2016 Prius - let's hear from buyers

Hey Thanks, yes ive been doing long easy drives also...so im surprised to see how some are getting 67mpg which is like 3.6L/100km more less, they are in California though so maybe its warmer, flatter and they have the li-ion batteries....
Im really enjoying the Prius experience

 

Occasional comments from UK members and info from Japan tell us that specific configurations are a marketing decision tailored to each target region/country, so the above is not surprising (okay, maybe a little, but only because I'm an ignorant American in the southwest who is too often surprised by Canada being a different country ). While the details I listed were based on U.S. configurations, the list as a whole was in support of one broader point - the higher or lower trunk floor has nothing to do with NiMH vs. Li-ion batteries. ALL batteries are under the rear seat, not the trunk. The ONLY reason for a lower trunk floor is the absence of the spare tire. As to why the spare is excluded from various configurations, my comments were based on feedback from other PC members.

While Toyota is configuring things a bit differently in Canada, I expect the situation is much the same regarding batteries, trunk floors, and spare tires, probably of necessity (at least if you want to call not having to shave 1 MPG from high-trim models' estimates a "necessity").

Not necessarily - take a closer look at an appliqued console. The applique set leaves functional areas (Qi and cupholders) uncovered, creating a white "accent" effect that some might think coordinates better with the black/white steering wheel than a glaring all-white monstrosity amidships.

 

It's showing up on more and more tall, boxy cars that are prone to drifting in crosswinds. And it's just software, since these cars already have yaw-sensors and brake-by-wire, like the prius had years ago. Oh wait. But hey, prius drivers get that "advanced technology" MP3 player guaranteed to blow the minds of baby boomers. Other marques have blown past toyota in terms of tech. But toyota will still sell a lot of these to older people who still can't figure out an iphone. They've literally become the modern-day Saturn car company. I wonder what's going to happen when all the car makers except toyota will offer autonomous vehicles in a few years.

 

Overlooking the literally incorrect use of literally, that's just about exactly wrong, as in 180deg from the truth. Saturn was a purveyor of mediocre automobiles through a greatly improved buying and ownership experience. Toyota, as we've discussed in recent weeks, is a purveyor of higher quality automobiles through a network of typically unsatisfactory dealerships. Comparing Toyota's skipping over some of your favorite toys with Saturn failing to do essential product updates for years on end rings utterly false. Factor in Saturn's status as a failed experiment by a top-tier global car company that set it up without bothering to study the results, and there's nothing even remotely Saturn-like about Toyota.

Spending lots of time in a Tesla can confuse one as to what the true state of the auto industry is. Toyota may be laggards on the tech front, but not to an extent that troubles most buyers, and they're certainly not alone. It's arguably a better approach than, e.g., Ford's effort to distinguish themselves with MyFordTouch/Sync and falling on their faces, which went so badly it actually cost them JDPowers scoring for a few years.

As for autonomous vehicles, there's still some road to go on that one, and my guess is that best of breed systems may be sourced in from specialist suppliers, so a lot of the efforts going on out there are going to be discarded in favor of superior (and safer) tech from those specialists.

Toyota's not perfect, of course - far from it. In addition to never cracking the code on making dealers better represent the brand, their biggest strategic mistake is in propulsion systems. Their die-hard resistance to electrification, refusing even to market PHEVs with meaningful EV functionality (sorry PiP fans), along with the blatant fraud of their publicly trumpeting H2 fuel cells, has put them on the wrong side of history, obviously hoping that ICE/HEV with maximum fuel economy is all they'll ever need to do. On the flip side, some awfully sharp engineers have been turning P2 hybrid tech into a viable and more cost-effective alternative to Toyota's slightly more efficient but pricey HSD. That's where the real fundamental trouble is in their future - failing to include the latest gadgets is a far less deadly sin.

 

I'll also say I haven't had much trouble with winds, we had a really windy day the week before last. I went over a bridge and I felt a wind gust but I never felt unstable or that the car was being pushed. (I think they reported wind gusts up to 50 mph that day)

 

prius drivers average age is probably higher than many cars, but that might have more to do with finances, and things like tech are a smaller part of discrepancy. how much better is the tech on all similarly priced 50 mpg vehicles? not much, more than likely.

 

@UsedToLoveCars! checking the Tesla Model S's tech!
This may give you a hint why some in here buy Toyotas. It seems that UsedToLoveCars is dedicated. I just watched this review and I'll share it with you!

 

Just to add, you can't buy Tesla cars without signing a joint custody with Tesla repair center. Goodluck.

 

I was surprised to see the Tesla S on Consumer Reports worst of the worst in terms of reliability but guess that video explains it.

 

On our 2010 (without MFD) there's a dedicated km/h/mph button on the dash. Maybe still?

 

Can you have parking assist on a 2016 Prius 3 touring? How much did you guys pay for your car out the door?

 

So i went into trip information and hit update for energy consumption.....when i started driving again, the L/KM calculations started to change drastically from 10L/100km to 5L for about 30 minutes and then it started to stabilize around 3.7-4.0L/100km, note that all day yesterday it did not drop less the 4.1 after i did that the whole day the consumption dropped to about 3.7L/100km which was a tad strange because i just hit update on the record section.
I did not write anything down in fuelly but perhaps i can calculate how much L/100km i got by knowing how much fuel was in the car on a full tank and starting off with 5km on the car, any one know how i can caluclate it when im almost empty or do i have to input it in Fuelly next time i fill up? thats when ill know for sure how accurate the system is when i start writing it down and calculating via Fuelly or other apps.

 

Speaking of backup cameras, do the guidelines curve when you turn the wheel or are they still a static box?

 

static box.

 

Does anyone think the Softex Seats in the 2016 Prius are uncomfortable? I like that it has lumbar support but the seats are still too hard. My other 2005 fabric Prius seats fit me better.

 

A steaming coffee cup for sway warning? What, "be careful, your coffee could spill!" ?

 

Seat fit is very personal. Tough to make a case that the 2016's front seat(s) are universally 'uncomfortable'. The bottom cushion seems a little more aggresively and firmly (side) bolstered, but some will love it and some will not. I have found the Softex to have a softer feel overall than the fabrics in the 2016.

I've found the front seats to be positioned very well in the 2016*. Can't say that about the 3rd gen: I have my driver seat lowered all the way, yet my steering wheel is tilted up all the way. Something up with that. I don't like a steering wheel in the lap type of driving, and I don't want an airbag hitting me in the stomach either. Given the 3rd gen's door and center armrest is unusually low, it appears the seat and interior door panel designers didn't communicate.

* Not that I'm buying one, no way.