Next car suggestions: new Prius or not?

I'm keeping an eye on it as well. It should be on the TNGA and the 2016 I test drove was fine, averaging 42mpg UK.

 

The higher models have the heavier NiMH batteries too.
They all have TSS-P safety features but not the full-range cruise control.
Hybrid weights (lb):
LE 3472
SE 3549
XLE 3572

 

First each to their own preference: As to Ride Comfort: last road trip was 1100 miles (over 21 hours of driving).. Driver (me) and my two Dachshunds did just fine. No sore gluteus maximus.

 

Aerodynamics, I suspect would be a big part of it, smaller engine in PRIUS, plus PRIUS is dedicated to being a Hybrid exclusively with many tweaks, the Camry is a multi-disciplined vehicle, primarily as a petrol engined sedan. (I don't think NiMH is the issue - my PRIUS is NiMH too.)

 

I suspect the Trim 4 has different seats than my Two. The One & Three probably have the cheaper seats too since they are not Softex.

 

good question

 

Try the Hyundai ioniq, Set a world record for highest mpg la to NYC. 75.??? Mpg for the trip. Test drive one before we bought the gen4. I liked it. Wife didn't. Give it a test drive.

 

That is crazy MPG. Any details on the trip? Wondering how our 4th gen would do with the same exact driving style, trailing the Ionic? I read up on the Ionic and from what I understood Hyundai may have smudged up the MPG numbers on paper and people aren't doing that well in real world driving. I am rather pleased with my MPG numbers, 13 out of 39 tanks over 60 MPG calculated from pump.

 

Must be all those Floridian hills and mountains holding you back.

 

I was wrong. It wasn't the Hyundai, it was the Kia Nero. Same platform but the Nero is a small SUV of sorts.

Kia Niro Hybrid’s 76.6 MPG Cross Country Trip Sets Guinness World Record

And here is the blog with all the details.

2017 Kia Niro CUV Sets GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS Title for Lowest Fuel Consumption for a Hybrid Vehicle | CleanMPG

 

Let's not forget that legendary Wayne Gerdes drove the car cross country. With Wayne behind the wheel, practically any car would appear to have impressive fuel ecomony. However, this Kia hybrid does have an impressive 50 mpg combined EPA. 2017 Niro drivers are averaging 48.2 in real world driving so far this year, as per fuelly.

"How the drivers were able to make the leap to 76.6 mpg in highway driving wasn’t explained, but a safe guess is they utilized every hyper miler technique feasible.

It all makes for a nice press release, but don’t expect to repeat the performance, unless you also are prepared for extreme austerity measures in your driving style."

 

For more room consider the Avalon hybrid....

 

That's all I need a truck for. Right now, I'm going nuts transporting a half dozen boards at a time for a gardening project. I have two cargo trailers I can't move. One is sort of a camping unit I use for astronomy events twice a year (I haven't been for three years). I'd rent, but I'm a 90 mile round trip away from the closest rental center and they never have pickups. So, I could rent something like a UHaul but I'd have to leave my new car there and it's not a nice section of that particular town.

 

I sold my truck and bought a second Prius and a small 4 by 7 foot utility trailer this summer. The trailer and hitch for the new Prius cost me 650. Or about as much as insurance, taxes and tags for the truck for a year. The trailer empty weighs 200 pounds. Use it mostly around the farm and for occasional errands where longer things need hauling. May be a better option for you than renting a truck. Another option is borrow a neighbors truck. Or offer to buy them lunch if they run a small errand for ya.

 

smaller, lighter wheels, li-on battery, different programming, still, it will be interesting to see the fuelly numbers.