International Spec Levels For 2016 Prius

Specs vary by country although I've noticed that the UK tends to be fairly light on equipment when it comes to the Germans. (info I gathered from all the Top Gear tests... where "CD, Air and alloys" are apparently big enough to mention).

Because our base engines for the Germans tend to be a bit larger, their base price is also higher so that leaves a bit of separation in pricing. Also, Canada has a 6.1% duty on any vehicle that isn't made in Canada/USA/Mexico (NAFTA rules) so we have a number of "foreign" manufacturers that produce cars locally. VW has plants in Mexico for North American consumption. MB also has a plant (Alabama I think) for local consumption. I don't think BMW or Audi have a plant here.

Anyway, so the $30,000-$40,000 (CAD) range is the overlap. The 3/C/A4/IS/G35 used to compete in the mid 30s which meet up right with loaded V6 family saloons (Camry, Accord, Altima, 6, Fusion etc). However with the somewhat recent introduction of smaller, 2.0 litre turbo 4 models (A3, B-Class/GLA-Class/CLA-Class/1 Series which is called the 2 Series), the former junior exec cars have moved up in price point with the Germans pricing it near $40,000. Lexus and Infiniti still start in the high $30,000s. The new compact luxury cars are priced in the low-mid $30s which definitely overlap with family saloons. They haven't gone up much in price and still top out around the mid $30s (Passat and Legacy excluded. They go into the low $40s). Therefore someone who has $35,000 to spend (pre-tax) has a choice of a midsize family saloon with leather/moonroof/nav or a base to mid-spec compact luxury marque, which do not come with a backup camera, power seats, leather, nav, moonroof etc.

The Prius has come down in price significantly.

In 2005, a loaded Prius cost $37,995 (nav alone was a $3,350 option. The mid-spec without nav was $34,645. Bluetooth wasn't available in Canada IIRC, only in the US). At that time, a Camry XLE V6 w/ "B" Package is $36,735 but an Acura TSX (identical to your Honda Accord at that time with a few more luxury touches) was also $34,000 and was quite the bargain for a junior executive car.

In 2010, a loaded Prius with DRCC, PCS and solar roof was $36,565

The 2016 Prius with all the goodies (HUD, full-speed DRCC, PCS, LDW w/ SA etc) is $31,900.

Part of the reason was the 2008 financial collapse that saw our dollar go past parity with the U.S. dollar (in the early 2000s, it was 1.5x the US dollar. So the 2001 Prius in the US was $19,990 while in Canada, it was $29,995). In 2009, Toyota responded by re-pricing most of their vehicles (more aggressively with Toyota than with Lexus vehicles).

 

Canadian dollars. Prices do not include federal A/C excise tax of $100, tire & battery levy (some provinces.. ranges from $15-$25), Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI. Americans call this Destination or Freight) of $1,690. The subtotal of this is then subjected to a federal Goods and Service Tax (GST) of 5%. Some provinces charge 7% to 10% provincial sales tax (PST) while some provinces and territories have 0% provincial/territory sales tax. Some are harmonized (combined GST and PST) but for the purposes of calculation sales tax on a vehicle, it's the same thing as PST is always charged on vehicle purchase. So cars in some provinces can be more expensive due to PST. You cannot buy across the border to save on tax (but you can buy and bring back and subject it to your home province's PST) unless you have a mailing address and a driver's licence from that province (in case you're wondering if dealers near borders lose sales to the neighbouring province with no PST)

A loaded Prius (The $31,990 one) purchased in the province of Alberta (5% tax) will cost $35,901 after tax. That same car purchased in Nova Scotia (15% tax) will cost $38,867.

 

That is correct. Typically your vehicles are better specced than North American vehicles, with a few options that we do not get. I think that gap is shrinking but I haven't really scrutinized it lately. Most Canadian cars are similarly specced to the U.S. mostly for simplicity sake (Since our rules and regulations are similarly if not identical). The major differences would be the requirement of Daytime Running Lights (DRLs), metric units and French language warning labels. We used to have stricter low speed bumper requirements (8km/h vs 5km/h) where the bumper has to withstand cracking or damage at 8km/h. Now it's harmonized with the US to save on costs.