What don't you like about your new Prius

I can't believe Honda hasn't come back with a response for why they use touch pads for volume and tuning. I haven't come across an automotive journalist who hasn't complained about Honda's infotainment systems (without knobs).

Thank god for knobs!

 

SORRY - I meant the AUTO PARKING which parks the car for you (reverse park & parallel park) - it's not available here on any model for some strange reason, though it was on Gen 3.

I didn't like the Electric Park Brake which was on at least one car I test drove.

 

ANOTHER GRIPE - Why does the CRUISE CONTROL wand go around with the steering wheel? - you reach to cancel it (or other operations), and unless the wheel is straight ahead, you have to go searching for the missing wand.

My last 2 Fords had the C/C controlled by buttons on the wheel which you could sense or see at a glance where they were. Additionally, after a month of using it, I don't find the controls as intuitive as the FORDs.

 

Regarding the cruise control wand, I understand what you mean, but...you are supposed to keep the hands on your steering wheel at the 9:15 position at all times - and if you are in CC mode and the wheel is more turned than a few degrees, something weird is happening...if the hands are at 9:15, you can always grip the wand. Moreover CC is cancelled easily with a simple tip of the brakes.

 

I have to agree (again) with the excessive cabin noise / road noise. It seems to come right through the doors and window glass. I try to ignore it; tell myself I can live with it; tell myself it's just a minor inconvenience; and just be happy I'm getting 60 mpg...

But man, it sure is irritating. A female friend of mine took me for a ride in her Ford F150. I couldn't believe her pickup is quieter than my Prius. Maybe because it sits up higher.

 

I can see what you're saying - but I just don't understand why it has to move??

The time I've noticed it particularly is my most commonly used exit ramp at 100km/hr - I keep up to speed till just as I'm turning off, there is a long ramp which I would normally just click C/C off - but the wand just isn't there as I'm steering off at the time. I don't want to touch the brakes as the brake lights will come on - something I like to avoid on Motorways as it disrupts traffic flows. Similarly with joining the traffic flow, often the wheel will be partly turned as I'm trying to tap RESUME.

 

Because you are supposed to keep the hands on the steering wheel at 09:15 also when you steer - letting the steering wheel slide in your hands is not safe as you can loose control in an emergency situation. (learnt that from a safe driving course from a professional drive from the local German automobile club ADAC).
So the stalk is where the right hand can touch it, where it is expected the hand to be. This is also why all the buttons on the steering wheel are moving with it and don't stay in the middle. Because they are where the hands need to be the whole time. And again, if you are steering so much, ACC should be off in any case, IMHO.

 

Seen this mentioned a few times now. With my Prius they gave me an abridged version of the manual, with the option to supply the full manual on request free-of-charge. I've read through it a few times and it seems to cover all the features, common maintenance, etc, and has all the diagrams and images you could hope for. Maybe this is something your dealer could provide?

 

Same here in Germany.
Small version with the important stuff, the big one online via a link.

 

I downloaded the online one a couple of months ago. I seem to remember it was about page 300 before it explained how to turn the car on. That's just insane.

I remembered another problem I have with my Prius - the inability to switch between MPH and KPH. This would be incredibly useful when I travel to the UK (MPH) from here (KPH). My dealer said this is standard on North American models but isn't even an option in the EU or UK, where the cars come hard-coded to the relevant unit. I can only imagine it's a legislation thing to prevent people from accidentally selecting the wrong unit, but c'mon, if you can't tell the difference between 100mph and 100kph, you shouldn't really be behind the whee

 

According to the US Manual (pg. 140), you can switch between MPH and km/h in the settings display. It's not as convenient as the button I had on my Gen 2, but it is available..

 

Changing the units from mph to kph is on the settings menu here in the uk.

 

Okay, perhaps I need to see another dealer because clearly mine either lied or didn't bother checking about the UK situation! I'll have a look in settings next time I'm in the car. I hope it's there!

 

My 2015 Prius (US) came with the same manuals but the original owner left a quick start guide (large, full size 3-4 pages folding, laminated) which explained the basics such as how to turn on/off, park, change gears.

 

The pathetic rear wiper and the sun visor doesn't extend - come on I paid 30 grand for this car.

Another little concern is how low the front end is - though I like the look but parking can be tricky.

 

It wasn't much easier in the Gen 3 either. I had lots of little scratches on the underside of the front to prove that.

For my Gen 4, I have bought (but not yet installed) a parking sensor that uses low energy electromagnetic waves and is
able to detect any kind of obstacle. The sensor is taped to the INSIDE of your front bumper (so no holes to drill) and then attached to a 12V source somewhere. There is a little speaker in the cabin that alerts you when you get too close to an object, such as a the edge of a low footpath. I will be wiser after I have installed and tested it!