Prius in the snow?

The number one answer: snow tires.

Michelin X-Ice Xi3
as an Low Rolling Resistance example.

 

Not directly related to snow, but Engine Block Heaters and grill blocking are both used in cold weather.

Engine Block Heater for 2004-2009 Toyota Prius - PriusChat Shop

http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17560

 

With the eighty pound battery in the back, the weight distribution is possibly a little less front-heavy than your old Accord. So the traction might be slightly less on the front drive wheels.

With the Prius there is supposedly a theoretical possibility that a wheel that spins at high speed on ice and/or suddenly gains traction and abruptly stops spinning might damage an electric motor and/or inverter. In any case, it is programmed to usually allow very little wheelspin.

When the wheels do spin(slip) then you might not notice it because the engine often does not rev up when they start spinning.

Driving up slippery hills, it might reduce power to prevent slipping, and come to a stop. But if you stay on the accelerator, it will slowly modulate the brakes to send torque to the wheel with the most traction, and eventually allow enough wheelspin to get you up or dig a hole.

The Prius excels at rocking out of holes. You can keep the accellerator pressed and shift back and forth directly between D and R. There is a short delay before the shift, but then the torque from the electric motor changes direction almost instantaneously.

 

I live in Ohio and have a 2004 and a 2010. Rule of thumb is to get home before the snow in the road (pre-plow) exceeds 8 inches. That's when the Prius (both Gen-II and Gen-III) turns into a toboggan.

Bill the Engineer

 

We don't get as bad of winters as you, but I find it to be a really nice snow car, especially with decent tires. I even thought it was okay with the Integrities but with the Hankook H727s on, it's really confidence inspiring. Weight distribution is nice and I've never had complaints with the traction control system. I don't have VSC, but it feels really sure-footed. My only scares have been on ice, but some studs would probably take care of that. Out on the snowy roads, I don't have the trouble others do getting started from a stop..it just pulls right away. The ABS works nicely as well, although it rarely activates with these tires. The only other car with ABS I've driven was a 3rd gen 4runner and its ABS really lengthened the stopping distance. The Prius ABS is much more effective at stopping the car.

I also like how easily the Prius starts in the cold. Many cars really labor when they've been sitting out. The Pri starts effortlessly.

 

Just to reinforce what has already been said:

You can "plow" through about 6-8 inches of normal and wet snow. Powder it doesn't matter, the Prius blows it away nicely.
The stock tires are apparently crap, but you just bought a 10 year old car so I sure hope it doesn't have original tires! I ran 1 season on balding all-seasons and the Prius plus me was able to make it up and down any mountain here in snow and ice even passing stuck 4x4's. However, it requires super concentration and "rally" style driving in places. I drove those balding ones until they were waaaaaay bald the next winter and put on some Michelin X-ICE2 tires which were the best snow tire at the time. Car did great for a couple seasons on those. Then 2 seasons ago I put on some Michelin X-ICE3 tires which are now the best snow tire out there (non-studded) and the Prius is much more confident in the snow.

I take it up and down the back country of Colorado. I have an Epic Season Pass to go skiing so I am usually in the mountains every weekend and on days where there is a blizzard and they are shutting the roads, I drive into the mountains to get the fresh powder and the Prius is the tool of choice. Skis fit inside the hatch and keeps my boots and skis nice and toasty and I make the drive into the hills.

As mentioned, the Prius is aggressive with its traction control. 2004-2005 has the worst traction control by popular vote here on PC. I personally have not driven a 2004/2005 in the snow, so I cannot comment specifically on the comparison. In 2006 it was changed to be less aggressive (the mountain goat is a 2006) and then I believe the following year they changed it again to be less aggressive. The generation change in 2010 it was again changed to behave more normally. So your traction control will be more aggressive than my own, making snow tires an even better choice. I do keep a printout on how to disable traction control in the back along with some real chains. I never need the chains, but I keep them there just in case. Driving in the boonies in the middle of the night in a blizzard, it is cheap insurance that I can get out of almost anything.

Again as already mentioned, the Prius doesn't like its tires spinning and will do everything in its power to make that not happen. It doesn't want the tires to suddenly grip something. Bad ju-ju for the PSD. You will find that instead of normal "traction control" which tries to apply power to certain wheels only, or inhibit spin, or any of those fancy things that allow poor drivers to floor it on ice and still make it home, the Prius takes a different approach. KILL THE POWER!!!! If the Prius senses wheel spin, it will cut all power to the wheels momentarily! This means that if you are trying to go up a hill, and make the wheels spin, you are more than likely not going to make it up that hill because you have stopped all power to the wheels, slowed down tremendously, and maybe even are going backwards because all power was lost. If your winter driving style involves spinning the tires, relearn the proper way. Learn to feel where that edge of traction is and keep it there. If you go over, you will spin, stop, and have to try again most likely. Easy to experience if you find some pea gravel like a dirt parking lot and rally around a bit.

The Prius is a great car, and will be perfect in Michigan. The lack of a starter motor makes it even nicer. Negative bagillion outside and all you have to do is press a button and car works instead of turn the key and wait for the chugga-chugga-chugga hoping your big engine will crank.

 

We live in Minnesota. Haven't had any issues with the exception of one day last winter. We had a huge storm- 2-3 ft. of snow fall. I had trouble in a Jeep liberty 4x4 that day.

 

In addition, the traction control is amazing, in my opinion. Works very well. We had two Prius cars, I had a 2012 Model two which we don't have anymore but worked great also.

 

stephensprius, I used to have a car like that... it sucked in the snow and when it got to -20 degrees, the tires would spin (even on smooth pavement) even though the tires looked brand new. I was so detached from that car I traded it in and still do not want it back.

So I switched to a hybrid and went through this last winter with less slipping/sliding... though again the tires are stock. I don't travel much in the winter but I see people here rave about X-Ice 3 and I checked them out they're not even that expensive. (I'm curious as to whether it's worth keeping them on all year round... the non-studded version).

 

From this thread > Post a picture of your prius in the snow | Page 4 | PriusChat

 

From my experience seems to do well.