Prius Prime Prototype First Drive

"There are numerous (and slightly confusing) drive modes, but the default is EV Mode."

Hmmm, I wonder how many modes it has. EV, eco, hold, auto, pwr,???

There's also a lack of interior photos and the few there are poorly shot (shooting thru the window. really?) as if they were unauthorized. Embargo?

 

I bet he is referring to EV and EV auto.

 

I saw the prototype at the Prius World Record Parade in Alameda. Very unimpressive. Rear seat is only for two passengers which would make it a no-go for me. The Toyota staff was profusely apologizing for various strange stuff on the 2016 Prius line. Like the Prius Eco, which lacks a spare tire to reduce weight, but seals off the area where the spare tire would be stored so it can't be used for cargo. No wonder Prius sales are in a free-fall.

Glad we got the Plug-In in 2014. Just did the first DIY oil change at 30K miles yesterday.

 

Green Car Reports (GCR) has a far more detailed description of actually driving it and what the differing modes are for. We know what EV and HV modes are but apparently EV Auto mode lets the car decide which propulsion system to use and makes the EV mode last longer by utilizing the ICE when speeds are increased. And all three modes can be adjusted via "attitude" modes, normal, eco and power.

GCR also claims it rides and handles better than the 4th gen Prius and feels definitely snappier off the line than the standard Prius LB.


Unsupervised!

 

4 seats?!? are you sure???

 

Yes, 4 passengers max. Here's Motor Trend's first drive review.

2017 Toyota Prius Prime First Drive Review - Motor Trend

 

oh that's just ridiculous. who's going to buy a 4 door, 4 seat car? i can't even think of any. maybe the cup holder lifts out or something.

 

Thanks. Just read that one and the modes sound nearly identical to what Ford has been doing with the Energi models except for the modes within modes (eco, pwr, normal).

Interesting to see that B "gear" will now give more regen and thus one pedal driving in EV mode. I wonder what it will do if left there in hybrid mode when the car runs out of range. In hybrid mode and L gear, my Energi will still provide heavy regen and not use ICE braking mode thus I always drive in L "gear".

The release is only 3.5 months away and still no price.

 

The ability to remove the cup holder is irrelevant if there's no seat belt. The 4 passenger capacity, just like Volt's interior packaging, is an automatic deal breaker for me.

 

THANKS DANNY! (huh, this posted in less than a second)

 

We've known about the 4 seat only thing for months now bisco. Why are you surprised?

 

i still find it shocking. and hoped toyota would have second thoughts, after they said it was an easy fix, if there was too much negativity.

 

Well, the "easy fix" is a truck body or frame to handle the extra weight.
OR, we all have to loose 50-70 lbs before we can buy one. I like this option!

 

I'm expecting we'll hear price after Hyundai/Kia announces theirs for the Ioniq and Niro.

The middle rear seat of the Volt could be worse than that of a 1979 Camaro's, but there is one, and it is plenty for those thinking of child car seat placement.

 

Well let's hope not so,the Ioniq Plug-in won't be revealed until middle or late 2017 .
Kia Niro will only be available as a normal hybrid and it's price will be 23.900 Euro in Germany .
The Ioniq electric will be about 33.000 Euros and the hybrid version starts about 4000 Euros under the Prius 4 !
I am absolutely sure the Ioniq Plug-in will have 5 seats,but several reviews of the hybrid version allready have shown that it's no match to the gen. 4 Prius when it comes to fuel economy!

 

Ah, I know see the PHEV will be the last arrive.

 

Yeah, those questions were answered in Danny's ride report thread. Thx. In that thread, I also noted that the Prime has modes very similar to the Energi: EV Auto, EV Now, EV Later. FWIW