So I've taken my 2010 across the country

So I've taken my 2010 across the country.. from east coast to CA and back

14 national parks/22 days/8600mi and some really later, what can I tell?

- trunk spacious enough to fit gear needed for 3 week camping trip
- but it isn't well shaped for cargo
- 500mi per tank range comes handy roaming around in eastern CA and Nevada
- fuel consumption was still decent (51.7 indicated)
- no you don't get anywhere near 48MPG on highway. Indeed it was hanging out in high 30s on many occasions. 75MPH speed limit and mountains have adverse effect. So does west coast gas and elevations
- bottle pockets in doors convinient but wish they were a little more open; plastic is scratched from my aluminum bottle.
- banged knees on dashboard on more then one occasion. Couldn't they put in one like in Prius C??
- and you don't see well over it either
- and you have to run A/C even if it is 82 outside, b/c it heats up in the sun.
- and why again they made it black???
- wind deflectors on doors cut down on noise to ~55MPH; then you have to keep them shut
- fitting aftermarket fog lights with 3600k HID kit was a smart move
- in normal driving electric assist/synergy drive does well to hide how underpowered this car is. But there is no hiding on steep extended climbs found in Rockies, Sierras and Cascades. After battery depleted all you have is a 98HP engine pulling 3800lbs up the hill..
- A-pillars get in the way at 25MPH left turns. Right in the middle of your view! On many occasions (PCH, cascades, sierras) I had to stick head through door window do be able to see yellow line and judge the turn.
- handling sucks big time; even with all suspension upgrades.

I understand that some of draw backs will be addressed in Gen4. Lower windshield will improve view and reduce solar effect, 20% weight reduction will be enough for 98hp keep up Emigrant Pass, etc etc

BUT what killed this car for me was the handling. There were times when if the desel Mazda 3 was available I'd traded in my GenIII in the heartbeat.

 

this is my second C2C trip.. first one was on motorcycle. 24 CONUS states on this one

 

More like roads? I've never felt this way on anything on plains or this side of Mississippi. But there are quite a few roads in CA where it doesn't hold a candle.

As is Gen3 steering is fine as long as you don't have to turn steering wheel past 30 deg. Then it progressively sucks, more you turn more it does. And it isn't suspension it is steering; car has TRD swaybar, tanabe STB, stock springs and KYB Excel Gs.

 

maybe I am used to better handling? I could not drive that car w/o mods.
With mods it is o'k until you get into mountains and have to ride switchbacks.

 

yeah it was nice (and I kinda wonder of story behind that kayak on top of your gen2 )

 

any chance taking it down Colorado river?

 

I wish I could take off for so long!

That's about right it gets ~46 at 80.

The climb over Monitor Pass is a constant, never-ending, 10-percent grade for 9.6mi. Add to this the high elevation, 8300 sections marked 17%(?)
Climb over Emigrant pass out of Death Valley avg grade 7-9% with sections 16%. Temperatures 108 indicated, so A/C is on to cool traction batteries
No problems on Vail pass though it maxed up at 70MPH. That one is 10,666’, 7% avg
Tioga pass 9,943, not sure the grade. Maxed out at ~45
Sonora Pass along state Route 108 is the next northern Sierra Nevada pass in our series. It’s the second highest elevation (just 300 feet lower than Tioga), and with grades of 26 percent

This is with ~700lbs of payload.