2023 Toyota Prius - WOW!

[Phase]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

My impression of the RAV4 at the time was that it had less hatch space than the Prius.

The Prius was spectacular precisely because of the utility it offers.

The hatch area of the Prius was so good that a person of my height could sleep in the back. I doubt that's true of the RAV4 and the like.

apparently you can still sleep in the new prius. lots of people finding out ways to adjust and set things up in it on the prius forums

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

My impression of the RAV4 at the time was that it had less hatch space than the Prius.

The Prius was spectacular precisely because of the utility it offers.

The hatch area of the Prius was so good that a person of my height could sleep in the back. I doubt that's true of the RAV4 and the like.

I fully agree. I am inclined to believe Toyota built what they did based on data (in relation to target market segment) though.

As an example, Honda's latest vehicles are getting longer hoods and less cabin space, because people are more likely to buy them. Cab-forward designs simply don't sell, even if they're superior in every way other than serviceability.

Most people I know in the US have little interest in hatches or wagons. They either prefer sedans (???) or have moved on to SUVs. I can't figure this one out.

[Phase]

Originally Posted by Ecky

I fully agree. I am inclined to believe Toyota built what they did based on data (in relation to target market segment) though.

As an example, Honda's latest vehicles are getting longer hoods and less cabin space, because people are more likely to buy them. Cab-forward designs simply don't sell, even if they're superior in every way other than serviceability.

Most people I know in the US have little interest in hatches or wagons. They either prefer sedans (???) or have moved on to SUVs. I can't figure this one out.

suvs due to the obesity epidemic. people in japan still have families, but are much thinner so the sedan market is much bigger

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Originally Posted by Phase

I am going to attempt to sell my Ioniq and get the 2024 awd prius in the spring though

LE for mpg or a higher trim? Curious why AWD?

An LE FWD 5th gen Prius is on the list for my wife and I after our current cars die....but I don't anticipate that happening for another 7-10 years yet. Hopefully by then prices and supply have gotten better.

Space in the new Prius isn't an issue for us - my Prius C has plenty of room and the new Prius still has more; we both could sleep in it if necessary and I've hauled an 8 foot dresser and multiple 6 foot bookshelves (not at the same time) in it with no problem.

[Phase]

Originally Posted by mpg_numbers_guy

LE for mpg or a higher trim? Curious why AWD?

An LE FWD 5th gen Prius is on the list for my wife and I after our current cars die....but I don't anticipate that happening for another 7-10 years yet. Hopefully by then prices and supply have gotten better.

Space in the new Prius isn't an issue for us - my Prius C has plenty of room and the new Prius still has more; we both could sleep in it if necessary and I've hauled an 8 foot dresser and multiple 6 foot bookshelves (not at the same time) in it with no problem.

Just the LE awd. Better mpg and I HATE LEATHER SEATS with a passion. Not to mention smaller wheels are cheaper to change. I’ll probably downsize the wheels from the 17 oem to 16 inch wheels for better mpg and cheaper tire changes

I want awd for better traction on hills. There’s been a few scenarios where I’ve almost gotten stuck with my Ioniq front wheel drive

One was with Winter tires which are amazing, but I was leaving a ski resort on a steep incline and the car in front of me stopped. I had to stop too. But when trying to get going again, my front wheels couldn’t get enough traction so someone had to help push me to get momentum to keep going. Awd with winter tires would’ve fixed that.

A few dirt road instances have been issues

And the worst was the past summer. I was going up a really steep and dry dirt BLM road during wild fires in southern Oregon and my front tires started spinning and skidding in place in a few spots. There was no service to call for help and no one was around to even help. Could’ve gotten stranded but luckily I got some momentum going to make it past the slippier parts

Also, the awd version is a quarter second faster at 0-60 so I guess extra bragging rights? Idc about speed though but it’s a cool
Plus

[JSH]

Originally Posted by Piotrsko

The rage in reno for Teslas is a Thule cargo pod or two up top. Sometimes mounted backwards with the blunt side forward.

What are these people thinking? Or is the cargo capacity lacking by that much?

We see the same thing here in Portland.

They are probably thinking that they want to carry wet skis and snowboards outside of their vehicle and leave the interior for people. We put a ski box on top of our Jetta Sportwagen (and now our TSX Sportwagon) and it was a huge change in interior comfort. We should have done it years ago.

It works great for winter steelhead / salmon fishing too.

[hayden55]

Originally Posted by Phase

Just the LE awd. Better mpg and I HATE LEATHER SEATS with a passion. Not to mention smaller wheels are cheaper to change. I’ll probably downsize the wheels from the 17 oem to 16 inch wheels for better mpg and cheaper tire changes

I want awd for better traction on hills. There’s been a few scenarios where I’ve almost gotten stuck with my Ioniq front wheel drive

One was with Winter tires which are amazing, but I was leaving a ski resort on a steep incline and the car in front of me stopped. I had to stop too. But when trying to get going again, my front wheels couldn’t get enough traction so someone had to help push me to get momentum to keep going. Awd with winter tires would’ve fixed that.

A few dirt road instances have been issues

And the worst was the past summer. I was going up a really steep and dry dirt BLM road during wild fires in southern Oregon and my front tires started spinning and skidding in place in a few spots. There was no service to call for help and no one was around to even help. Could’ve gotten stranded but luckily I got some momentum going to make it past the slippier parts

Also, the awd version is a quarter second faster at 0-60 so I guess extra bragging rights? Idc about speed though but it’s a cool
Plus

I would watch performance test on the awd prius first before buying it. The 2016+ prius awd is so bad its the same functionally as just the fwd version. FWD and snow tires seems fine anyways outside of ground clearance.

[freebeard]

Ground clearance you say?

This Lifted Prius Trolls Jeeps - Jalopnik

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by hayden55

I would watch performance test on the awd prius first before buying it. The 2016+ prius awd is so bad its the same functionally as just the fwd version. FWD and snow tires seems fine anyways outside of ground clearance.

I get that some need AWD, but those people are few.

I've told this story before, but I watched a Subaru WRX spin out with improper tires on ice and barely make it up a hill, and shortly after went up no problem in a minivan with winter-rated all-seasons.

AWD can help accelerate faster, but then again, you're probably already slowed down by traffic that doesn't also have AWD.

...then there was that time I offered to pull a full-sized 4x4 truck out of the snowy ditch with my Prius. He declined the offer.

[JSH]

If you need AWD the Prius eAWD is not the one to get. As Hayden mentioned it is so weak that it can't move the vehicle with the front wheels on rollers and the rear wheels on dry pavement. The rear motor is literally too weak to move the car.

Toyota is just basically just slapping an AWD label on the car and collecting an another $1400.