GEN5 Prius coming the end of next year, lower coefficient of drag and better efficiency

[Isaac Zachary]

Car configurations die. The station wagon has died in the USA. Maybe people aren't interested in hatchbacks anymore either. After all, they can get a crossover with that big boxy rear cargo area.

I like the Prius because of the aero shape of the Gen 2 and up.

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by JSH

I suspect this is the last generation for the Prius and that is why the current car is on it's 6th year (2021). Now that Toyota has a hybrid version of almost every model there is no reason to keep the Prius which has fallen to only 44K a year (down from 236K a year)

Toyota never seemed to want to sell the volume of Prii that they did and it was accidentally more popular than expected due to changing views and fuel costs

All the way back during the first gen my father found getting a Prius required a 6 month wait and a flight to California that never happened


After the backlash, competition and fuel prices receded sales fell

Prius sales follow fuel prices and are hit hard by the elimination of all sedan and cars from most sales metrics
which is unfortunate considering if dropped they will have committed the same error the big 3 made before the first and second fuel crisis

[JSH]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Which is crazy, because the Prius is among Toyota's highest utility per cost per efficiency vehicle out there. It's among my favorite vehicles of all time and such a good value. It was nice having zero belts to change. Have they eliminated belts on any other models?

All the Toyota hybrid systems are very similar with 2 motors, the planetary gearset, and beltless accessories.

Originally Posted by rmay635703

Prius sales follow fuel prices and are hit hard by the elimination of all sedan and cars from most sales metrics

Not sure what you are saying here. Toyota publishes their sales metrics on all their sedans and cars. Cars just aren't selling that well as people move to crossovers.

Originally Posted by rmay635703

which is unfortunate considering if dropped they will have committed the same error the big 3 made before the first and second fuel crisis

Toyota won't have made the same error if they replace sedans and cars like the Prius with 40 mpg crossovers. Once you get to that level of fuel economy most people don't care and just want the larger, more practical and (subjectively) more stylist car. The difference in fuel cost between a RAV4 Hybrid AWD and a Prius is only $250 a year.

Prius sale have been hurt by the general decline in car sales, the ugly 4th gen design, and the fact that Toyota sells a lot of hybrid models now. If you want a Toyota hybrid they have PLENTY of options:

52 mpg - Corolla Hybrid
52 mpg - Prius Hybrid
52 mpg - Camry Hybrid
42 mpg - Avalon Hybrid

40 mpg - RAV4 Hybrid
39 mpg - Venza Hybrid
35 mpg - Highlander Hybrid
36 mpg - Sienna Hybrid

For 2022 there is the Land Cruiser Hybrid and very likely a Tundra hybrid.

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by JSH

Toyota won't have made the same error if they replace sedans and cars like the Prius with 40 mpg crossovers. Once you get to that level of fuel economy most people don't care and just want the larger, more practical and (subjectively) more stylist car. The difference in fuel cost between a RAV4 Hybrid AWD and a Prius is only $250 a year.

Interesting. Maybe I should stop hating CUV's as much as I do.

Of course it also depends on how bad fuel prices ever become. It doesn't seem likely, but if they reach, say, $30 per gallon and electricity $3 a kWh, then people will want something completely different.

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by Isaac Zachary

Interesting. Maybe I should stop hating CUV's as much as I do.

Of course it also depends on how bad fuel prices ever become. It doesn't seem likely, but if they reach, say, $30 per gallon and electricity $3 a kWh, then people will want something completely different.

I was just going to say 40mpg may not be good enough if we start getting double crunched by stagflation and oil scarcity/ poor decision making on supply and exploration

[redpoint5]

We'd be doing superb if we got the fleet up to 40 MPG. We're currently at 25.

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by JSH

I suspect this is the last generation for the Prius and that is why the current car is on it's 6th year (2021). Now that Toyota has a hybrid version of almost every model there is no reason to keep the Prius which has fallen to only 44K a year (down from 236K a year)

The novelty of it has worn off, it's better to just just use the Corolla name and make it hybrid standard. Before people wanted a car that was readily recognized as hybrid so they could make a statement. Now if anything those in that camp wouldn't want to make the hybrid statement but the pure electric statement.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

The novelty of it has worn off, it's better to just just use the Corolla name and make it hybrid standard. Before people wanted a car that was readily recognized as hybrid so they could make a statement. Now if anything those in that camp wouldn't want to make the hybrid statement but the pure electric statement.

The novelty has worn off, but not the utility. For those that know, a Corolla is a poor substitute for a Prius.

[Vwbeamer]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Which is crazy, because the Prius is among Toyota's highest utility per cost per efficiency vehicle out there. It's among my favorite vehicles of all time and such a good value. It was nice having zero belts to change. Have they eliminated belts on any other models?

Are you talking Timing belts? If so, I can't remeber the last toyota with a rubber belt, so I googled, it was 2006.

https://www.cashcarsbuyer.com/toyota...belt-or-chain/

[alexshock]

Originally Posted by Vwbeamer

Are you talking Timing belts? If so, I can't remeber the last toyota with a rubber belt, so I googled, it was 2006.

https://www.cashcarsbuyer.com/toyota...belt-or-chain/

1. Yes, Prius has timing chain (not rubber belt).
2. But also, Prius has no other belts: water pump, A/C, etc. - all of them use electric motors/pumps.