Greetings, I'm considering trading up for a newer GEN5 prius from our current GEN3. I'd rented a GEN5 last year driving it a significant distance and recall very much enjoying the drive and handling of the new car on the road, but didn't like the interior design/ergonomics in comparison including instrumentation, placements of things, and narrower/claustrophobic feel. Our GEN3 has 85,000 mile on it and we have had it nearly 12 years - still currently in good shape and no siginicant maintenance costs yet. Thinking may be a good time to sell with the GEN5's looking like they're getting some breaks in pricing. Anyone go through with this jump, and how have you liked you GEN5 in comparison? Has the neweest GEN5 hashed out any significant bugs worth a premium? Thanks for your observations/ideas.
Please excuse the abstract nature of this post. I was very pleased with my Gen 3, but I am even more pleased with my Gen 5. The enhancements all seem to be right, and I definitely favor it as my daily driver.
I went from a Gen 4 model 2 to a 2026 XLE. I loved my Gen 4 but the tech the Gen 5 in unbelievably more advanced vs the Gen 4. The Gen 4 was probably a little bigger but I don’t need the extra space. The drive quality is about the same. The power is way better. In my case it was well worth it to upgrade. Especially since the Gen 5 with my trade cost me the same amount as the Gen 4 with trade in.
I can't speak to all the enhancements, but 100+ more horsepower definitely checks. It's true that the Gen 5 is a tight squeeze, but I can manage as a 6'2" creature. It's no doubt a concession to the lower roofline, which affords several advantages.
definitely the time to get out of the gen 3, before the head gasket blows and the brake actuator fails. all the best with your decision!
