Disappointed in Gen 4 lack of phone holder & storage space

At least on my 2020 AWD, there’s a great spot for the phone... the charging pad.

 

i can't speak for other mfg's, but toyotas lack of phone holder spot is complete ignorance, and lack of attention to detail.

 

Isn't there a dedicated space for a phone - there is in the 2016. I keep mine in my pocket.

Yes, I agree, a dumb place to put the USB outlets. But think yourself lucky - in USA, you get knobs on the RADIO. We just get a piece of glass with markings (which move).

As for the underfloor storage, there are 2 issues.

1. In your case, you've opted for AWD, and under the floor, if you look, is the inverter and other "stuff" related to the rear wheels driving.
2. - and most importantly, the car is a totally different car. There were some carry-overs from Gen2 to Gen3. But Gen 4 was the first car on the new TNGA - an architecture which is the basis of why your new PRIUS drives astronomically better than a Gen 2.

I guess they could have made a Gen4 based on the old architecture - but it would have bombed on the market, I suspect. I for one wouldn't have bought one, having driven the old ones and walked away.

 

My 2020 Eco has a phone spot. It is right underneath the shifting knob.

 

Im totally with you on the glove box being small. I actually had to move my owners manual out of there to put other things in.
I keep my phone on the passenger seat or in one of the cup holders , sometimes between my legs.
I dont have a problem with the USB near the center console because I rarely use that to charge my phone.
As a short person also, Yes, my seat is forward and the armrest is totally unusable as a arm rest.
You can actually move the little rectangles around in the setting so the contact screen it to the right. I peronally totally removed the phone in the squares because my contact data doesnt seem to sync . Like when I try to dial with the screen, it takes forever, I just use the phone instead.

 

Yes, I agree, the glovebox is hopeless. With the manuals in, there wasn't room left for my gloves.

 

One of the things that I find to be kind of dumb is to buy a new model of anything and then expect it to be just like the one you used to have. The 2007 did not have AWD. 2007 did not have Safety Sense anti collision features. 2007 had an arm rest that you had to get used to also. 2007 had neither Andriod Auto nor Apple Carplay. I could go on and on.

If your biggest problem today is figuring out where to put your phone when driving you have a better life than most people on this planet.

Dan

 

Agree - and was ... not very inviting to drive.

 

As far as your phone reply, I place mine in the tray for the phone but stand it upright against the gear shifter bezel area. My phone is quite large and I can see some not being able to do that, but it is secure with the case I have on my phone anyway. Just my 2 cents. I agree with you, a lot less cubbies than other cars back in yesteryear...which is quite annoying!

 

Ah yes...First World Problems...

 

Also in many (most?) places it is illegal to use your phone while driving.

 

Suggestions:
1. Sell the car.
You've already stated "why" in your OP.....but NOTE the use of the word "sell" rather than the word "trade."
You paid $28,000 for a $25,000 car and you changed it from a new car to a used car.....so you're going to have to try to fill that $6000 hole in with something.
I would use TIME.
People trade cars in because it's easy and fast.
Selling the car outright takes longer.
Also.....you're dealing with the trifecta of horrible car buy timing.
TAX season plus Biden Bucks plus there's a damn dam of pent up demand...so this is a singularly BAD time to be thinking about buying a new ANYTHING.

B. Before the divorce....start seeing other cars.
Yeah.
I know.....it's supposed to work the other way around with people, but you really need to DRIVE your next car before you do all of the paperwork. FORTUNATELY.....most new cars can be rented for a weekend.
You seem to be somewhat......er......"particular" about your cars so a 5-minute drive around the block with a sales associate drooling all over the place and fogging up the passenger side window seems to be poor research strategery.

III. The phone....
I don't drive in the garden state, so I personally don't care what you do with the phone....however (comma!) YOU should for fairly obvious reasons!!
My 2010 Prius is a stone-age car as compared with models from this decade, so I can understand somebody "wanting" a phone mount in older cars in the same way that I can understand somebody wanting a drive-thru daiquiri store......but THIS is 2021.
The least expensive cars sold in North America come with infotainment screens that 'speaky the cell phone' whether you have a Droid or an Apple, so "where you keep your phone" should not be much of a "thing" for you.
The most basic cars sold today will allow you to tether your phone to the car either by Bluetooth or with a cable.

Good Luck!

 

No matter what car I drive I’ve always just throw the phone on passenger seat with my other daily items I bring. Once I started really using CarPlay there is not much you can not do that would be needed while driving.

 

I frankly love the way the Prius works with technology. I purchased a wireless CarPlay gizmo that plugs into the USB port. I stuck it to the console with some double sided tape. I enter the vehicle, place the phone on the charging pad for charging, and use the phone on the Prius’ screen via CarPlay. It connects within 30 seconds or so.

 

There's a wireless CarPlay gizmo? I just moved from an '09 to a '21, and yeah, I notice the drop in storage, but to be able to have CarPlay without the usb cable hassle would be...wonderful. Where did you get it?

 

I got the CPLAY2AIR gadget from here:

https://cplay2air.com

I used two sided tape to affix it on the front vertical surface of the center console, and leave it plugged into the USB port all the time. Has worked flawlessly. The only downside is that it take about 10-20 seconds for the car to first see it, and then for it to see the iPhone.

I’m still going back and forth between whether I prefer Google Maps or Apple Maps. I used to prefer Google, but it’s been routing me lately on a lot of side streets presumably to minimize travel time, but makes for harried driving (Seattle neighborhoods have quite a few two-way streets in which both directions of traffic share the same lane if cars are parallel parked... while drivers here are pretty good to making sure everyone gets their turn driving down the street without anyone having to back up, it’s not the most pleasant driving experience).

 

This review on their site is spot on... the only time I’ve had a problem connecting is when the phone was already connected to a WiFi network and therefore didn’t switch over to the CarPlay’s WiFi network.