Will 2015 Prius be a G3? (Will there be a 2015 Prius??)

The 2015 will be a Gen 3. The 16 or 17 will be the next generation. 15s should be arriving in September

 

I gave up trying to figure out what's coming and when. I was holding out for a Gen IV, but when I heard of the delay, I opted for a 2014 that will arrive sometime this week. Maybe it's karma because I don't really like buying the first year of a new model.

 

I would be of the same opinion as you DoubleDAZ, never buy the first year or two of a new model. Let them sort out the issues first! Hence driving a 2008 Gen 2. When I change, it might be a 2011/2012 Gen 3

 

Late 2015 will (maybe) be a really good time to get a good deal on a G3.
Everybody will be drooling over the G4's and the G3 will be just as efficient and reliable as it currently is.

Advantage: Late adopters.

 

Never compare cars that do exist, with cars that don't. All real cars have flaws and compromises, cars which do not exist have no flaws yet, and not even have all the compromises baked in yet. Once it really exists, then compare the two.

 

I bought a first year Gen II in '05, still have it with over 150K with not a problem, and experiences on the board and Consumer Reports don't show any worse problems with first year Gen II's than any other year. I bought a first year Gen III in '10 and still have it with over 60K and with the exception of my recent radio problems when I updated the Nav, I haven't had a problem with it, and experiences on the board and Consumer Reports don't show any worse problems with first year Gen III's than any other year. So, why wouldn't I buy a first year Gen IV?

 

The only recent report is that the G4 is delayed.

 

First year GIIs had steering issues and a recall to fix them. First year GIIIs had issues as well, most of them resolved in 2012. But even the second and third year cars can have issues. Such as the power transistor solder cracking that required a recall of -all- model years of the GIII.

But it is generally true that some unanticipated "problems" in a new generation show up in the first year. It's only then that the "great unwashed public" will apply -their- testing in the "real world" and the problems show up. Which, of course, would be "fixed" in some mid-generation refresh. Currently, that would be the 2012 model for the GIII. For the GII it was the 2006 model year.

Finally, there are always "updates" that appear each year, which are mostly "improvements" but sometimes introduce "upsies" on their own.

At for the original question, only Toyota knows for sure and they almost never tell. All else is just speculation by self appointed experts.

 

Just to clarify. I didn't say I wouldn't buy a first year, just that I don't really like to. I bought a first year '88 Grand Prix and have nothing but good things to say about it, well, except for the first year Goodyear Eagle GT+4 tires that came with it. They looked good, but only got 18,000 miles. In this case, mine was a Special Edition that was part of the Talladega Raceway 100 rollout. I also bought a first year '99 Montana with the powered passenger side door and then the 2000 model powered both side doors.

Anyway, had the 2015 not been delayed, I would have bought one, but my experience has been that the 2nd years seem to have those little improvements that I wish the first year had. The Prius is a little different because the various gens last for more years. Back in the day, the style might have stay similar, but from the mid-50's to the mid-70's, the engine options changed quite a bit from year to year with the Chevy 283-327-348-396-409-455. Of course, hybrids may not show that same kind of difference, so it's even harder to know when to jump into the hybrid market. To be honest, if the Accord Hybrid had a hatchback, I probably would have gone with that even if the mpg were slightly less. My minimum was an "honest" 40+, not a "C-Max" 47. My Montana got 25 and my goal was to try to double that. Yes, I could have spent the same amount of money and got a much better car if you discount my desire to at least pretend to help the environment and reduce dependence on foreign oil. I was hoping by now that Toyota, Hyundai or Kia would have come up with a 40+ SUV, but that has not happened, so a hatchback Prius was my best option for the road trips we do. Given my last purchase was in '99, the cost to do that is insane. If I find we don't like it, it will be an expensive lesson.

 

.... or the 2nd year model either. For 3rd Gen Prius, it was the 3rd year, 2012 that offered -

Sturdier front grill. Look at how flimsy the lower plastic grill is on the 2010/11 prius compared to the solid piece on the 2012 and later

2012+ brought the '10-way' power seat where 2010 / 11 only had 6-way manual + 2 way power lumbar even in top model

Improved engine mount and airbox (?) that got rid of the cold start knocking some were having sometimes (check this)

USB port on all 2012+ trims. Had to get 2010/11 Three with Nav for a USB port.

 

In this area, and likely in many others, they were running decent rebates on Prius (up to $1750, with 0% in exchange for some of that). That's how I updated my '10 to a '14. Got the full $1750, or I could have taken $750 and gotten 0%.

FWIW, no issues with my '10 as a first year model. Just at 70,000 miles and the deals on the solar version made it a no brainer, even with the new one not too far away!

 

So what advancements do you all think will be in the Gen IV (other than the ones that have already been reported - better thermal efficiency of ICE, revised styling, lighter curb weight, improved batteries)?

My thoughts:
- Active grill shutters (finally catch up to Ford, Mazda, Dodge, Cadillac, BMW and Mercedes)
- More combined HP (maybe 145-150)
- More powerful regenerative braking (also a product of improved batteries)
- 'Coast' mode with transmission decoupling for less friction when off throttle pedal (Porsche Panamera S Hybrid has this)

Maybe this is more of a wishlist, but the technology for these improvements in far from cutting edge, so they could certainly be including this time around. Although no other company in truly challenging the Prius or Prius C for the mileage crown (see: Ford, Hyundai mileage revisions). The Camry Hybrid is a different story, though, with the Accord and Passat Hybrids offering more power and better economy.

 

Each item you mentioned has a cost and keeping the Prius affordable is, I'm sure, one of Toyota's major goals.

 

I don't put a lot of stock in this. The throttling/acceleration algorithms can be changed to maximize EPA test results that don't get realized, or they can be changed to be the best default "appeal" to the market segment the manufacturer is trying to attract for that year. Those are generally at cross purposes, so the algorithms are, for better or worse, subject to the marketing departments (especially on the years following the first year of a re-design). I haven't looked at the Passat numbers, but the Accord and Camry hybrid numbers are so close to each other the differences are more marketing b.s. than what people are actually going to realize driving both vehicles 10K miles in a year.

 

2014 and 2015 are identical in every way except for the fact that we get the Persona Series back, but NOT same colors...

 

Oh sure, ruin all speculation!

 

Oh there is still room for speculation, will the 15 be a 1/2 year run like the 09, or will it last a full model year.