1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

2016 Prius open questions

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by civicdriver06, Nov 22, 2015.

  1. civicdriver06

    civicdriver06 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2009
    797
    324
    0
    Location:
    Germany
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    [Moderator's Note: CivicDriver06 composed a great list here. To eliminate the need to search the entire thread for answers, we're going to add them - as we learn them - after the question. I would ask CD06 to do the same, if you get to it before us]

    1. Does the Li-Ion or NiMH battery charge faster than before?
      The NiMH charges 28% faster per unit time.
      upload_2015-11-23_21-26-35.png
      (Taken from Tokyo Motor Show Press Release PDF aka English Staff Manual)
    2. Do we still have the 10 second grace period at a cold start up to choose EV Drive Mode before the ICE comes on?
    3. At the reveal in Las Vegas, it was said that the upper part of the door was hard plastic, but in the reviews of the press event it seemed that they also have soft-touch on the upper part of the doors now . Is that true?
      Yes. Prius Three and higher will have soft touch plastic. Prius Two and Prius Two Eco will have hard plastic.
    4. Do we have more voice commands with the new system? e.g. Can you control the climate control with voice commands as you could in Gen 2 Prius?
    5. Is there an indicator on the dash that shows if the grill is shut or open?
    6. I heard ground clearance has sadly gone down a bit. By how much?
      From 5.5 to 4.8" (140mm to 123mm)
    7. Does the remaining range finally increase in the display (as it should!) when driving more efficiently instead of just stagnating or going down as it sadly does in Gen 3, and probably most of Toyota's vehicles?
    8. Toyota said the cabin quietness surpasses even that of luxury cars! Is that true?
      Yes. In Danny's video review, he used a decibel app on his phone and proved that the interior noise is very low.
    9. In the Staff Manual it was said that new Eco Mode is now about the same as current Normal Mode ,so what is new Normal and Power Mode like?
    10. Did you also have the feeling that leg room in the back has significantly decreased as rumoured?
      Legroom is subjectively the same as verified by @Netcub and @tmacrp. See links:
      I get to play with a 2016 Prius Four! | PriusChat
      Gen4, is it worth it? | Page 14 | PriusChat
    11. Nice to see we still get turn by turn Navigation on HUD. Have the graphics of that info improved?
    12. Is there finally an indicator on the dash for showing if washer fluid should be filled up?
      Yes
    13. How bright are the new 4.2 inch screens? Are they easy to see ,even in bright sun light?
    14. Do you still need to go to the dealer to have that annoying back-up beep turned off?
    15. Does the moonroof take up some head room in the back?
    16. Are there some additional functions on the key, like remote A/C or remote opening/shutting windows from the outside?
      There is an available remote window open/close. It's off by default and it's dealer configurable. Opening can be down with the remote fob and key-in-door. Closing is only done via key-in-door.
    17. Was there a chance to test the new headlights in a dark hangar of the airport?
    18. Is there some kind of special glass used in the 4th gen to keep interior temperature down?

     
    #1 civicdriver06, Nov 22, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 25, 2015
  2. goldfinger

    goldfinger Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2012
    535
    402
    0
    Location:
    Buffalo
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I'd like to add a question. What does the lithium give you over the nickel? All models have the same milage aside from the eco.
     
  3. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,594
    11,213
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    That's in their EPA rating, which really for the trim Toyota expects to sell the most of. Real world, there might be a MPG difference btween the two batteries.
     
  4. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
    27,066
    15,372
    0
    Location:
    Huntsville AL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    1. Does the battery lithion or NiMh charge faster than before ? - Power rating is up, yes.
    . . .
    8. Toyota said the cabin quiietness surpasses even that of luxury cars ! Is that true ? - Danny used a sound meter and reports it is quieter.
    . . .

    Bob Wilson
     
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,767
    16,016
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Yes. Prius Three and higher will have soft touch plastic. Prius Two and Prius Two Eco will have hard plastic.
     
  6. civicdriver06

    civicdriver06 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2009
    797
    324
    0
    Location:
    Germany
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid

    That's great,so the whole door is soft touch exept the door pockets !?
     
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,767
    16,016
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Not quite. I recall from Las Vegas that there were soft and kinda soft bits of the door panel. Wayne Gerdes mentioned the same thing on his video from Las Vegas (he called it soft and semi-soft). I wouldn't be that optimistic in claiming that the entire door above the door pockets are soft touch.
     
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    isn't the answer to #6 2 cm, or .2 inches?
     
