What I don't like about the 2016 Prius

You make it sound like it's this arduous thing to put the vehicle in park, and that it's not completely normal for automatics left in gear to creep if you get off the brake pedal. It's actually easier to put a Gen 4 Prius in Park than Neutral, the Park button's closer and requires less movement.

 

Ok, I hear you. Still not as good as Brake Hold because if on incline, car will roll back onto transmission unless firmly set parking brake, then have to remember two things before taking off: put car back into Drive and release parking brake. Also need to program door locks not to open when putting in Park cause would put extra cycles on switches.

 

Putting a car in Park gear on the road is a bit odd thing to do. Do you realize how simple Brake Hold is? Push Hold button once at start of your drive (after release electric park brake).
You do NOTHING, just take foot off brake and car holds itself. Cool thing is it doesn't hold the car if you almost come to a stop, so it works very well in real world. But if completely stop the car, it holds the car. Handy at LONG lights.

Don't have to babysit brake pedal, or put back into drive if were to put in Park for long stop, ...
Without Brake Hold, have to babysit brake pedal (or put in, AND take out of Park) ... at 5 minute train crossings, 5 minute red lights, travellling a mile in a half hour on Hwy 92 with gobs of cars going to Half Moon Bay, waiting in drive-through line, etc, etc ...

Only complaint I've heard about Brake Hold is having to set it whenever restarting car, but it's a simple push of button after release electric parking brake which is an inch away.

 

Toyota's brake hold works slightly differently. There's no switch involved. Hold the brake pedal firmly when stopped for a second or 2; there will be a beep when the brakes lock. You can then take your foot off the brake and get ready to hit the accelerator pedal to resume travel.

 

Is Toyota "brake hold" different than their "hill hold"? I believe the latter only keeps the brakes applied for about 3 seconds after you lift off the brake pedal, basically to allow you time to get on the gas.

 

I believe we're talking about the same thing. I've never had reason to use it though. I remember the sales woman showing it to me when I bought the car 6 years ago. I didn't realize there was a timer involved.

 

Yes, they are different. Hill Start Assist on my 2011 holds the car for only about 2 seconds. Would not work as a Brake Hold feature at a stop light which can hold car for 10 minutes.
Automatic Brake Hold | 2016 Honda HR-V | Honda Owners Site

 

My "P" button, and the shifter handle are getting quite a workout. I put my Prius into "park" at every red light.

(Saves the brake lights from burning out too soon. Yeah, I know, they are LED bulbs and will probably last 100,000 years.)

 

I always love seeing a mirror image of the car! Nice job... Auto Break Hold via DRCC

 

a solution waiting for a problem.

 

You bring up an excellent point: Putting a Prius in Park at a long light (and taking foot off brake pedal) to mimic a 'Brake Hold' feature is not the best idea because brake lights will be OFF. Same if you put the car in Neutral.

When a Brake Hold equipped car is 'holding' the car, the brake lights are ON as they should be until the accelerator is pressed to 'set off'.

Boom ....

 

...and at night, I don't like to blind the driver behind me with 5 minutes of bright brake lights in their face. I'm a "considerate" Prius driver.

(And I just found out that the LED brake lights cost $89 to replace! I'm going to conserve mine. )

 

Ok, I finally have one thing I don't like about the 2016 Gen 4 Prius...

No audible alert if changing lanes (with Blind Spot Monitoring) and the blinker is on with the indicator in the mirror is flashing! There should be an option to turn on/off an audible alert.

But that is the only negative for me (so far).

 

Wimpy small brake lights.

Wimpy small rear yellow blinkers.

I was behind a dark grey 2016, at high noon with bright sun. The brake lights are too small and not bright enough. The blinkers are too small and not bright enough.

And the whole rear-end of the car just looks... small. I like the side profile of the Prius, but when behind one driving down the road, it looks like a little Disneyland car.

 

The brake booster vacuum pump is quite loud on this vehicle. Can easily hear it cycle when car is stopped.

 

One small but inconvenient thing. When you set 4 quick dial numbers on the Home screen, if you want to change volume, sometimes you touch the contact next to this knob and start the call that you did not want. I solved it by putting in that place something meaningless.

 

unfortunately, ergonomics is not toyota's strong suit.