PriusChat's 2010 Prius In-Depth Review and First Drive

[Danny]

A new story entry has been added:

PriusChat's 2010 Prius In-Depth Review and First Drive

It

[TonyPSchaefer]

heh heh, "Dannymiling."
Not bad mileage for a rookie in a new car on a cold night.
(I mean rookie as in "first time in a 2010")

Great write-up.

[Mike Dimmick]

Originally Posted by Danny

A new story entry has been added:

PriusChat's 2010 Prius In-Depth Review and First Drive

"The only button I have a complaint about is the new placement of the iconic “Power” ignition button. Instead of being placed prominently higher up on the dash as it was on the 2nd Generation, the Power button has been relegated further down, where a traditional key-based ignition would be located."

The placement of the Power button on the LHD cars was a blatant bodge. The RHD cars, which I strongly suspect were the original design (Japan is RHD), have the Power button by the driver's right hand, below the right-most vent: as you say, where the traditional key-based ignition would be located.



The keyfob slot (required on this car - UK did not get SKS) is further to the left of the power button - you can just see the small ring attached to the key through the steering wheel (below the upper spoke).

I haven't seen any sign of keyfob slots on the 2010, although I haven't seen a decent RHD photo - didn't someone mention that non-SKS cars would have proximity detection of the keyfob near the power button?

Edit: relationship of power button and fob slot on UK 2G Prius:



The other control is the manual headlamp adjuster, required in all cars to adjust the vertical aim when carrying loads that compress the rear suspension, lowering the back and therefore raising the beam.

[fredthepostman]

Thanks Danny! I think you covered everything.

[stream]

Thanks for the review.

What is the difference between the audio system w/ the nav option, vs. the JBL system in the III, IV and V models?

Bluetooth streaming?

Is the sound quality better?

Is it correct that is has a 4 CD changer, vs. a 6 CD changer for the non-nav JBL system?

[HTMLSpinnr]

Originally Posted by stream

Thanks for the review.

What is the difference between the audio system w/ the nav option, vs. the JBL system in the III, IV and V models?

Bluetooth streaming?

Is the sound quality better?

Is it correct that is has a 4 CD changer, vs. a 6 CD changer for the non-nav JBL system?

Bluetooth streaming - correct.

Sound is the same otherwise.

The NAV version has a 4 disc changer to accomodate the DVD drive used for the NAV system that resides directly below. Both are behind the MFD screen.

[Manksgloob]

Originally Posted by Mike Dimmick

I haven't seen any sign of keyfob slots on the 2010, although I haven't seen a decent RHD photo - didn't someone mention that non-SKS cars would have proximity detection of the keyfob near the power button?

I had asked someone -- I forgot her name -- this same question at the Connection and she confirmed that the detector is near the power button. This is the same thing owners with the SKS would have to do to start the car if the battery in the FOB ran out.

[usbseawolf2000]

According to Toyota, the 2nd Generation takes 7 minutes to warm up, but the 3rd Generation only takes 4 minutes.

Wowie!! Short trip MPG should almost double?

[zenMachine]

Good review, Danny. Thanks.

BTW, you've actually driven off a mountain in your M2?

[Bob Hayes]

Sounds like a lot of great changes! However, there are three other key factors that make me hesitate:

* I would have to give up my beloved carpool sticker, which allows me to use carpool lanes all over California.

* Seems like a lot of really interesting cars are coming out in 2010, including the Volt...and many others. Maybe makes sense to wait?

* The sound system on my 2005 Package 6 failed, and Toyota refuses to budge: $800 to fix a CD that won't eject. I guess there goes my gas savings for the past few years!

Yes...I think I'll wait.