In 2016 Toyota announced with some fanfare that the new generation Prius was now rated to safely tow up to 1600 lbs. “Its new ability has been made possible thanks to heat management measures introduced in its main electric motor-generator and differential.”. In NA, this same vehicle was still rated with zero towing capacity and Toyota continued to warn against any towing in its NA owner manuals. The difference was apparently not in the specifications but in different rules governing towing in the UK and NA that made it safer to tow with a 2016 and newer Prius. The UK has strict speed limits for towing and in some cases requires additional licensing. NA, on the other hand, is the wild west of speed limits where drivers are known to shoot each other for going too slow. So, it has now been four + years and from what I read, caravaning with a Prius is popular in the UK, so is there any data now to back up the claim that this wasn't destroying the brakes, transmission and motors of these new generation Prius'? The only feedback I've found is anecdotal and short-term. I would love to tow an ultra-lite with my 2016 Prius C. I've seen a few nice camperswith 1000 lb dry weight. The warranty on my Prius is nearly done, so next summer I won't be worried about invalidating it. But on the other hand, I don't want to destroy my car if UK Prius owners are now all seeing their transmissions and brakes failing from towing.
I wouldn’t worry about a small trailer like that, especially if it has pulse brakes and a load distribution hitch
I was thinking the same thing. It's already HP challenged, and quite small. I wouldn't be comfortable doing it, but of course, 1000lbs. dry weight can be deceiving. Additional weight in the car adds up quickly, brakes or not.
I'd like to see a modern good-to-go European hitch for a Gen4 Prius to see if they are connected / built better than the offerings here since we're talking about it.
