Disappointments in my 2025 Prius Plug-in XSE Premium

I use the instrument cluster for radio station selection.
I created favorites, a mix of FM and XM on the infotainment screen, and then use the steering wheel buttons.
I use the infotainment screen for CarPlay stuff, like Maps and OBD Fusion.
I like the cluster, or whatever the real name is.
If I'm not looking at maps or car parameters like coolant temp, I turn off the infotainment screen.
edit: and even I, at ~5' 10 1/2" couldn't fit comfortably in the back seat.

 

Who knew! You can shrink up to 2 in with your 6"-6" at age 20 - then end up 6 ft - 4" 50 years
later.
But yeah, the larger range battery in our 2018 Chevy Volt was similarly small & it was tough to get used to going in & out in fact - never did get used to it. So I feel yer pain.
Oh - & yea, You're not the only one Heating The instrumentation In modern cars. Picked out a particular ¾ ton pickup model in part because it had lots of tactile control knobs - even for the radio. Even has a full size spare tire!

 

You can scroll through your preset favorite radio stations with the arrow switch on the steering wheel. It works much better that way.

 

the radio app is much worse in the Gen 5. With all that screen space, why can't they show a box reflecting the channel and song and artist data of the playing song

 

They make trucks without a full-sized spare?!?!
Who knew?

Yeeeeah.
That's a thing.
As it turns out?
Size really DOES matter especially when getting in and out of the car - and when you're looking at the bottoms of all those car and truck bumpers in front of you in traffic.
I'm 5'8" on a tall day and I have to admit that I much prefer climbing into a truck to folding myself into a small car.....unless of course it has three pedals, RWD, and the thrust to weight ratio of a stripped down F-22.

I haven't looked at this in depth mostly because......I don't HAVE to, but if I woke up in your shoes?
I'd give them back to you - and THEN - I'd look into Crutchfield.
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-Z6S2dP9wLtd/ymm/2025-Toyota-Prius-Speakers-Stereos.html

In some cars, replacing the OEM infotainment system is like removing Borg implants, and my presumption is that given Toyota's corporate culture - they're going to be the same but if there's a way to do it then CF will know 'all the things.'
You may have to find some graduate student to graft it into the car for you - but any big city will have audio shops.
Don't forget to speak up when you're talking to them.
That tinnitus is a bear!

I've been an electronics tech long enough to have, literally, worked on vacuum tubes and I simply WILL NOT buy a vehicle whose HVAC system has to be operated by touch screen.

I'm a cord cutter, and the ONE monthly subscription that I pay for is for YouTube Premium ($15 USD) so that I can 'load and go.'
Videos. Music. etc.... and drive with the screen turned off in audio only.

That way?
I can just turn the infotainment system OFF in whatever car I happen to be driving.

Good Luck!

 

I'm somewhat less enamored than you regarding the current state of cabin heat/vent "controls". Would be very interested if someone produced a car where you could actually make adjustments while driving, without a serious risk of drifting out of your lane.

 

Lane assist should keep you in your lane. Shouldn't it?

 

There should be an auxiliary input so you can plug a separate sound system in and use that for AM and FM... Also stop by a car stereo shop and see what they recommend. I'm sure they have an upgrade, or will soon.

 

The only thing worse than hoping to get used to a car is hoping to get used to a spouse

 

...... maybe by the end of the 4th decade

 

Of course a car stays the same over time and you can count on it slowly deteriorating and getting worn out but not changing much. Whereas a spouse will re-invent themselves many times over the course of a long marriage and the new version may not only be hard to get used to, but they also might make you feel like you're the one who is deteriorating and getting worn out over time. As in the latter is alot harder to get used to than the former.

 

The only problem is the car will nag you about not paying attention!

 

The oh-shit handle on passenger side of our ‘10 is getting pretty squeaky…

 

Never heard that name before, but that's an excellent name for that handle!

 

Can I buy your disappointing car from you?

 

I have none of those "problems"
Sounds like a 'you' problem and didn't figure this out before purchase

 

I agree that getting in and out of the car is a little more difficult for taller folk. Surprisingly I don't mind the apple car play. I haven't listened to the radio in years so I can't comment on it, I only listen to mp3's stored on my device. For that the UI works fine.

 

The A pillar blocks vision at stop signs. Have to be careful.