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Trying to identify Gen 3 trims and features

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by blhootz, Sep 15, 2018.

  1. blhootz

    blhootz Junior Member

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    Hi there! Newbie here on the verge of ending 28 straight years of driving Subarus for my very first Prius. I've done a fair bit of research and spent some time lurking here on PriusChat, but I still have some questions. My confusion is exacerbated by what I suspect may be a lot of sellers (including dealers) listing their cars at the wrong trim level, although maybe some features are optional. I don't know. I'm hoping to clear some of this up now. Thank you in advance for your answers.

    I believe I've mostly narrowed down my search to a 2012-2015 Gen 3 liftback. (I wouldn't mind the Plug-In Prius, but no spare tire and no way to charge at home, so what's the point?) And I think I'm looking for a model Four, myself, but here's where it gets weird.

    1) Shouldn't all '12-'15 Gen 3, trim Four Prii have the leather-wrapped steering wheels, the Softex seats, and the electronically-adjustable driver's seat? Maybe I have this information wrong, but it's amazing how many ads for a "Four" I open only to discover cloth seats, a non-wrapped steering wheel, and manual seats.

    2) While we're on seats, I'm not anti-cloth, actually. But I do eat in my car, so less chance of staining a unicolor Softex seat. :)

    2a) Do Softex seats = electronic adjustment, and vice versa?
    2b) Do only the Softex/electronic seats have any sort of lumbar adjustment, at all? Therefore no lumbar support on the 2 and 3 trim levels with cloth, manual adjustment seats?
    2c) I think that large handle on the manual seats allows one to raise the seat height. I like that. Can one raise the seat height on the electric seats, too, or only tilt forward and back?

    3) Speaking of Softex, I've seen photos of two cars where the door armrest has some slight, wavy wrinkles in them. I haven't read many complaints about the Softex, but I'm wondering what this indicates, and whether there's a known problem with the Softex as an upholstery trim.

    4) Are all sunroofs equipped with that solar-powered AC thing? Just wondering.

    5) In ad photos, I've seen two styles of the info screen. One is smaller with a CD slot above it, while the other looks a little larger, I believe has the CD slot behind it, and it has more buttons on either side. Since people aren't great about specifically listing all features, is the second style of screen a surefire indicator that the car has the Advanced Technology Package?

    Bonus 6) Even though I said a PIP is probably wasted on me, please answer me this: If I saw an ad for a PIP Advanced, but that looked like it had cloth seats w/ manual adjustments and the smaller info screen, that means that it really was a Base model, right?

    Once again, thank you for your responses. Glad to be here, and hope to be finding the right baby soon!
     
    #1 blhootz, Sep 15, 2018
  2. yeldogt

    yeldogt Active Member

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    I believe you could only get the advanced on the five. That was the case when I bought our original 2011 in early 2012 -- the model lineup was affected by the tsunami. We have leather on the 2011's fives .. and I actually prefer the softex in our later generation 4 vehicles .. also have softex in our lexus CT's. It's actually very nice.

    Both are better vs the cloth IMO .... the better audio system with the backup camera has the larger screen w/ the cd behind.

    Many people don't know what they have -- the large handle does adjust the height of the seat -- rear only. All the gen 3's have the color roof when supplied ... no roof available on the five.

    You should be able to find a seals manual online with the grid showing the options at each level.
     
    #2 yeldogt, Sep 16, 2018
  3. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    No recent US Prius has leather but some have the Softex "fake leather" Leather is still available in some markets such as the UK.

    If you have a particular vehicle VIN you can register it on the Toyota Owners site to see exactly what trim it is.

    Here is the PriusChat knowledgebase thread for 3rd Gen Prius.

    3G Prius (2010-2015) Standard and Optional Equipment (Some Countries) | PriusChat

    Toyotacertified.com usually has the sales brochures for various model years.
     
    #3 Prodigyplace, Sep 16, 2018
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  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Welcome to PriusChat! I find used car dealers tend to list the wrong packages or trim levels whether intentionally or accidentally. It’s frustrating but as a buyer, you have to do your research.

    1. Yes, all Four (and Five) levels have SofTex trimmed interiors for the years you’re specifying. If it’s cloth, it’s a Two or a Three.

    2a. Yes. Both ways.

    2b. Yes. 2-way power lumbar support for the driver’s seat. Cloth seats do not have lumbar adjustment.

    2c. Yes. It’s an 8-way power drivers seat - fore/aft, seatback recline, seat bottom tilt and seat bottom height.

