Lights Differences: LE vs XLE

Interesting. Turn signals are really different?

When did Longo get a bunch of 2023 Priuses? The inventory never showed it.

Not the matte vs. glossy black bumpers on the LE vs. higher trims, respectively.

It looks like all LE units have parking sensors after all. This is great!

 

Uh oh dont you have a deposit with Longo?

 

Yes, but for a black Prius Prime SE.

It is their parking structure right. They have a 600,000-ft² parking structure (400 ft by 300 ft by 5 levels) where they store their vehicles.

 

Here is the link to the Reddit post, where you can view the full-resolution images. All have "sold" signs on the cars.



These are the light differences:

LE:

• no bumper lower-corner accent light
• headlight lower accent light sits lower and also serves as a turn signal
• headlight upper accent light does not serve as a turn signal
• center brake light does not light when brakes not applied

XLE and Limited:

• bumper lower-corner accent light
• headlight lower accent light sits higher and does not serve as a turn signal
• headlight upper accent light serves as a turn signal
• center brake light lights even when brakes not applied, albeit in lower intensity as a taillight (How is this DOT-legal??)

We will see how the Prius Prime SE will differ from the Prius Prime XSE and XSE Premium.

Dark blue looks better than silver.

 

This is not street-legal according to DOT/NHTSA:

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Center High-Mounted Stop Lamps (CHMSL) have been standard equipment on all new passenger cars manufactured on and after September 1, 1985 for sale in the United States. They are required by an October 1983 amendment [11] of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 [5]. CHMSL have also been standard equipment on all new light trucks (pickup trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles) manufactured on and after September 1, 1993 for sale in the United States, following an April 1991 amendment [12] of FMVSS 108. CHMSL are red stop lamps mounted on the centerline of the rear of a vehicle, generally higher than the stop lamps on the sides of that vehicle. They are activated when the driver steps on the brake pedal and they are off at other times. The purpose of CHMSL is preventing crashes by reducing the reaction time for drivers to notice that the vehicle in front of them is braking.
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https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/chmsl_complete.pdf

If someone pointed this out to the NHTSA, there would be a recall to turn this light off on the XLE/Limited/XSE/XSE Premium.

 

Is it possible that center light bar is not a CHMSL?

 

It is in my Gen 4 Prius Prime, and I except it to be the same in the Gen 5 Prius/Prius Prime.

 

How are light bars not in violation of this policy?

 

There is an additional CHMSL above the emblem, the light bar is below and at the same height with the brake lights (meaning it does not qualify as a CHMSL according to the regulation you posted). So it is not the same.

 

If you look at 2022 Kia Stinger, it is the identical design as the Gen 5 Prius XLE/Limited, but there is a CHMSL inside the top of the rear window. Gen 5 Prius does not have it. Therefore, the light bar is not supposed to light unless the brakes are applied.

The light bar is not supposed to light unless the brakes are applied because it is meant to be the CHMSL. This is the case in Gen 4 Prius Prime and Gen 5 Prius LE but not Gen 5 Prius XLE and Limited.

Perhaps there is a separate CHMSL, but I haven't seen it.

 

Can't spot it in the OP photos with the low lighting.

 

Good find.

Perhaps the bulb on the light bar of that LE is burned out.

 

This was already pretty much settled after @Trollbait found a pic with the CHMSL.

 

Could it be that the CHMSL on the Gen 5 Prius LE is located inside the light bar like in the Gen 4 Prius Prime? That would be a better design than the tiny CHMSL located just above the light bar on the Gen 5 Prius XLE and Limited.

Here are the taillights, light bar, and CHMSL on my Gen 4 Prius Prime. It is a better design than the minimalistic Gen 5 design that is a simple straight line in my opinion.