the Prime to the Gen 2, Gen 3 and Gen 4 Prius that I have/still do own.

I like the futuristic design but some elements like the indicators seem susceptible to parking lot damage (e.g. shopping carts/trolleys)

All around visibility has improved over the last two generations of Prius making it easy to position the car. It also means that the auto-dimming mirror.

Much improved cabin for space and seating position

I lament the loss of storage cubbies that the last two generations had. Bring them back!

The 11.6" HD MFD is under-utilized. Toyota can do so much more with it

Needs more USB charging ports

Needs a double-hinged centre console box lid

Much improved ride quality and handling

A little concerned about the possible long braking distance (just doing the math with the weight of the car, the size of our tyres and the size of the brake pads/rotors)

EV mode is peppy for around town driving

HV mode is amazingly efficient too

LED lights are good at night

Would like to see a longer all-electric range (hilly terrain significantly cuts down on range)

Would like to see (hear?) tyre noise reduced

Needs some reshuffling of data presented to the driver for EV/HV driving

Canadian models lack connectivity so I can't check SOC or start/stop charging or do remote climate via smartphone like the competition (Ford, Honda, Hyundai).

Next gen must have a flat cargo floor

Prefer to have 5 seats (mostly for the competition)

Need to include an energy consumption screen. The fuel consumption ones on the MID and MFD are ineffective in EV Mode

Phew, that's all for now.

Edit1: Added more impressions about the JBL Audio now that I had one-hour to just sit and listen to different songs.

Edit2: Added impressions about the fuel consumption screens and improvements needed
Click to expand...

In all the reviews of the Prius Prime I've read and seen on YouTube, I've only once seen anyone comment about the lack of a rear windshield wiper and/or the shape of the rear windshield. I know I rely on the rear wiper on my Prius 2 when rain accumulates on the glass and wonder if the lack of a wiper on the Prime doesn't present a visibility issue. Also, it's claimed that the bowed rear windshield doesn't collect snow and I wonder if that's accurate.

jerrymildred · Apr 28, 2019

FrankH said: ↑

In all the reviews of the Prius Prime I've read and seen on YouTube, I've only once seen anyone comment about the lack of a rear windshield wiper and/or the shape of the rear windshield. I know I rely on the rear wiper on my Prius 2 when rain accumulates on the glass and wonder if the lack of a wiper on the Prime doesn't present a visibility issue. Also, it's claimed that the bowed rear windshield doesn't collect snow and I wonder if that's accurate.
Click to expand...

Rain on the back window hasn't been a problem for me in FL. Neither has snow, but that's to be expected.

As for gliding in the Gen 2, 3, & Prime, I have a strong suspicion that the tiny bit of energy flow going on when you're less than perfect on the throttle pressure is insignificant and that it was still happening on the Gen 2 but we couldn't see it.

Tideland Prius · Apr 28, 2019

FrankH said: ↑

In all the reviews of the Prius Prime I've read and seen on YouTube, I've only once seen anyone comment about the lack of a rear windshield wiper and/or the shape of the rear windshield. I know I rely on the rear wiper on my Prius 2 when rain accumulates on the glass and wonder if the lack of a wiper on the Prime doesn't present a visibility issue. Also, it's claimed that the bowed rear windshield doesn't collect snow and I wonder if that's accurate.
Click to expand...

I was concerned about the lack of a rear wiper as well but it was ok and no different than a sedan.

For snow, it depends on the type of snow you get. If it’s fluffy, you’re fine. If it’s wet snow, it’ll pile up.

jb in NE · Apr 28, 2019

FrankH said: ↑

I know I rely on the rear wiper on my Prius 2 when rain accumulates on the glass and wonder if the lack of a wiper on the Prime doesn't present a visibility issue. Also, it's claimed that the bowed rear windshield doesn't collect snow and I wonder if that's accurate.
Click to expand...

My experience - zero problems with rain on the rear glass. I treated it with Rain-X and after the car moves more than a few mph, the water slides right off.

Snow also not a problem. I don't think the amount of snow collection on the glass would be significantly affected by the shape of the window. When you are stationary or parked, snow collects on either and you need to clear the window before driving. Once in motion, air over the window keeps snow clear. I have driven mine in snow and never a problem with snow collecting. Also, when it's snowing I typically run the rear defroster when I get started to melt off any remaining snow. Once it is gone, no problems with buildup until the next time the car is parked.

Roy2001 · Apr 29, 2019

Ioniq Plug-in eMPG is only 119, not 136. 136 is for Ioniq BEV.

Hyundai uses more of battery capacity to achieve 29mile EV range which would hurt battery while Toyota chose the opposite way. That actually sucks for Ioniq owners as they would see EV range drop sooner.

Tideland Prius · Apr 29, 2019

Well favourable temperatures and traffic = new record! (my old record is 11.4kWh/100km as seen on Apr 26!)

10.7kWh/100km = 5.8kWh/mile

or 1.2Le/100km or 196mpge

Raytheeagle · Apr 29, 2019

Tideland Prius said: ↑

Well favourable temperatures and traffic = new record! (my old record is 11.4kWh/100km as seen on Apr 26!)

10.7kWh/100km = 5.8kWh/mile

or 1.2Le/100km or 196mpge

View attachment 170320 View attachment 170321
Click to expand...

How many miles or kms traveled?

Really good though.

Tideland Prius · Apr 29, 2019

Raytheeagle said: ↑

How many miles or kms traveled?

Really good though.
Click to expand...

Today? It's in the 2nd photo. ~42 miles

Raytheeagle · Apr 29, 2019

Tideland Prius said: ↑

Today? It's in the 2nd photo. ~42 miles
Click to expand...

Sorry, I missed that.

I have 1100 miles on this tank and still have a third of a tank left.

They are great cars and get great mileage.

A Prius Expert’s Review of the 2018 Prius Prime

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A Prius Expert’s Review of the 2018 Prius Prime

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