2010 Prius Driving Impressions Thread

[a priori]

Originally Posted by lensovet

3. True, however, the convenience in Gen II was that this resetting would happen automatically when you filled you tank. Now you have to do it yourself manually, and unlike the Gen I Prius, it takes more than a simple button press...

More than a simple button press? Well, yes, I suppose, but only because you press and hold to reset.

On the upside, you'll not be resetting just because you've decided to clean the MFD while the car is on!

[lensovet]

More than a simple button press? Well, yes, I suppose, but only because you press and hold to reset.

On the upside, you'll not be resetting just because you've decided to clean the MFD while the car is on!

Well, you also have to get to that screen first, if you're not on it already.

as to the second point: i'm sure you know that you can turn off the screen when you're cleaning it?

[a priori]

Originally Posted by lensovet

Well, you also have to get to that screen first, if you're not on it already.

But that is no different than the Gen2, is it? In my 2010, I am always showing either Trip A or Trip B, preferring that over the regular odometer or the DTE screen. From that position, it is simply a press-and-hold change.

Originally Posted by lensovet

as to the second point: i'm sure you know that you can turn off the screen when you're cleaning it?

Yep! It never turned out to be a problem for me, but I read of others who complained that their MPG numbers mysteriously reset -- and it turned out they had just wiped their screens, not knowing they'd reset the MFD.

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by lensovet

2. Oh, of course. That's what I get for exploring the car without the engine turned on lol.

3. True, however, the convenience in Gen II was that this resetting would happen automatically when you filled you tank. Now you have to do it yourself manually, and unlike the Gen I Prius, it takes more than a simple button press...

I don't think you need to be on that screen to reset the trip odo. You just have to be on that screen to view your consumption and it keeps more than one in case you forget to record it.

[wfolta]

New to the Prius and totally loving it. I'm experimenting with a few techniques and it's like a video game! Getting about 51 mpg overall right now.

I love everything about the car except the low rearview mirror height (blocks my view of a car at an intersection to my right) and the split rear window where the bar blocks headlights at medium distances, making cars hard-to-see when the mirror's flipped to night mode.

I think we live in a perfect area for the car: in a city, about 10 blocks from an interstate, where I commute for about 15 miles in often-stop-n-go traffic. The car is garaged 2 levels down, which also makes for nice battery-only driving.

I'm still experimenting, but it seems to me that stronger acceleration is not a bad thing at all. It feels like "pulling the bandaid" off fairly quickly -- not full-bore acceleration, of course -- gets up to cruising speed faster and doesn't annoy those behind you and seems to lead to the same mileage overall as gentle acceleration.

One of the biggest cool moments -- not unique to a Prius -- is the key fob and not having to ever pull it out of your pocket. Starships don't have keys!

[jdonalds]

Originally Posted by lensovet

edit: another thing i noticed – auto door locks! put the car into drive and accelerate even a bit, and doors lock. put into park and they unlock. hmmm.

Oh I wonder if that can be turned off. I hate when cars lock the doors like that.

[stream]

Originally Posted by jdonalds

Oh I wonder if that can be turned off. I hate when cars lock the doors like that.

I had my dealer turn that feature off, after the instructions in the owners manual failed to do it.

[Steve Cebu]

Originally Posted by jdonalds

Oh I wonder if that can be turned off. I hate when cars lock the doors like that.

The dealer can change many of the lock settings for you. I like all the doors to lock and unlock. But some people want them to lock at 12 mph or not do anything at all. All are configurable by either you or the dealer. The manual isn't much help about changing the settings.

[ice weasel]

I picked up my pkg. IV-Solar 2010 last Friday night. It's black with leather interior.

Thus far I'm delighted with the car. I previously owned a much loved 2005 (I think it was a pkg III).

This car feels plusher to me. The ride, the interior ergonomics, the whole driving experience is a little quieter, a little softer a little smoother. Overall more refined. And while I realize that may turn off some people who enjoy "feeling" the car more, for me, it's perfect.

