I've heard of the much improved ride quality in the Gen 4 but was curious if that was across all Prii or was it certain years and/or trim? I'm also curious about road noise improvements as well if anyone can elaborate.
Gen 4 has dramatically better handling and steering than the previous generations - using the all-new TNGA platform. I have heard that there is a slight difference in suspension with some variants of the USA models, but it's mainly for improved handling.
huge improvement in road noise compared to the Gen 3, road noise was the only reason I traded in my Gen 3 at 3 years old.
They are all the same except that the touring models are tuned a little firmer. When I got my '17 Prime I also test drove a 2016 Touring three. It didn't feel all that different to me.
I'm not a TOYOTA fan - had more VOLVOs. But having tried both Gen 2 and Gen 3, I couldn't have lived with them, they were so behind the Eight Ball as driver's cars. The Gen 4 meant they were at least as good to drive as the most hatches - FORD FOCUS was still a considerably better drive, but they'd dropped the l/100km Diesel - and only had Auto Petrols, so I wasn't going to go that way.
Ride quality and handling have been improved. The fronts are still MacPherson struts but the rear changed from a torsion beam to a double wishbone (a multilink really, if you look underneath, but Toyota calls it a double wishbone). The independent rear suspension setup does wonders for filtering out road imperfections and the chassis and suspension tuning (along with better weight distribution) help with handling. The non-Tourings have a softer ride with standard suspension tuning and 195/65R15 tyres. The Touring models have stiffer bushings and a "Touring specific" suspension setup along with 215/45R17 tyres. We have both a 2016 Touring and a 2018 Prime and I can attest to the suspension differences - the 2016 is noticeably stiffer on bridge expansion joints. The Prime is squishier. The Prime does have better weight balance (56/54) but a slightly higher centre of gravity. The 2016 has a lower centre of gravity (battery is under the rear seat) but weight balance is 58/42. By comparison, the Gen 3's weight distribution is 61/39. Also, the steering ratio is much quicker than the standard Gen 3 and somewhat quicker than the Gen 3 Five/V.
The three race car drivers in the below video, including the Drift King, gave the Gen 4 decent marks for a family car on the touge (mountain road). They liked the stiffer body compared to Gen 3. The TRD version in Japan looks like the best trim for handling, but we don't have that in the US (maybe parts could be ordered?). Other things I noticed: Traction control can be turned off in the TRD (can all Gen 4s do that?), and the TRD wheels look cool. Turn the closed captioning on for the English translation.
I've got both a gen 2 and a gen 4 in my household. Gen 4 rides better and engine noise is much much less (end of 2018 model), but I find road noise worse than gen 2. Both have winter tires, for gen 2 sized 195/55 R16, while for gen 4 215/45R17. So, it may also depend on the specific tires that are mounted.
reallyreal: I've got 2 Prii: 2018 Two, stock 15"s, 2018 Four Touring stock 17"s. Road noise with the 17"s is significantly higher than the 15"s. Both have OEM Bridgestone Ecopias. I'm finding the minimal "improvement" in handling of the 17"s is simply not worth it. We all MUCH prefer the 15"s. The wider 17"s also "tramline" (follow the contour of the road surface) much more than the 15"s. It just doesn't track as neutral as the 15"s, and both have had recent alignments, specs are very close. The Touring, with OEM suspension changes, to create better handling, might be "better" than the non-Touring suspension, but the sacrifice in increased harshness, general nervousness in the ride, isn't for everyone. I'd rather have the non-Touring suspension (and I'm coming from 40 years of VAG products, Bilstein/Koni shocks, nothing radical, but always driver-friendly). Perhaps if we lived in a region with better road surfaces, we'd like the Touring more.
Ahh BestMotoring. Haven't watched that in ages. Nice to see that the ENG subs are getting better. Yes, there's a TRAC OFF button to turn off the traction control as well as stability control (press and hold)
I noticed the Avalon Hybrid in your signature, how would you describe the suspension and ride quality in that?
2014 Avalon Hybrid suspension: weirdly conflicted. Small irregularities (slightly uneven concrete breaks), are stupidly jarring, so the impression is a suspension that is too firm. I think this is why Toyota heard so many complaints about the suspension being "too sporty." Taking a challenging off-ramp at too high a speed, and hitting some uneven pavement, isn't secure at all. Conversely, larger, smooth undulations can unsettle the suspension, so rebound isn't properly controlled. I would ask KYB/Toyota to soften the initial spring/strut compression (the first 1-2" of travel) and tighten up the rebound. I have no clue how they would accomplish that. Besides, they've never asked my opinion! FYI, I've kept OEM sized Michelin Premier A/S on the car for 70k of the car's 107k miles. They would happily go 50k miles, but we had 2 incidents during that time, a puncture on the shoulder of one, and a road debris blowout, both occurring after about 25k miles, necessitating 2 tires each time be replaced, as I won't run worn/new tires on the same axle. In addition, living in the heat of TX, I won't keep a tire much past 50k miles.
^ Didn't Toyota soften the suspension for the midlife update? (At least they did on the gas version IIRC).
