Its A Space Mobile!

Two months tomorrow, and I simply can't express how much this car does not feel like a Prius. I drove a (2009) Prius for forteen years. I know what a Prius looks like. I know what a Prius drives like. This is not a Prius - Its a space mobile ...

When is it a muscle car? When I exit my city park, I have to wait for an opening in the busy three lanes of traffic to turn right, then immediately cross all three lanes to a left turn lane. With the quietness of the electric drive, my space mobile / muscle car accelerates at warp speed to "teleport" us to the turn lane and then without using those antique tech mechanical brakes, regenerates us ready to U-turn into another hole in the opposing three lane channel. No Prius ever achieved that acceleration - This is a space mobile!

(Even using the warp drive, I return home showing 4.3 to 4.5 mi/kWh for an EV range of 45-48 miles. Not bad for 19" wheels, with AC in 93degF weather.)

 

If I don’t pay attention to my consumption rate during the first few miles of my drive, I will look down and see a number in the 3’s. This then encourages me to try to keep the eco bar around 5 as much as possible. Sometimes if traffic allows, I attempt to use “micro-pump-and-glide” to 4 mph above the speed limit (40 or 45 mph roads) then attempting to drive holding 5 mi/kWh as closely as possible. Sometimes this achieves a kind of equilibrium that does not result in losing speed, or loses speed quite slowly.

I am hoping my brain will eventually use “implicit learning” to maximize the efficiency without me having to use a conscious driving algorithm or paying so much attention to that bar and “just drive”.

 

I probably am not a good person to ask of that…because I was never dissatisfied in the slightest with the acceleration of my 2009 Prius. This 2023 Prius Prime (XSE) has so much EV acceleration it always surprises me. Remember I’m driving in Eco setting and normally trying to minimize hard acceleration. My last highway test was getting on the Florida Turnpike in EV mode - joining 70 mph traffic was no problem. The return to the Turnpike at the other end was in HV Charging mode and it was no problem but the engine was really roaring. Such a difference in sound, but I did not feel a difference in acceleration. It is entirely possible/probable I was not asking for everything the car could give.

Yes, passing from 70mph is no problem but the mi/kWh takes a 0.1 or 0.2 hit that takes quite a while to regain. I was only able to achieve 4.0 mi/kWh for the 43 mi turnpike EV mode trip (mostly right at 70mph). It switched to HV mode about a mile after I got off the turnpike.


Is it fun? Oh yes.

 

Sounds like a Rav4 Prime. Prius V and Prius C didn't survive, sorta doubt Prius W would be different.

I feel lucky to be able to choose from 3 Prius and 3 Prius Prime versions

 

The rear opening is definitely smaller, and the non-roll-up cargo cover (forehead bumper) makes the rear area feel miniscule, but the seats seem to go flatter than my 2009 Prius, and perhaps the rear doors open more because it is easier to get my wife's e-bike into the 2023. Amazingly my road bike went in easily through the rear hatch. With the seats down and that forehead killer stowed, there seems to be a good bit of hauling stuff room.

You saw my post with the bikes in the back?