    #8 bisco, Nov 23, 2015
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2015
    TonyPSchaefer likes this.
  9. goldfinger

    goldfinger Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2012
    535
    402
    0
    Location:
    Buffalo
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I gotta say my gen 2 is economical on washer fluid. My Civic went through the stuff like it was free. My dealer tops it off so I seldom add any except in winter. It would be nice to know when you're low, but I wouldn't pay extra for this.
     
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,767
    16,016
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Weight reduction. They made the Li-Ion battery produce a similar output to achieve similar performance and used the opportunity to save weight. Therefore, there is more empty room on the Li-Ion battery cars than in the NiMH cars. The weight saved can be used for more stuff (nav, SofTex, power driver's seat etc)

    Agree. It seems that the Gen 3's reservoir is smaller (or the dealer isn't filling it up through the neck). I've ran out of washer fluid on two occasions in the Gen 3. I've never ran out in the Gen 2. (It's also possible due to the washer nozzle spray design. The Gen 2 has more powerful jets while the Gen 3 kinda just barfs it all over the windshield and wiper arm)
     
  11. civicdriver06

    civicdriver06 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2009
    797
    324
    0
    Location:
    Germany
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    We are talking about an expensive and very high tech car here !
    Even cars in a much lower price range have some kind of indicator or message on the screen saying that washer fluid is low .
    You shouldn't need to pay extra for something which is more a less standard on every other car !
    The same story with that strange remaining range reading of the Prius .
    I have driven a lot of cars with a trip computer,but never have I seen one acting as strange as it does in a Prius !
    Range readings should go up when driving more efficiently, especially in a Prius, but instead of that it just stagnates or goes down !
    All it would take would be a little sensor for the washer fluid and a software change for the trip computer .
    That will not effect fuel economy,so it beats me why Toyota hasn't changed things so far !?
     
  12. spwolf

    spwolf Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2005
    3,156
    440
    0
    Location:
    Eastern Europe
    Well, I think Toyota handles trip computer well.... unlike MB which fakes reading for first half of the tank.

    As to the washer fluid, thats what Toyota has previously considered luxury feature and reserved it for Lexus. Not sure if thats the case anymore.
     
  13. civicdriver06

    civicdriver06 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2009
    797
    324
    0
    Location:
    Germany
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    I only ment the remaining range !
    If I go 170 km/h for a while of course remaining range goes down,but when I go way slower the remaining range should go up again to a certain extent which it doesn't .
    I have never seen that kind of behaviour in other cars .
    The only vehicle that seems to work in this aspect as it should , seems to be the the Plug-in .
    At least that's what I have been told !
     
    #13 civicdriver06, Nov 24, 2015
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2015
  14. spwolf

    spwolf Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2005
    3,156
    440
    0
    Location:
    Eastern Europe
    is it wrong though at the end? In my Lexus, it also does not wary a lot between the way I drive, even if consumption can be very different... but in the end, it is not really wrong. I think it errs on the safe side so you dont think it can go 800km and then ends up being 600km.
     
  15. civicdriver06

    civicdriver06 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2009
    797
    324
    0
    Location:
    Germany
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Well if mine shows 0 range I can still go about 150-200 km all depending on how I drive !
    It warns a little bit too early for my liking.
     
  16. spwolf

    spwolf Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2005
    3,156
    440
    0
    Location:
    Eastern Europe
    ah, thats standard... "safety" reserve is big in Toyota's and since Prius spends little fuel, it is even longer. I think in my lexus, it might be 8l safety reserve at which point it shows 0km.
     
  17. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,767
    16,016
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Err, maybe in Europe but in North America, the Camry and Corolla (don't know if it goes down to the Yaris) have a low washer fluid light.

    Then it's working correctly. It should read 0km around the same time the low fuel light comes on. It's a built-in safety feature. If it really is out at that time, there will be lawsuits up the ying yang. Toyota's reserve is 10 litres.

    It's 10 litres in North America. Acura/Honda use a 15 litre reserve.
     
  18. mozdzen

    mozdzen Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2011
    719
    295
    0
    Location:
    Phoenix
    Vehicle:
    2015 Tesla Model S
    To add to the list:
    How does the navigation system update its maps?
     
    civicdriver06 likes this.
  19. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,767
    16,016
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    SD cards if I had to guess. They look to be flash-based. (identical unit to the new Tacoma)
     
  20. Iamjo20

    Iamjo20 Member

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2007
    259
    54
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Is there any pricing published as of yet?