can't find auto on headlight panel on Gen III

I just purchased a 2010 IV with solar package and I love it! I've only driven it a few times but I still can't find the auto marking on the headlight lever. I picked it up at the dealer in the afternoon and I was in a hurry to get home, so we didn't review the basics. In the manual it says it will have AUTO, if so equipped, but mine does not. Can anybody help?

AFAIK, none of the U.S. models have an AUTO headlight mode...

The "if so equipped" is the key... the Prius is not equipped...

They aren't auto-on. Leave them on, and they're auto-off. Period. Many gripes in other threads about that. But look on the bright side; all the windows are auto up and down.

I don't think that the U.S. models "are so equipped", that is, they don't have automatic headlights.

However, you should be able to just leave the headlights turned "on" all of the time. They should go off about 30 seconds after you turn off the car from what I've read (possibly maybe 30 seconds after you leave the car).

Thanks for the quick reply. I previously had the 2006 Prius package #7 and it had auto headlights. I can't believe it's not included in the 2010. I really like that feature.

I like the auto off feature better. We have auto on/auto off on our nissan and someone knocked off the plastic cover over the sensor so now it has to be REAL dark for the auto on to work. It's safer driving with the lights on even during the day.

It did? My wife's 2005 package 6 did not.

Funny thing is why a 2001 and up Corolla has it, but not a Prius. Same with turning off traction control on the Prius. Not very "high tech", is it?

DRL sap power from the batteries, that is why they are not available on the Prius...it is not an issue of savings a couple of dollars here and there...:mod:

I thought in the Gen III, the package V had the auto lights?

I'm not sure that's the issue... If that were the case, why would my cdn option D have DRL and auto? On another note, I wonder why the models for different countries vary by so much...

Package V has LED headlights - not auto headlights.

Toyota doesn't offer auto headlights on any model of the Prius sold in the United States.

Too bad as I really like this feature on my F-150.

This is a huge oversight from Toyota. Most modern cars have auto-lights and the Prius is supposed to be leading edge. For the last ten years I've had cars with auto-lights and in two months of ownership I already have driven with the lights off a few times and left the lights on after parking. The fact that the instruments are always lit doesn't help since it is easy to forget to turn the lights on or off.

Interestingly, this is one of those options you can have the tech computer guys at the dealership modify for you (at least the amount of time the headlights stay on. I'm gonna ask them to change it from default 30 seconds to 0 seconds at delivery, primarily since this will conserve battery, I think. Our garage door has a light on it when you drive in that stays on for a while, so I just can't figure the use for 30 seconds of wasted energy running the headlights whenever I exit the vehicle (assuming I just leave them on).

Yep... I was bummed when I noticed I didn't have *auto* lights. My Lexus has/had *auto* lights and it's a great feature. 'Suppose I'll just be leaving my lights on 24/7.

Whether Lexus or other Toyotas I always found that the auto-on headlights, even with the sensitivity adjusted, never came on soon enough to suit me. I would like to have DRLs, but the auto-on headlights, meh.

Probably because DRL is required in Canada, but not in the U.S. And that important marketing milestone of U.S. EPA 50 MPG is probably meaningless in Canada, which has its own fuel economy ratings with a completely different scale.

Hi:

Here in Canada we have 'Automatic' headlights for the 2010 Toyota Prius. I wasn't sure till I did a review of the spec's at www.toyota.ca and noticed it. I have had this feature on the last few vehicles and personally love it. We also have DRL which is mandatory here.

Edward
Marystown, Newfoundland
Canada

This is weird! My 2007 TCH had auto, as did my three previous cars before the TCH. I understand that the all-important 50 MPH was important for the U.S. market, but geez.....I feel like a lot of little things were impacted for this, and they add up. I bought a loaded Prius V....not a cheap car, and quickly found what was missing. No 8 way power front seats....only power lumbar. Was told the electric motor was not included because it added weight that would impact the 50 MPH rating. So, it's a pump hydraulic seat....same goes for the other adjustments. I loved the 2007 TCH and the seat buttons on the side....hate having to reach under the seat to move it back.

While keeping the lights on all the time is nearly the same as "auto", as they turn-off after 30 seconds of the car being turned-off.......it integrates with the interior lights, which don't automatically switch to night mode.....so, the nav. screen is horribly bright at night, which means that I have to manually change the lights. If I had paid less for the car I would say big deal, I'm lazy......but for $35,000, they left out an important feature.

I also dislike how the front seat heaters' on/off switch is under the console. When driving, it can be very difficult to bend down and reach the switches.....and if you're on the passenger side, forget it, it's like twisting a pretzel.