The new one looks really, really nice. I posted a pic above but I’ve seen a handful in person and I don’t think the photos quite do it justice.
Plus it has 200hp and gets like 55mpg or something, that’s an engineering feat.
Tan: not about EV’s but I did just see some lightning.
Mind you it has been exactly one bright flash of light, not an all-day occurrence that happens elsewhere.
ETA: ooh, a second one about 11 minutes later, which put me off the internet for a few minutes!
Lowest price I see around me is about $35K.
Is that the base model? So that’s what, about a $9k markup? If that’s the ballpark that’s too much by a lot.
That is the Prime, but probably the base Prime. Not sure if any of the higher-grade ones are worth the several extra thousands, especially if all they offer are more “safety features.”
from Car and Driver:
The Prius Prime now comes in SE, XSE, and XSE Premium grades, all of which reflect the model’s newfound athleticism. We’d pick the XSE, as it comes with items such as keyless entry, a power tailgate, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and heated front seats. Of course, those XSE goodies are an addition to the 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a heated steering wheel, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and automatic high-beam headlights that all come standard.
XSE Stuff.
- You mean the base model doesn’t have keyless entry??
- OK without a power tailgate.
- auto-dimming RVM: the one in my wife’s Lexus doesn’t dim enough IMO. I prefer the flip-up/down versions.
- My wife will want the heated seats. the Lexus has them. Yes, it doesn’t get THAT cold, but early mornings can hit the 30’s here.
Standard stuff:
- infotainment screen. Please drop this. Wife’s lexus’s screen pops up and can be popped down with the touch of a button.
- Heated steering wheel. What will I do with my driving gloves??
- Blind-spot monitoring. Guessing the blind spots are huge for this car as they are for my wife’s car. My current car is all-window, so a very small blind spot.
- adaptive cruise control. Sure it slows down when creeping up on someone, but it doesn’t speed up when there’s no one ahead? I mean, faster than I “programmed” it to go? C’mon!! Rented a car on vaycay once with this, and I wish I could have turned it off.
- Lane centering. Again, I’m driving I don’t need this, unless, of course if I’m distracted by the monitor when trying to change the radio station.
- Automatic high-beam headlights. Again, what do I need this for??
Would be nice if there is a “you know how to drive, been driving for 40+ years, so everything back to manual, including the transmission!” button.
Gonna have to find the “Premium” model extras.
I was most impressed by my Brother-in-law’s no refill trip from L.A. to Phoenix. Nearly 500 miles. And in mid-July, last thing anyone should need to do is get out of their car. (And certainly not twice for 20 minutes each.)
OK, Premium extras:
The XSE Premium has all the standard SE and XSE features and adds a JBL Premium Audio system with eight speakers, a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, a fixed glass roof, SofTex-trimmed heated and ventilated front seats with a driver memory seat, power rear liftback, and digital key standard.
Love a better audio system, as my ears are going fast. the answer of course is “louder!” As long as they go to 11…
Larger wheels and larger brakes. Safer IMO.
Huger screen?? As long as there is an off button, I’m cool with it.
I sometimes drive on rural roads at night. I have been very pleased with auto dim high beams, no false negatives, some false positives, but not in dark areas. Lets me focus on looking out for deer.
Have you all seen the Polestar dynamic lighting? Mind blowing.
I get that, but I know how to use them properly. Do they dim or not allow use when it is foggy?
All I’m asking for is an “experienced driver exemption” to the automatic stuff that some engineer devised for the average situation. Shit happens at the tails.
I agree that some people need this technology, cuz not 40 years of driving experience.
But I’m guessing that it is not 100% perfect and when it fucks up, accidents will happen.
I don’t see much safety to the driver coming from it, only safety in not blinding other drivers. Just a polite addition.
Those cars are also out of my price range.
And, can someone make a wagon, goddammit??
I have only had 1 drive in the fog with them, and you could still turn them on in the fog (at one point it got dense enough that I wanted high beams off). I believe there is a “don’t use auto dimming” switch.
It does, not sure what that comment was about. The top two Prime models will let you use your phone as a key but I’m seeing the word ‘subscription’ with that. Pass.
Power liftgates are fine, I’d pay a solid $100 for that but it’s not THAT cool, my Tesla has one and it’s generally easier to close when my hands are full, but otherwise meh. I can take or leave a dimming mirror.
Love heated seats. Even if it’s not that cold, nice to have for back pain.
I love my heated wheel. If you prefer gloves then you can just not use it I suppose.
I don’t know about Toyota. With my Tesla I can set the max speed, and I can set it above the posted limit but think it is restricted to 85mph maybe. And if I have it set to 75mph, it’ll go that fast until there’s a car in front of me, and if that car moves then it’ll go back to 75mph.
The Prius has a CVT, sadly. I’ve only ever used one that I find acceptable, and that’s the one on my Vespa. It’s got 13hp, so usually I just floor it and it figures it out and it actually does a nice job.
The Polestar lights are interesting because they can basically give you selective high beams. So, at least here in Kansas, I might be able to spot deer better before they enter the highway.
The flipside of 40 years of driving experience (I’ve got about 30) is your reflexes aren’t quite as quick as they once were, so things like auto-braking can be nice wins.
Sir, this is America. I do find it laughable that the current crop of SUV crossover things (like my Model Y) are dangerously close to a wagon, but if you add 12" more trunk and square off the back a bit, Americans cannot abide by that. I once met a friend while I was driving my wife’s Mercedes wagon. Friend shows up in a Nissan SUV, maybe a Rogue? And she’s like what is up with the wagon? And I asked her what’s fundamentally different between that and her SUV other than about 2" of ground clearance, but she just kept saying ‘but it’s a wagon.’
Anyway, I still regret not splurging on a CTS-V wagon some days.
I just want the extra room if needed for some boxy box.
You got that Weber, right?
Did you get it delivered and constructed? Did you see the box it came in?
That box fit in my wagon. Easily.
Bought a 6-foot tall wine refrigerator at one of those “clearance warehouses.”
It fit in my wagon. Not easily, though. Had to drive with the seat all the way up and the back window open. Yes, it’s a manual! Otherwise, I’m asking a friend with a truck to help me on a spur-of-the-moment.
I got the one on the floor already built. I rented an F250 van and we still had to remove the lid for it to fit!
Otherwise we’re on the same team here, I wish my Tesla had a more squared back for fitting boxes and box-shaped things. Thankfully my wife has a Mazda5 that’ll work for most things. Which is another thing I’d like to see more of: small vans. I think Ford might still sell the Transit Connect here? We don’t need an Odyssey, those are huge. I think my wife is sold on getting the VW electric van in a couple of years.
We’re hoping to upgrade our Odyssey to one of those eventually too. Kids will be grown and moving out eventually. I hope.
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Yup. I’m interested in that as well.
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Saw my first Lucid in the wild. Nice looking car.
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I love adaptive cruise control when on road trips. Works great, so much better than constantly braking and readjusting when in more congested areas
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Adaptive cruise control is obnoxious. It drives me crazy when someone is driving along in the left lane and the car brakes every single time someone changes lanes to get in front of them even though that car is likely traveling faster and there was no need to brake.