The differences between the previous generation and this one are more nuanced once you get past the aesthetics. I've found the new seats to be much more comfortable. I do feel as though I'm riding a lot higher in this generation. The back seats are also more comfortable and feel roomier. The new cupholders are cool but it's a shame to give up seat real estate to them. That said, I don't have kids and I don't see myself schlepping five adults around in the car very often so I don't think it matters to me and will probably be a step up for rear seat passengers.

The new hatch does not have the four chrome rings to attach a cargo net. This hatch has four chrome rings in each corner of the floor. Kind of odd. There is a light in the hatch now with a small, integrated switch. That's a huge benefit in my opinion. I think the new back floor mat is pretty flimsy and a very light color. I don't see it holding up the way the carpeted mat on the previous generation did.

The dual gloveboxes are there though smaller. The new dash configuration is really much better. Touch Tracer is incredible. I think the new guages are helpful and fairly straightforward to deal with.

I paired two iPhones via the Bluetooth interface in about three minutes. The car speakerphone works very well. I uploaded the address books in both phones which is great but navigating the names in the address book is a slow, tedious chore. This should be better and frankly, it would be great to see Toyota address this is a software upgrade.

This JBL sound system is better than the previous one I had in my gen2. It has its own quirks. I think the mids are more nasally and the highs a little too bright but once I get into the thing and fiddle around I think it will be a big improvement. The AUX in the console is nice but tough to really use unless you're a big user of playlists or shuffle mode. Once the iPod is in the console, if you're alone in the car you're stuck with what's playing.

So, how does it drive?

Like a dream. It really does feel as though Toyota took all the good stuff from the gen2 and built on it. The driving modes are great. ECO is really eco and you won't be booming around anywhere in ECO mode. Power is a lot of fun and yes, destroys your MPG. The EV mode is what it is, a limited use button but nice that Toyota included it. I spend the vast majority of my time in standard mode, a little time in ECO mode and almost none in the other two. Of course I've tried them all many times.

I think the new Yokohama tires are a huge improvement in ride stability, noise and handling. No idea how they will be long term but beating the Integrity's should be tough.

The sun roof rocks though it does not open all the way, which is a tad disappointing. I'm not sure how I feel about the auto stop part way. It seems like kind of a pain.

I've only used the nav once and I have to say I was very disappointed. Here's the thing, I can buy a Garmin or a TomTom for a couple of hundred dollars and get a device that is so user friendly most first graders can use them. The software and interface is intuitive and it responds quickly. Sluggish would be the best way to describe the nav in the 2010. It seems to work well enough once you've got it programmed but the address entry screens are ridiculous and, as I said before, slow. There's no good reason for this. Instead of reinventing the wheel Toyota would have been much better served to license some popular maker's interface (say, Garmin's). It would offer a much more pleasant experience all the way around.

All of the comments I've received on the car thus far have been positive. I think people are really responding to the changes in exterior style. I love it. And while I think, from the general public's POV, that just being more comfortable with the in general plays into it, this car does look better. It's still very much a Prius just a little more cool version.

Thanks.

[Indyking]

Originally Posted by ice weasel

I've only used the nav once and I have to say I was very disappointed. Here's the thing, I can buy a Garmin or a TomTom for a couple of hundred dollars and get a device that is so user friendly most first graders can use them. The software and interface is intuitive and it responds quickly. Sluggish would be the best way to describe the nav in the 2010. It seems to work well enough once you've got it programmed but the address entry screens are ridiculous and, as I said before, slow. There's no good reason for this. Instead of reinventing the wheel Toyota would have been much better served to license some popular maker's interface (say, Garmin's). It would offer a much more pleasant experience all the way around.

If Toyota, or other car maker with poor nav systems for that matter, outsourced their nav to Garmin; that would be the ideal, but I never heard of such relationships. Do Garmin provide factory nav for any car maker? Just curious...