Rating a new 2024 Prius

So what's the verdict and rating scale for it?
I'd venture to guess everything on your list has been covered here multiple times already.

 

Did your 2018 have a spare?

Not sure what you mean in #1, the key lock; do you mean for the physical key? Our Gen 3 only has one on the driver's door, never used.

I'd be missing our 3rd gen's JBL 6-disk CD player (Canadian Touring level), but appreciate that's been long gone.

And the under-hatch-floor storage tray.

And the second glove box. (didn't realize it existed for about the first 4 years of ownership...)

And maybe, someday, toyota will break down and make decent door/hatch threshold protection pieces, standard:

 

From context, they have an LE/SE. So he means the 3-door keyless entry that comes on the upper trims. Half of his list would disappear if they had gone with an XLE/XSE. He appears to be comparing a mid/high-trim 2018(he mentions it has heads-up display) with a bottom trim 2024.

 

Nevermind.

 

decontenting is what toyota does best, along with most other mfg's

 

Most of those features are available in the higher trims. Though personally, don't find the higher trims to be worth the significant price premium, as the base model has the same performance, same safety systems, same advanced driver assist, and better MPG.

Correct on item 3. The prior gens allowed easy access and tracking of MPG, the 5th gen appears to have removed that functionality entirely. Odd given how MPG is one of the Prius' traditional standout features.

Incorrect on item 7. There is a built-in GPS navigation system, subscription required after the free trial.

 

Base models don't include the free trial for the full connected featureset that includes GPS and Traffic Jam Assist. But it has remote connect for remote start (no digital key afaik).

 

Interesting.
Didn't realize there wasn't a free trial, have never tried to use the built-in nav.

A self-defeating decision on Toyota's part not to include a trial. Wonder what the subscription attach rate is? Guessing a low single digit percentage overall, less on the base models.

 

Navigation and connected services vary by market. While the nav is cloud based in the US, it is local to the car in Europe. Or at least an EU regulation makes it available without a subscription.

As of today, only the Limited gets a trial subscription to the Drive Connect with the navigation in the US.

 

(just to avoid confusion...)
All Primes also get the one year Drive Connect trial.

no: LE, XLE
yes: LTD, SE, XSE, XSE+

 

Not in Canada, the SE prime doesn't get drive connect trial.

We get other features the US SE skips though.

 

Too bad the mpg features are removed in those new models.

 

What mpg features are you talking about that are now missing?

You can set the display to give you a current mpg reading, or you can set it to give you one of three average readings: since a manual reset(Total), since you last filled up(Tank), or since you started the car(Trip).

From what I can tell by reading the gen5 and gen4 owners manuals, they added one feature(tank average) and removed one(individual trip A/B averages).

 

In my earlier gen, each trip meter (A or B) had an MPG associated with it and could be displayed persistently. Resetting that trip was all that was needed to also reset the MPG for that trip.

 

How does the Prius connect to the host? Via the driver's cell phone or is there a cellular radio built-in to the vehicle?

 

I think every new car available today has a cellular radio.

 

Glad I got the LTD, TBH, it was my only choice. Very hapy with the car

 

I read down your list and wondered if we were talking about the same car. Most of them don't apply to my 2024 LTD...door locks, hatch opens at press of a button if you have the smart key, heater/AC set temp and it holds indefinitely, etc. As far as the sound system, it works great wired or wirelessly with Android Auto on my Pixel8 (also charges fine wirelessly). I think the built-in systems on most cars are pretty worthless overall if you rely on them for entertainment or navigation, so I checked before buying that it would connect to Android Auto without me having to do anything but start the car, and it does. The built-in obsolescence of OEM systems is a money pit if you try to keep it current, and ages a car prematurely if you don't, and keep using it.

Just pointing this out so others reading it don't think this is true of all 2024 models. I looked only at the LTD after years of seeing people with buyer's remorse after finding out some feature didn't come with their model. It's nice to discover something you didn't think you needed or wanted, and finding out it's something you like after all.

But do check your settings, as you mentioned, because some of the things probably ARE in the options.

 

I have a 24 Prius Prime SE. Reading through the list above (jerryd), I believe some missing features mentioned don't apply to the Prime- albeit base model. Others I simply don't notice. What I do notice are my rare stops at the gas station unless I go on a road trip, and the impressive and smooth acceleration when it's needed, or just because...