I met up with my friends for an eco-driving session in their new 2016 Prius:
Notes / comparisons to the Premier's Limo (2004 Prius):
1) It's not the Eco trim. Not sure which it is & I forgot to check.
2) Quieter & smoother than my 2004 (though its tires aren't inflated as much)
3) Punchier (noticeably more powerful)
4) Noticeably more efficient
5) You don't notice how ugly it is from inside!
6) The steering feels much less detatched/numb than the 2004. Didn't get to test the reportedly better handling though.
7) I didn't like the interior: all black. Like being in a cave.
7.5) But the driver's seat is much more comfortable. (Seat comfort is super subjective.)
8) Fun fact: the ScanGauge says it maintains the 12v battery voltage much lower than the 2004 model, around ~12.6v vs. ~14v.
7)
Even funner fact: the info display doles out a "score" plus eco-driving tips after each drive. After the "coaching" lap, where I was encouraging the driver to cause the ICE to fire up and use brisker acceleration when the road ahead was clear, the car told us acceleration was too brisk (or words to that effect). Yet the MPG of that lap was well over 10% better than the same driver's "granny style" baseline lap!
I'll update the eco-driving coaching thread this weekend with more details.