    3. Not sure since i have the leather interior (2010 model)

    4. Yes. All moonroof models come with a solar panel on the rear portion of the roof. It offers a Solar Panel Ventilation System with Remote A/C function. (Two separate features)

    5. There are two Display Audio systems for the 2012-2015 model year. The base unit is a 6.1” screen outsourced to Harmon Kardon. It may or may not include navigation (3rd party nav that has the graphics look of a Garmin).

    The upgraded model is a “Premium HDD Navigation with split screen capability". This is a harddrive-based navigation system from in-house supplier Denso (this is the Toyota nav that previous Toyota owners are familiar with). It has a CD slot behind the screen that also plays DVD movies (when parked). The split screen allows nav and audio to be displayed at the same time (Older units can’t). This is a 7” high resolution screen.

    With that out of the way, IIRC, the base Four and Five models have the 6.1” DA with navigation. The Four w/ Deluxe Solar Roof Package and the Five with Advanced Technology Package will get the 7” screen.

    6. For 2013 or 2014, Toyota split the Advanced model to offer a middle price trim level. So there are Advanced models with cloth seats like the base PiP. The Technology package would add LED headlights, DRCC, PCS. I can’t remember if SofTex was standard or not. Ill have to double check.
     
    #4 Tideland Prius, Sep 16, 2018
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  5. maurices

    maurices Member

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    I probably have the Prius you would want.. A 2013 4 with sunroof.
     
    #5 maurices, Sep 16, 2018
  6. blhootz

    blhootz Junior Member

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    Thank you, Prodigyplace. I finally found where on that site you can enter the VIN. It's already helped me, and I'm sure will continue to be, since apparently one can't trust ads.

    Thank you so much, Tideland! Yes, frustrating as all get out as the practice is rampant. But I greatly appreciate your detailed reply. I just wanted to confirm all my suspicions, and you have done just that. (y)

    Right, and what I learned today is that it's either one or the other — there is no Four with the AT Package, nor is there a Five with the Solar Roof. I do understand that they both share some features, but now I guess I need to figure out whether anything on the AT Package is worth my going with a Five over the Four with the Deluxe Solar Roof Package. Either way, at least I won't be paying the dear premium that Toyota charges for these on new vehicles. :D
     
    #6 blhootz, Sep 17, 2018
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    That's correct. It's either/or.

    Here are the differences:


    Feature D-SRP ATP
    1 Premium HDD Navigation w/ Entune - includes 7" high-resolution touchscreen with split-screen capability and integrated backup camera Yes Yes
    2 JBL GreenEdge Premium Audio - 8 GreenEdge Speakers with amplifier**AM/FM/CD/MP3/SAT/AUX/USB-iPod**HD Radio**iTunes Tagging**Vehicle Information**Bluetooth Handsfree**Bluetooth Streaming Audio**Advanced Voice Recognition Yes Yes
    3 Entune App Suite - Bing**iHeartRadio**MovieTickets.com**OpenTable**Pandora (apparently that's disappearing soon)**SXM Data Services including NavTraffic (check with SXM)**Weather**Fuel**Sports**Stocks Yes Yes
    4 Head-Up Display with speedometer navigation and Hybrid System Indicator Display Yes Yes
    5 Safety Connect - Emergency Assistance**Stolen Vehicle Locator**Roadside and Automatic Collision Notification (subscription based) Yes Yes
    6 Power Tilt/Slide Moonroof with Solar Powered Ventilation System and Remote Air Conditioning Yes
    7 Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) Yes
    8 Pre-Collision System (PCS) Yes
    9 Lane Keep Assist (LKA) Yes


    Note that PCS is different from the Gen 4's version and is more primitive. It's designed to reduce the impact speed and may not avoid the collision entirely.

    Also, LKA is different than LDW w/ Steering Assist on the Gen 4. LKA will actually keep you in your lane (active system). The Gen 4's version does not and only nudges you back when you cross the line. (semi-active system)

    In addition, there are differences between the Four and Five

    The Five adds or replaces the Four's features:

    • LED low beam headlights with automatic levelling control & automatic headlight control
    • Headlight washers
    • LED front-facing parking light
    • Integrated halogen foglights
    • 17" 5-spoke alloy wheels with P215/45R17 tires

    (Both Four and Five have automatic headlights for 2012-2015)
     
    #7 Tideland Prius, Sep 17, 2018
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