2019 Prius Midcycle Refresh Details

No need. Cosmetic changes are a very common practice for mid-cycle updates. We saw that with both gen-2 and gen-3 Prius, though on the subtle side. The gen-1 mid-cycle update was more like gen-4, rather obvious.

 

Just throwing this out there... and I apologise if this sound patronising... but do you really want to reduce the visibility of your car, increase your chances of being rear-ended, by possibly illegally modifying your car, all because you don't like the look of something you never have to actually look at while driving the vehicle?

 

Good points. Thanks professor.

 

Your Avatar, A skinny CSNY

 

What?

 

Two Cats in the yard!

I assume you have two cats! Pics please.

 

So update!

1. Both vehicles are typical top of the line quality. Prius is 100% MIJ and the highlander drive train is MIJ.

2. Prius MPG is still great (63-66) average Prius foot driving. Yokohama mama 51 PSI tires at 42 PSI. Tires look well made.

3. Highlander is a beast! 42 PSI in the tires and about the best I can wangle is 33-34 MPG mixed driving. At 65MPH 28.5-29 MPG. If it had LRR tires that may improve a couple! TBD. May go down to 40 PSI as the ride has a different feel than the Prius at 42 PSI. Toyo MIUSA tires.

As usual they both have low tread wear ratings which does not crossover at 40-42 PSI. I have never wore out a Prius tire that was properly inflated before 50K. At 50K I want new tires anyway. Last two vehicles I had had the original tires on them and the tread looked new at 36K.
Decided life was too short to not drive new safe cars as long as I am able to drive and my daughter loves a new car every 3 years.

Unfortunately self driving cars have a lot of hurdles to overcome which I may not see in my lifetime. Legal issues will be the biggest problem and proper road striping is the next.

 

sorry, @ETP what does MIJ mean?

 

Made In Japan.

 

Got it! Thanks Ray.

 

Just for the record: as soon as @ETP posted those videos, the lightbulb went on for me. The longer you live, the more useless music lyric info you have. Pretty soon that's all you've got, lol.

 

is anyone else surprised in the slow movement of people buying/leasing the 2019s?

 

Beautiful! ......(can you tell, I'm a "Cat/Lover"?)

 

Just comparing, 3rd gen mid-cycle refresh, to 4th:

With third gen it was a very few cosmetic changes: minor change to the front bumper styling, change to the tail light colours. One thing that rankled: they changed the alloy rims from silver to black, which struck me as reaction to customers taking off their wheel covers.

With 4th gen, is it just me, or are most of the changes to "tone down" the more over-the-top notes, like:

1. removal of most of the porcelain white interior trim
2. defanging the tail lights
3. softening of the jarring/angular front end

 

So now they are cat's claws and that's better?

 

so the prime is cosmetically the same for 2019 I assume? Is there an awd option for Prime?

 

Silver you say...

 

first one? I hope you put your sunglasses on before you came out from under that rock

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