1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Buying Gen 5 coming from 17' Prius Prime

Discussion in 'Gen 5 Prius Main Forum' started by ElectricCarFan, Dec 20, 2023.

  1. ElectricCarFan

    ElectricCarFan Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 18, 2013
    71
    24
    0
    Location:
    Toledo Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    I currently drive a 17' Prius Prime. I'm a big Prius fan, and I really love my 17 Prime and before that my 2010 Prius. I'm a lifelong Prius fan and downright advocate over the years.

    Yesterday, I picked up a 23' Prius HEV AWD XLE. I placed the order back on Oct 28th. I was really excited for it. I really wanted the '24' Prine but they won't sell to me here in Toledo Ohio. They're saying we're not a CAFE state, so we're not allocated any and probably won't for at least 4 years.

    So yesterday I drove around town after taking delivery of a 24' HEV and didn't feel confident in my ability to see the cars around due to the bad rear visibility. There's only the one window on top, and no lower window like on previous Prius. Also thick C pillars.

    I am a short 5ft tall adult, and I had to have the seat all the way up (headrest was 1in from headliner) and the steering wheel all the way down, in order to be able to see the speedometer. Due to the speedo being set in front of the steering wheel. What a stupid design. The old layout was better.

    When I went to get out, I often felt close to hitting my head on the A pillar due to having to have the seat height at max.

    I also noticed there is no mpg readout by the Trip A/ODO at bottom of the speedo. You have to page over to the left every time to see it. Nor is there outside temp readout, and or ECO Diary.

    The EV mode was almost non existent and it was hard without a nice energy flow gauge to see if the ICE was on. I wanted more EV, like my 17' Prius Prime. I couldn't order the 23' Prime here in Ohio and assumed the regular HEV version would be electrified enough to make me happy. My 2010 was great with EV and my 17' Prime is great in HV. Uses the engine minimally and allows EV up to 60mph. Even in HV mode.

    Am I missing something here? What happened to the Prius...the MPG king of before?

    Ultimately I ended up taking back the car and thank God I was refunded. Dealer never offered a test period to take it home or test ride. As a Prius enthusiast I assumed it would be great to drive like the 3rd and 4th Gen Prius. It was not.

    So I'm still driving my 17' Prius Prime and plan to until it dies (since it's been my favorite car I've ever owned).

    As someone who has loved the Prius told others to buy a Prius if they want a good all-round fuel efficient car; what should I do now? Look at a Camry Hybrid (recently drove a Camry ICE on vacation in Florida; liked it)? Corolla Hybrid.maybe?

    Or, perhaps I'm missing something here? I appreciate any insight into this from the Prius peeps.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    tovli, bisco, Gokhan and 1 other person like this.
  2. HacksawMark

    HacksawMark Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2023
    449
    312
    0
    Location:
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XSE
    Yes you're missing something because you lost me when you said the headrest was one inch from the headliner.
     
    Preebee likes this.
  3. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    11,330
    4,614
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Wow... So grateful for this post... Toyota has been failing hard since your 2017 and its great to know that Gen5 has similar kinds of bad as post 2017 and that Gen2 Prius is still the greatest Non-EV car ever built for now and forever!
     
    ElectricCarFan likes this.
  4. ElectricCarFan

    ElectricCarFan Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 18, 2013
    71
    24
    0
    Location:
    Toledo Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    I had to raise the height of the driver's seat in order to see over the top of the steering wheel to see the speedo. Thus the headrest was higher. The top of the headrest was about an inch from touching the headliner.
     
    hill and PriusCamper like this.
  5. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    11,330
    4,614
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Have a look at Hyundai and Kia options... Based on what I'm reading, they've been working way harder in the past decade than Toyota and are poised to wipe out most of Toyota's market share in next couple-few years.
     
    nerfer and ElectricCarFan like this.
  6. KMO

    KMO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2004
    1,671
    494
    0
    Location:
    Finland
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius Prime
    Model:
    N/A
    Obviously a HEV is going to give you far less EV than a PHEV. You chose to take a big backward PHEV->HEV step. HEV should be at least as good as the 2010 though.

    There are two energy flow displays available, one on each screen.

    Aside from that there is an "EV" (in a little car) indicator that lights up when the engine isn't running. (In G2 and maybe G3 this was the EV mode indicator - that's now a different light)

    Outside temperature readout is in the top left corner of the meter.

