Questions on buying a 2020 Limited

I have a 2010 Prius with Nav, and now, also, a 2019 Limited. My first impression of the 2019 navigation system is that it is the same as that in the 2010. In the 2019 version, the map database is on a micro SD card (2010 was on DVD); no internet connection is needed for navigation. Live traffic information and routing is possible, like in earlier years.

The Limited screen is very large, colorful, and easy to see. But, there's going to be a learning curve to make quick climate-control and audio adjustments, because most controls are on-screen, though there are also steering wheel buttons.

In my case, I ended up with the Limited because my wife and I wanted a moonroof, and that's only available in the XLE and Limited trims. I found a 2019 Limited, which with Toyota year-end incentives, cost the same or less than a 2020 XLE, so we went Limited.

Note that the Limited also has a slightly upgraded sound system.

 

OK, @lumpy95, a Prime owner just fount your thread, so I'll chime in with a couple thoughts to think before deciding.

1. I love this car!!! It's the best car I've ever had. But it isn't perfect and it isn't for everyone.

2. You said how far you drive in a year, but not how far in a typical round trip, although there's a hint in your statement about living out in the sticks. If your typical drive is 30 miles or less round trip (or more if you can charge for free at the other end) AND your electricity costs less than those poor slobs in New England have to pay (OUCH!!), then this car will be GREAT.

3. Well, great if your roads are reasonably smooth. The gen 4 and the Prime have a little less ground clearance than the gen 3. I think it's 4.8" IIRC.

4. The nav system is the pits and Entune is worse. Just use any of the various free maps on your phone. More up to date free updates, and easier interface. Plus, you can mount it above the dash which is where you want you eyes to be aimed anyway.

5. The big screen in general, is my biggest gripe, especially with climate control. Climate control is all touch screen except a couple things you can do from the steering wheel, so there's no way to do any of that by feel. The only thing that saves it is that I can usually leave it in auto and not have to try to locate buttons using eyes that should be on the road. Just a bad, bad idea.

Most of this applies to Gen 4 and Prime alike. The big bonus for the Prime is that, depending on the length of your individual drives, you might go for weeks without running the engine. But it's there when you want it and gets even better mpg than the regular gen 4. Plus, it's often cheap to buy a new Prime than a new Gen 4.

 

There is also a Rav4 hybrid for those rough roads. Not gonna get 60 MPG though, more like 40. But ground clearance and form factor and they do have a spare.

 

I totally forgot that the Prime was a smidgeon lower than the regular hatchback. The AWD-e might be a great car there.

 

The differences, .3" and .2", are pretty trivial.

 

I have a nice little hole in my "underplastic: from a rock in Arizona.

 

From the pictures I've seen, the front underside of 4th gen is at least more forgiving, when you scrape on a curb or wheel stop. Third gen is like a barb: you can push up and over, especially with an intermittent obstacle like a wheel stop. When you back off it snags, tears, rotates: so much fun.

 

That's been my experience so far. Even though the car has less clearance, the front bottom has a smooth slope with a nice lack of snag points. I have lots of scrape marks but no tears or holes in the front.

Edit to add:
My hole is just inside the tire track and just in front of the left rear tire. Apparently the car cleared it OK till that left rear tire dropped in a hole and reduced my clearance. The hole in the panel is small, I suppose, because the hole in the "road" was also small.

 

Underneath diagram - I'm particularly intrigued by "*a"

 

@alanclarkeau: Thanks for the pic. Is it a pdf, or just jpg?

These look like good prospects for safety stands:

 

.jpg

 

Not that good, but here's a pdf:

 

Impressive attention to detail by Toyota in adding them and you in noticing them!

 

Something similar on 3rd gen, under gas tank?