Thought on Toyota Appearance Package

Hello All!

By this point one would figure that I would be very likely to adapt some of the appearance package to my 2016 considering the modifications I have done to this point. I find some facts interesting.

To start, I have not been able to find any part numbers so there is no telling how much the components are at this time, but I am not even looking at the 17" wheels because the 15" black chromes look nicer- and the side skirts seem as if the aero splitters are a better route. Lets talk about the front and rear bumper and before that lets talk about some general Toyota facts.

The appearance package looks to be a limited package.

1. You can select it alone, you can select the premium convenience package with options alone, or you can select the premium convenience package with options with the appearance package. (no this isn't a typo I will explain)

2. You can select the appearance package alone on only four colors, however, you have a wider range of colors if you select the appeance\convenience package. While both packages are called "Premium Convenience Package with Options" it appears that one comes with a HUD and moonroof, and the other does not come with either of these but will come with the full appearance additions. Maybe part of this is having the moonroof and 17" wheels. This seems to be an issue in general for all versions of the prius.

3. you cannot select the advanced technology package and the appearance package together in any combination or color. At the end of the day it looks like there is no way to get a HUD and\or moonroof with the appearance package.

Phasing out of Touring styling?
I have a theory that they are going to phase out the touring bumper and make the appearance package standard or in some way the 2018 refresh. Right now the two none appearance bumper options have two different styles of the black plastic lower portion of the bumper but they also have two different side panels of the bumper. From what the pictures of the appearance package bumper look like at this time, the side panels appear to be the same part. It is too early to say this for sure as no part numbers are out but I will post a crude picture to highlight



vs



This would be good news for anyone wanting to swap in the appearance bumper piece. You would just need to buy the center plastic part and not have to worry about the side panels. Note the list price for this piece in a touring form is $300.

Another thing that has caught my attention- more and more of the side panels for touring bumpers are being discontinued. The regular bumper panels are still readily available



It would make sense for Toyota to use the same part number for both styles. It is cheaper to produce, stock, and manage.

What about the front bumper?
Well, it will directly fit on the body I am sure, but if you have the collision alert sensors the bumper will need to be modified.

The central black plastic grill "appears" to be the same at this point which would need to be the same if anyone is going to try a bumper swap with the sensors. The black grill houses two of the proximity sensors. The two sensors in the bumper are something added after the fact by Toyota. Even with the setup today there is no difference in part number and it is intended that someone drill and mount these sensors so the process would most likely need to be the same with the appearance bumper. It all boils down to the black grill piece because if you cannot swap that in, you will lose the two sensors.



Final thoughts?
Front bumper will only be worth it if the black grill can be ported over
Rear bumper might be cheaper to convert than nontour to tour and I am keeping an eye out for a part number
Side Skirts: Aeros look better but you cannot go into a carwash with an aero and not take damage. I am not sure if this would be the case with an appearance package skirt
Wheels: too subjective to speak to but 15" do offer better mpg

If you see any appearance packages in the wild note they will not have a HUD or moonroof if you are the type after all the bells and whistles.