    Agree that the mpg information is annoying.
     
    ElectricCarFan likes this.
  7. Hydrocket

    Hydrocket Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2020
    78
    39
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Technology
    Just say no to Hyundai.

    They've had numerous recalls for EV, battery packs, etc. And their latest is a recall for about 3.5 million engines which might combust on their own. Long term reliability is nowhere near Toyota (or Prius) levels.

    Toyota is in no danger of being overtaken by Hyundai anytime soon. Or later.



    SM-G981W ?
     
    ElectricCarFan and HacksawMark like this.
  8. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2008
    4,959
    1,950
    0
    Location:
    Paramount CA
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    Haha, that sounds like my usual nightly nightmare in which I trade in the Turquoise Jewel (2021 Prius Prime Limited) for a Gen 5 come true. ;);):p

    I actually did have a nightmare once in which I traded in my silver 2020 Prius Prime XLE for a Tesla Model 3. I was very happy when I woke up.

    First of all, I would never even consider trading down from a PHEV to HEV. I think that was a huge mistake on your part.

    Other than that, it is typical to experience buyer's remorse. It is usually more intense when you buy a new house, and you may want to run back to your old house.

    I think Gen 5 Prius is a great car, but so is my 2021 Prius Prime Limited. Mine also has a third rear seat and TSS 2.0 in addition to the 2017 features. Perhaps one day I will trade it in for a Gen 5 Prius Prime SE, but only if a very sweet deal arrives. I would certainly miss some of the Limited features I would forgo like Homelink with autodimming mirror, heads-up display, JBL, etc. The one that worries me the most is the lack of auto-on headlights, which I find to be an indispensable safety feature. I don't want the higher trims because of compromised BEV range and fuel economy. Of course, I would have a harder time fitting in the groceries in Gen 5 as well.

    I am glad they took it back. Perhaps one day you could get a sweet deal on a Gen 5 Prius Prime.
     
    #8 Gokhan, Dec 21, 2023
    Last edited: Dec 21, 2023
    ElectricCarFan likes this.
  9. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    20,174
    8,353
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2018 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    Premium
    Because Toyota wheels didn't get recalled due to risk of wheels falling off their new ev?
    But that wasn't over a million cars though ........ right.

    https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/toyota-recalls-1-million-us-vehicles-over-sensor-that-could-short-circuit-2023-12-20/

    & here .....

    Toyota recalls more than 1.8 million RAV4 vehicles | CNN Business

    Lexus is part of that too ...... not counting their risk of fires;

    https://www.cars.com/articles/43000-toyota-lexus-vehicles-recalled-for-fire-risk-468992/

    what do they say about throwing stones in glass houses? every manufacture has their inglorious moment in the sun -

    so - Hyundai Kia GM Ford Stelantis AND Toyota all face the same demanding scrutiny as their competitors in quality - so it's pretty close to the same, modernly
    one man's ceiling is another man's floor. Sorry for the bad experience. It doesn't work out for some but it does for others. If you like the rest of Toyota's Fleet go ahead and pick one of their hybrids .... but if you want something that fits your torso better - don't be afraid to check the competition. Like many Stealerships, the sales critter seems to have let you down - not able to show you all of the cars readouts & such. All too typical wherever you go.
    .
     
    #9 hill, Dec 21, 2023
    Last edited: Dec 21, 2023
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,133
    50,050
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    unfortunately for toyota, the new prius forced me into another brand after 20 years of prius.
    it's a great car for those who've been waiting forever for something better looking, sporty and less 'practical'.
    for those of us who always loved the quirky looks and practicality, it's a non starter.
     
    ElectricCarFan likes this.
  11. tovli

    tovli 2023 Prius Prime replaced 09 Prius

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2008
    334
    259
    1
    Location:
    Boynton Beach, FL
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XSE
    Stop looking for a new toy. Your ‘17 Prime will serve you well for at least until the 2030 models are available, and then you will still be comparing all options to your wonderful ‘17.
     
    mountaineer and ElectricCarFan like this.
  12. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    20,174
    8,353
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2018 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    Premium
    Doesn't that depend on whether he's got over 120,000 miles or so on it? That's the kind of presumptuousness that I would be likely to indulge in.
    Sometimes we decide our current rides' "look" is getting long in the tooth. Best to let each other decide when or if it's time to pull the trigger on new rides .... what ever works for e/of us.
    ;)
    .
     
    tovli, nerfer and ElectricCarFan like this.
  13. ElectricCarFan

    ElectricCarFan Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 18, 2013
    71
    24
    0
    Location:
    Toledo Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    Yes, I drive 50-60K miles a year (2,500-3,000 miles per month). Mostly all highway for work and I'm reimbursed for my time driving and mileage. However my 17' Prius Prime now has 166,000 miles on it. I meticulously have it serviced at the Toyota dealer I have been using since 2018. They're pretty decent, or have been in my experience.

