5 Seat Prime finally arrives

i don't really care about the 5th seat, but the 360 camera, that I'd want.

 

Hummm, there was a comment in another thread about European 2019 PRIME getting additional seat and LKA. Shopping for a Prime. Any differences between 2018 & 2019? | PriusChat Maybe it is real for Europeans, but not for US models???

 

As I stated there, Europe's 2019 could be the 2020 for North America.
There could be multiple reasons on why Europe is getting it first. Then they might not be. This is not an official statement from Toyota, and there are still a note worthy number of 2018s still available in some markets of the US. Combined with the arrival of 2019s being apparently being late, Toyota marketing has a good reason to be mum about any 2020 changes coming.

 

The 360 camera and the middle rear seat would make the car a little more livable. I've recently come to really like nose cameras on lowered cars since it drastically reduces the chances of accidental scrapes.

I think DC fast charging is less important than a higher capacity ac charger (e.g. 6.6kw)

 

Car Play is all I would care about honestly, the infotaintment is awful.

 

Interesting, similar to the Volt. Gen I 4 seats, Gen II 5 seats. I can't see any physical reason in the current Prime to not have 3 seats in the back.

 

Here's a 5th seat mod option. Courtesy 2:08 mark of this Edmunds Prius Prime review video:

 

Reasons are costs and efficiency rating. We use Prime as shorthand, but it's still a Prius, with much of the same parts used. The Prime's battery adds a lot of weight to the rear. It sounds like keeping the 3 seats would have required some reinforcing. The middle armrest was cheaper.

Then the added weight of reinforcing could have a greater impact on a regulated test beyond that for the weight alone. For example, the Prius Two Eco cut enough weight that it got into a lighter bin than the other Prii for the Japanese test. This meant resistance the testing equipment was set to was lighter and less work for the car to overcome.

 

I wonder if this is the redesign they teased a few years ago:
A 5-seat Toyota Prius Prime is on the way | PriusChat

Do you have a screenshot or link? Having trouble finding where they said this

 

Thinking about this some more… those currently in the market for a Prime who can wait until May should probably do it. At that time we'll might have a better idea of whether the 5 seat model is coming to the rest of the world. It would certainly explain why the 2019 MY is so late & in short supply.

 

OMFG yes. That's what I am waiting for is Android Auto.

 

The latest Entune hardware in some newer models has Entune 3 with CarPlay but no Android Auto. Google requires too much access to customer data for Toyota to license.

I doubt we we see Android Auto anytime soon.

 

Is that so?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2019/2/7/18215741/toyota-android-auto-compatibility-tundra-sequoia-tacoma-4runner

 

This is great news if true, and maybe that means the North American 2019 model will be a short year with an early 2020 release in the fall, with 5 seats and CarPlay...? At least one can hope...

 

It would be nice to have a more facile and better integrated "infotainment system" but I'd gladly trade the 5th seat for a 50 mile EV range.

I know lots of folks would like that 5th seat, but I think it would be cramped for an adult and, if you need to transport an extra kid, you really be happier with a SUV like the Pacifica. Right now, those two rear seats with the console are very comfortable.

 

Agreed, a better infotainment system and/or a longer range would be great enhancements, but of course it is all about compromises. As I have expressed in other threads, none of these are “deal breakers” for me, just desires. My reason for wanting the 5th seat is because we are a family of 4, but the added seat is perfect for buckling in the dog, or take an occasional extra passenger like the mother in law or a friend of our one of our kids. Just having the option is much more versatile, and preferred, for me. Just my $0.02.

(It is also a reason for me to do the wiser financial move and wait on trading up my perfectly-fine PiP, for now.... )

 

OK, I missed it was announced last month.

 

Oh, the rear seat will be cramped, but not having it means taking a less efficient, or second, car for a group on a local trip, and some people want to put their child in the rear middle seat for safety reasons.

These and other reasons was used to criticize to first Volt, before the PiP even arrived.

Four seats is fine for cars of these sizes. The real flaw in the Prime is the cargo space, but that is going to cost more too fix.