For those that owned both of them gen 3 and gen 4 would you recommend paying extra to get the gen 4? I owned a 2014 prius plug in for a while and was an excellent car, I moved to Mexico where I couldn't import it and now I have to buy one, I'm trying to decide between the new one more expensive and the gen 3.
not even close, gen 4! and i've only owned gen 2 and 3. it doesn't take much reading here to know your gen 3 head gasket, battery, brake actuator and inverter are all going to blow up eventually. how are the dealers/service/independent hybrid mechanics in mexico? what does gas cost?
2010-14 also had bad pistons and rings making them excessive oil burners particularly as they age. This aggravates the poor egr and pcv design. End result - blown head gaskets, seal leaks, liquid in the intake manifold and thick carbon in the egr system, intake ports and manifold passages. To say nothing about blown engines, brake boosters, hv batteries and inverters.
Gen 4 every time. Actually has the responsiveness of a “traditional” ICE. Rather than a “that sensor thinks I’m slipping so I’ll break, that sensor thinks the road is slippery so does not brake” scarey auto controls.
Gen 4. Not because I have one, but gen 4 is TNGA, fully independent suspension for all 4 wheels while gen 3 in not? if I recall correctly.
The independent rear suspension is great until it is damaged and has to be repaired. All of those stamped steel parts, if bent or deformed on the poor roads in some parts of Mexico is very complicated and expensive to repair. All of those rubber bushings eventually wear out. All of those sensors, cameras and electronics eventually get out of alignment and need adjustment. I'd stick with the simpler Gen 3. Only time will tell if Gen 4's will have the same problems as Gen 3's. Currently, the one major issue with the Gen 4 is the leaking exhaust pre-heat exchanger that must be replaced with the catalytic converter at $2,500 plus. In Mexico, labor is cheap. Head gasket and used engine replacements are economical and widely done. As I recall gasoline is cheap in Mexico. PEMEX gas is lower quality and has a higher sulfur content. If I was going to Mexico, I probably wouldn't be buying a hybrid. I'd buy a naturally aspirated vehicle with a simple larger engine like a Toyota Hilux pick up.
In Mexico, I'd be surprised if Gen 4s are installed with "exhaust pre-heat exchanger" - it's not on Australian cars.
Maybe; maybe not. Unlike Australia, cars in Mexico are left hand drive. I've been in and have driven cars in Mexico. Have you?
The Gen 4 sold in Mexico has a higher ground clearance than the one sold in the US so keep that in mind if you're importing one. That said, the Gen 4 is the better car but I'm not sure about using it in Mexico - which one has better support for maintenance and repairs?
The most popular cars in Mexico happens to be VW's. The older Beetle is affectionately known as EL Vocho. I remember Rabbits and Jettas are known as El Caribe or El Golfo.
To protect their economy, used cars cannot be imported into the interior of Mexico. They must be purchased there new. I remember that a lot of foreign cars like Mercedes, BMW and higher trim Cadillacs an Lincolns are not allowed to be imported to Mexico. Years, ago, when I was there, the domestically made Ford LTD was considered the luxury car owned by rich Mexican snobs. Used car can be had in Mexico from the US only in the "FRONT" or Frontera zone along the border. They have special restricted license plates and connot be driven more than 100 km or so from the border into Mexico. The only exception are for high level politicians or rich Mexicans who can pay "mordita" or bribes to those officials.
My two percent of a dollar's worth: Things in favor of the Gen 4: More fuel efficient. More comfortable. More reliable. Better handling. Battery not as old. Things in favor of the Gen 3: Bigger glove box. Spare tire in all trims.
In Mexico, you might be the proverbial "stranger in a strange land" or the "fish out of water." That would make you "gringo" bait for thieves or the drug cartels. When I was in Mexico, I drove what the natives drove and spoke fluent Spanish. An American missionary thought I was a native.
Just answering the question of which is better, not which is more appropriate. In my years in Honduras, I drove a 4-door diesel 4WD pickup like most other Hondurans who had vehicles. It had over 200k km on it when I got it.
Guys thank you for all the answers, and just things to point out, mexico has updated a little bit, i haven't been her for over a decade, when i came back i didnt expect to see priues, but to my surprise was full of Gen 4 prius all over the place, it had me amazed, bochos no longer exist here or u don't longer see them here, what u see is lots of nissan too, I decided keep looking for the Gen 4 for the reasons you guys pointed out, i think is a better option even is more expensive, Ive seen them for 11K to 13K usd for years 2016-2017 which isnt that bad because I sold my 2014 prius plug in to carmax for $12,400 which covers the cost of a gen 4 over here, gas is not that expensive here compare to right now in the usa, but i'm sure it won't stay like that for long, again guys thank you for your advice.