    It's still running like a champ but I wasn't sure if or when something was going to happen. After 4 years of ownership I had figured the 24' Prius HEV AWD was going to be like my 2010 and 2017, but was wrong.

    It's a very different thing and I love prius but just didn't feel it was very Prius-like anymore. I couldn't even find an instant MPG readout or hybrid battery icon at all by the speedo, like there's always been on the Prius. Those things along with the lack of visibility, steering wheel setup and ingress/egress are primarily why I felt that way.
    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  14. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    20,174
    8,353
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2018 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    Premium
    Keep us posted regardless of what ever your replacement will be!
    .
     
    ElectricCarFan likes this.
  15. Mr.Vanvandenburg

    Mr.Vanvandenburg Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2007
    1,225
    458
    0
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    I am always impressed what a finished product the 17 was in it’s first year of an entirely new model. Your loyal sticking with dealer service probably helped out in the take back, unless it was in the contract?
     
  16. KMO

    KMO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2004
    1,671
    494
    0
    Location:
    Finland
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius Prime
    Model:
    N/A
    Yes, some of us have been waiting since the G2 for this one. I had a total of 5 G2s, and I was at a bit of a loss as to what car to have next until I saw the G5. A fantastic return to form, after the boring G3 and regrettable G4 and pushing the G2 design a bit more in the direction I always wanted :)
     
  17. ElectricCarFan

    ElectricCarFan Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 18, 2013
    71
    24
    0
    Location:
    Toledo Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    I bought my 17' Prime from a 3rd party seller (a local place called PricePro LLC). They sell online but have a physical car lot here in Toledo OH where I live. I bought the Prime there and I get it serviced at my local Toyota dealer. My actual Toyota dealer couldn't get me a Prius Prime since Ohio isn't a CAFE state. Toyota won't allocate them to dealerships here. Had to go 3rd party.

    I like to have the info back up online at the Toyota Owners Portal website. I'm not mechanical and don't really want to mess with anything anyway. Nor do I have the time.

    I like the consistency of checking it out every 5K miles for a tire rotation and oil change + tire rotation every 10K miles. I've strickly followed the maintenance schedule in the back of the Owner's Manual at their respective intervals.

    I drive 50K-60K miles a year and have to have my car running. I drive it every single day of the year and often do 2,500-3,000 miles a month.
    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    Gokhan likes this.
  18. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2008
    4,959
    1,950
    0
    Location:
    Paramount CA
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    They don't sell PHEVs and BEVs in Ohio because it is not a CAFE state?? How strange. :eek:

    You are very close to other states, including New York, though. It should be an easy drive to go out of state and get one.
     
  19. srwax

    srwax Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2023
    28
    31
    0
    Location:
    Las Vegas, NV
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    The steering wheel blocking the dash maybe cause by the wheel is pull too far out. I been driving my 2023 limit with steering wheel push closest to dash for almost three mouths now and never has an issue with the dash been block, narrow front view or A pillar blocking the view.
     
  20. Hammersmith

    Hammersmith Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2021
    1,558
    1,557
    0
    Location:
    North Dakota - USA
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    Limited AWD-e
    Because it's bullshit. First of all, it's CARB, not CAFE. CAFE are national standards; CARB standards were originated in California, though other states also follow them(currently a total of 19). Second, there are Primes for sale in Ohio right now. Not a lot, but they're there. There are Primes currently going to Beavercreek, Akron, Toledo, and Boardman. If you go out 250 miles from Toledo, you get 25 Primes currently in Toyota's inventory. It's absolutely true that CARB states are getting more, but Toyota is allocating at least some to dealership regions that want them(although it looks like the SE region is just as bad about PHEVs as always - but that's not on Toyota itself).

    I'm not saying the poster is necessarily lying, but it's likely the dealership is lying and the poster didn't bother to double-check.
     
    tovli, nerfer and Blackat like this.