My Prius Prime Premium review

It's right there...



Makes you wonder what else people have overlooked.

 

I agree with all aspects. Just think, a few years ago, the Prius had TWO large glove compartments, HEATED
mirrors, signals on the mirrors. Does Toyota like going backwards. ???

 

And everybody got a spare, and roller-style tonneau cover (that now sells for over $500).

You know, those to-die-for touch-screens..., they have me in a slow burn.

It just chafes when it's explained to you how great a touch-screen is, how it's big step forward, that you're going to love dealing with a glorified cell phone while navigating a twisty road on a rainy night with the windshield fogging up.

 

If you press the talk button on the left side of the steering wheel and after the beep say “74 (or any other number) degrees” it sets the auto temp to that. Also “climate control on/off” works. With this, eyes never have to leave the road for basic climate control operation. I wish voice would work for inside/outside air, but so far no for me.

 

I wonder at what point the controls on a car become too complicated. I had been out of the country til this week so I went out this afternoon to adjust the clocks on our 3 vehicles for daylight savings time. It took about five seconds each for the 99 Tacoma and the 2000 Lexus. I spent a few minutes trying to figure out how to change the Prime, then went to the book and looked it up, then spent about five minutes doing it using the steering wheel butttons. The good thing to come out of it was that i found that my forward collision control was turned off, so I turned it back on.

 

I thought my 2012 had signals too, must have mixed it up with the Prius C we had, TY.

 

http://a.co/ht3ePwH

I sat in a Clarity at the Atlanta show a couple of weeks ago, yes the USB ports are quite out of view. In either car I would use a short USB extender or angle adapter to make them more accessible.

 

Yeah, we're considering a Clarity for my wife. That 'Flying Bridge' console is ridiculous - can't get at the USB ports, and impinges on my knee room. Form over function nonsense drives me nuts (including the 11" Prime LCD screen bemoaned here).

 

Each to his own, I guess. I sat in a Clarity and found it too confining with all the extra stuff between the seats. I agree, that the Prius Prime could use a better "simplicity" mode. As a techy/nerd I fully loved going through the manual cover to cover before I received the car but I don't think I represent the typical here.

I was thinking of my Dad might like our new car when he sees it soon. Then I came out with an internal groan as this is the same Dad who calls me every couple of weeks with computer problems.

 

I'm a techie Comp Sci nerd, who loves hi tech geegaws as much as the next guy, but not at the expense of ergonomics and safety. It's possible to have both hi tech and a well designed HMI (Human/Machine Interface), but lately automakers seem to be giving the priority to glitz over the latter.

 

At the 2009 Detroit Auto show, it was giltz except at the Toyota area. Toyota was the only technically competent display at the d*mn show.

Bob Wilson

 

Here's hoping that Toyota's commitment to Carplay and Android whatever will be available in next years model. Never liked entune and I think even now, Toyota has finally got tired of it as well.