As a long time Prius owner, I'm considering updating/upgrading my 2013 Prius Three to a 2022 Prius Prime. I have watched at least a dozen YTs, perused as many threads here, but have not found a definitive answer to the following: what is the effect upon the handling of the car to have the extra 300 lbs in the rear end? My Three is a fairly good handling car. It's not going to set any records on a road course, but it's predictable, corners well, and leaves me with a confident feeling. I worry about that extra weight in the rear. Is the car still fairly "tossable" or does it feel unpredictable? I get that the weight distribution is actually closer to 50/50 with the huge battery, but I still wonder about the extra weight; will the car suddenly switch to oversteer behaviour? Or will it lose any of the nimbleness it has now? I have tried a lot of different tires over the years, but love the feel of the Michelin X-Ice for winter driving. I'd run them year round, but the compound's too soft even for Canada summers. Any opinions welcome - just trying to sort out this decision process. BTW, there is ZERO stock on any Prius at the dealer here. I have my name on the next Prime coming soon...
I am fortunate to have both a 2021 Prius Prime XLE (currently wearing the newest model of Michelin X-Ice) and a 2010 Prius Four. The 2021, on the TNGA platform with independent rear suspension, is a much more comfortable ride. The steering is much better than the Gen3. It does not feel unpredictable in the twisty stuff, and turns-in nicely under moderate pressure. The transition from straight driving to turning is more linear than the significant understeer of the Gen3, which feels like you need a lot of steering angle to get the car started into a turn, then must back off the pressure to keep it in the lane. The Prime (and maybe all Gen4 variants) is shorter in height, and the driver’s head is correspondingly lower. I think that the lower driving position makes the glare from both oncoming and following headlights more problematic. For this reason alone, in the dark, I actually prefer my 2010 on unlit rural backroads during commute-time. I cannot compare the Prime to a standard Gen4, because I’ve never driven one. I think that would be the best test of the effects of the Prime battery weight.
The pack isn't huge by any means, in fact it's actually too small for some owners. And it's 300 lbs. , not 300 extra lbs. Handling is good all around. I've been surprised a time or two in heavy crosswinds. Other than that, it stops well, corners well and with the right tires holds the road steady as she goes. Concerning your IceX, I hear you and I've discovered that going up a few notches in tire specs can be as good as snows year round. I have Nokian Nordman for winters and I have Michelin Defender LTX M/S XL 99T (discontinued in that size, but still a few around). I curbed my front drivers side Nordman and the sidewall bubbled and went flat a few weeks after I scrapped the curb. So I put 2 Michelins up front and they are as steady in deep snow as the Nordmans. They are also rated for 80k tread life on a small truck or SUV. I'm keeping my fingers crossed I can get more from them with the Prime being a lighter load. Yes, the car will break loose on ice and a 90^ turn, if going to fast, but from a stop to speed or confidence on a snow covered road, the Prime is the best handling car I've ever owned. Just one opinion...
The extra weight in the trunk improves the handling. Even BMWs have a hard time keeping up with me on sharply curved ramps—starting with tailgating and then falling far behind—and the limitation is not the car but how dizzy I can tolerate.
2021 Prime is greatly increased handling in all ways from a Gen3 2015 Prius I never used winter or ice tires in PA, so cannot comment other than I always love how the Gen 3 and C and now the Prime drives in snow
My 2017 Prime is a great handling car, though not as good as the Porsche Cayenne Hybrid I traded in on it. In fast sweeping entrance ramps, going fast under power, the rear end has tried to move slowly out, but a flick of the steering wheel was all that was needed to bring her movement under control. On curves with broken asphalt she will skitter out some in a drift, not tail happy, but easily controlled by slowing down. Maybe a wiggle here and there on the steering wheel. The Cayenne was heavy, almost ponderous, but capable. The Prime is like a sports car in comparison. Especially in Power Mode. Scares me some time as I am usually in Eco. Easier to toss and shoot through traffic as the Cayenne was a slug unless you put the throttle near the floor, then it would wake up. Enjoy it. Oh, that extra weight also modulates the bounciness of the rear I have noticed in the regular Prius. Giving a smoother ride.
I had a 2013 Prius and a 2016 Prius before I got my 2022 Prime. Both the 2016 and 2022 models are muuuch better handling than the 2013. They aren't pushed around by wind as much on highways and you don't get that uncomfortable rolling feel taking a hard turn on off ramps. I've noticed barely any difference in handling between the 2016 regular prius and the 2022 Prime. I had Xice tires for winter on the 2016 and I think I might prefer those to the blizzaks I put on the Prime. My main complaint is a result of my own laziness - taking the turn from the road to my driveway when my driveway has a bunch of snow the front end slides a bit coming into my driveway at speed (so I can make it up the hill because i also neglected to do anything about the hockey rink smooth ice below all the snow.). If anything I think the extra weight of the bigger battery pack has improved handling.
Here’s my review. Scroll down to The Drive section. A Prius Expert’s Review of the 2018 Prius Prime | PriusChat Basically it’s significantly better imo. The chassis, suspension geometry and tune, and weight distribution enhance the handling aspect. I don’t know if anything’s tweaked for 2022 but for the 2018 I have, the suspension is still soft (noticeable when compared to our 2016 Touring - that’s stiff) but the way it handles bumps and ruts (like those //\\ water channels on ramps at the malls) is much better than the torsion beam on the Gen 3.
Had a 2016 model 3 touring, have a 22 PP - big difference in ride quality - PP is planted and handles well, if it had better tires would handle great but then MPG would suffer as well
The TNGA platform is very impressive in every bar I've driven with it. No contest...the chassis of a new is night and day in every regard compared to the older models.
Not that I pay much attention to the "performance" aspects of the car, compared to Gen3, PP feels way more comfortable and stable on highway speed drives. At lower speed in town drives which is my 99% of driving, I can't say I noticed much difference, but still overall much nicer ride than Gen3 for sure.
Mine stays very flat on the curves. Handles WAY better than the previous PiP or the Gen 2s we've had. The battery is 288 pounds compared to the roughly 55 pounds of the regular Li-ion battery. So that's 233 pounds difference. Part of that difference is removed by the lighter weight of the carbon fiber hatch on the Prime. Even so, according to the brochures, the Prime is about 300 pounds heavier depending on the trim levels. Handling compared to my wife's 2017 trim 2 is pretty similar but I don't drive hers enough to be very sure of the comparison.
I've gone from a 2014 Prius IV to a '22 Prime. The Prime feels a bit sportier in handling, but the biggest difference is acceleration when in EV mode. Certainly not ludicrous but a welcome change.
Just picked mine up. Overall it feels much more supple and pliant - turn in much improved over my 13 model. Feels like a bigger car. Love the Prime - first EV drive into town on full charge, got 36 km and a 97 score in subzero weather! Same principles as my other Priuses seem to apply. Very impressive EV performance! Much more sophisticated ride.
In EV mode, the car handles extremely well. Steering is pretty close to neutral and I don't notice much roll when taking a 35mph turn at 50. I have also left quite a few cars (as in almost all of them) behind on my early morning commute when in EV mode and taking turns at well above the speed limit. This is when I have extra battery charge to spare as I charge the PP at work.
