Prius Prime 5200+ Mile Road Trip notes

That may seem a bit arbitrary, but it's because it's tied to knowing that you're "on a highway or expressway". That determination needs map information, so it needs the subscription to get it if you have the US version.

The European version doesn't have Traffic Jam Assist, but it does have Extended Resume Time, for which the same "on a highway or expressway" clause applies. No subscription required, as European cars have the map data.

(There is a stray clause in the EU manual saying "Vehicles with a display audio: The connected service that Toyota provides is subscribed to.", but that appears to be an editing error - that's referring to the base Japanese multimedia spec without map data, as opposed the "display audio plus" that has map data. But as far as I can tell from the actual Japanese manual, they don't have either TJA or extended resume time anyway there).

 

Many Payola features are freebies for the first short sum period of time?
We got free satellite radio for 13 months
.

 

Interesting. Traffic jams are rather rare here in Finland, so I've only tried once to see if the extended resume time worked, and that didn't, on a city street. I assumed that was following the "rule".

Not sure if I'll ever have a chance to try it on a "highway". Not many of them, and can't remember the last time traffic was queuing on one...

Ah, right, that would be the normal DRCC behaviour. Extended resume time is restarting without you pressing anything, if you're looking and holding the wheel. And traffic jam assist extends to letting you release the wheel.

 

The US site says TJA is for limited access highways.

 

Next time you're at the dealership, tell them to kill the seatbelt warning alarm. They will do it. You're welcome!

 

BONGBONGBONGBONGBONGBONGBONG

That is correct. The most annoying "reminder" I think I've ever heard.

Of course I'm a regular seatbelt wearer. But just like you, I will sometimes take if off while entering the garage/parking lot, or put it on as I'm exiting such. Within seconds I get the BONG. Very irritating.

I also had my reverse beep turned off in the G4. What on earth was the point of that lol?

 

A friend of mine jumped in my car with me to get a quick ride through a parking lot before I let him out at his gym and the seatbelt alert was so persistent and loud he buckled it for about a 15 second car ride. It will not be ignored.

 

I'm getting confused about Traffic Jam Assist. From this thread i understand US cars have it and not EU cars.
Could be trim-related? I'm waiting for a PHEV Top trim with the 4 cameras & 360° view.

In some video (Lexus if i remember or other Toyota) i see TJA as "hands free" system.
Not clear to me if US Prius (at the least in the trim with the 4 cameras and 360° view) there's any "hands free" condition, whether in traffic or highway.

Also, @KMO can say if any hands free condition is present in our EU Prius (PHEV) Top trims with the 4 cameras.

Edit:
From Toyota US.

Traffic Jam Assist** is a driver-assistance feature that helps ease the burden of the stressful stop-and-go of a traffic jam. With an active Drive Connect subscription or trial, this system provides control of the vehicle steering, braking and acceleration at speeds under 25 mph under certain conditions.

This system is designed for limited-access roadways, and with the driver monitor camera confirming the driver’s eyes are on the road, hands-free operation is possible.

The required Drive Connect subscription for Traffic Jam Assist comes as a 1-year trial on the XSE Premium grade as well as the XSE grade equipped with the upgraded 12.3-inch multimedia screen.

Unplug and Play: 2024 Toyota Prius Prime Redefines the Daily Drive - Toyota USA Newsroom

 

@Maxwell61
Its not trim specific - probably more regulation specific (handsfree is Level 2+). Either the HW is not sufficient enough according to regulations here OR Toyota was just to lazy to go through the hassle to get it allowed (yet).

So no "handsfree" in Europe.

EDIT: So generally its possible and might come soon, e.g. Blue Cruise has permission for UK/Germany and BMW introduces Level 2+ as well.

 

The technical requirement in terms of hardware seems to be LCA being fitted (which implies side radar, driver monitor and touch-sensitive wheel) and navigation information available (so onboard maps, or subscription). That's explicitly stated in the EU manual, and is not contradicted by the US and Japanese one.

That corresponds to XSE and XSE Premium with Drive Connect in USA, and all cars in Europe. Can't immediately say which Japan variants.

Then presumably due to type approval/regulations, what that hardware gives you differs:

* USA: Traffic Jam Assist (hands-free)
* Europe: Extended Resume Time
* Japan: Neither

It seems that Traffic Jam Assist could potentially come in a software update to Europe, and some Japanese cars.