2019 vs. 2020 prime

Buy the 2019 unless you must have the 5th seat or any of the new features.

 

There are greater discounts available on the 2019 over the 2020 but I went with the 2020 for the below reasons:

1) Passenger Seating - The 2020 has 5 seats as opposed to the 4 seats in the 2019. The 5th seat (middle seat in rear) provides more utility and I suspect this will result in better resale value (direct or indirect).
2) Multimedia - The 2020 offers Standard Sirius XM, Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa compatibility.
3) Trim - White trim on the interior has been converted to black piano trim. The black trim looks better IMHO and will wear better
4) Heat Seater Buttons - The buttons for the heated seats are relocated from under/behind the center console to a more ergonomic and convenient location near the cupholders
5) USB Ports - 2 rear-seat USB ports now
6) Sun Visor Extenders - Sun visor extenders have been added to the vehicle to help block out sun that is just beyond the range of the standard visor.

Overall, I think the additions to the 2020 model make the car more livable.

 

Agree, go for the better deal unless you truly need the middle fifth seat.

 

But...also consider resale value/desirability. In several years from now (or whenever you replace it), a 2020 will always sell for more than a similar 2019, and will be somewhat easier to sell. You need to make sure that the upfront discount you get is enough to compensate you for that. $3,500 sounds like more than enough to me, but ymmv.

 

agreed. if none of the improvements matter, weigh the cost difference vs resale difference, it may not be that big a spread.
then you get a car that hasn't been sitting around as long.

 

In few years used '19 and '20 with similar mileage will cost about the same.

 

Having owned a 2018 Prime for about 7 months, I can say that not one of those features (or all of them together) would compel me to spend $3500 more for a 2020.

Perhaps if you sell in the next few years, but if you sell it in 10-15 years the model year will be much less important than the mileage and condition. Plus, with a 2019 get the benefit of registering and insuring a one model-year older car for the entire time you own it, which can add up to significant savings in 10 years.

 

That's fair enough. Different strokes...

 

Only in states that have a property value or age component as part of registration or taxes. The two states I've owned cars in were flat fees for registration.

It might make a difference for insurance.

 

I recently swapped '18 for '19 and my insurance went down a bit. True story.

 

2020 all the way! just wish it has seat cooler....

 

Waiting for my 2020 which should arrive next week.. The fifth seat is a must for me . If it wasn't for that, a 2019 would have been fine for me.

 

Wait for a few more months, Toyota may up the rebate on 2019 models to $5,000 like they did for the last two years.

 

In few more months there won't be 2019 left; Toyota is already pushing them out hard and the new shipments dealers are getting are 2020.

 

Maybe in California, but in New England there are still more 2019 models in stock than 2020 models.

 

Part of the decision-making on waiting or not is going to be whether or not you're willing to fly to, say, Boston and drive back with your new Prime in order to get $1,500 more of a rebate.

Personally, I'd do it. It would be like Toyota was paying for my vacation...

 

I thought about that too in the debate between 2019 and 2020. However, by the time you do all that, you've got 1000 miles or so on the new car by the time you get back, most all of them on the engine too.

I think the 2020, even without the rebate, is also better due to the "freshness" of the battery, and the fact that it hasn't been sitting outside at a dealership for who knows how long. Maybe I'm too paranoid, but I purchased the 2011 Nissan LEAF in 2012, it had been sitting at 100% charge in the blazing Florida sun for a year, and the batteries were just killed. I will say Nissan did step up and replace the batteries under warranty at just under 60K miles, so in a sense I ended up better off, but still, I was unhappy seeing the original battery degrading so that I was down to 26 miles of range. Essentially I had a Prius Prime without an engine.

I think, as so many others, that the key to choosing the 2020 is the 5 person seating. It will benefit the resale, and even if you don't need it, the next buyer might. We don't really need it now either, but it is nice to have the option.

Then of course, there is the fleeting spectacular feeling of driving one of the only 2020 Prius Primes in Florida! Priceless!!

The absolutely most logical thing to have done would have been to have dealt with Dianne
Dianne's SoCal deals and inventory on Prime for summer! | PriusChat
and have the car shipped. But we saw the car on the dealer's lot, exactly what we were wanting, and that surpassed the logic.

 

In the big scheme of the lifespan of the car, that is nothing. In exchange, you get a nice road trip and a good discount.