Gen 3 vs Prime. Which to buy?

two completely different cars. without knowing your desires, needs and financial position, it is hard to advise.

 

Agreed, they are quite a bit different.

If you want some electric range, the absolute best fuel and electric efficiency, better handling, peppier feeling acceleration, a more refined ride and arguably more comfortable seats, a huge touch screen that you use for everything, and can afford a new car you can probably get some good deals and tax incentives on a prime.

On the other hand if you want to save money, like a car with a lot of cargo space and nooks and crannies to put things in, along with seating for 5, a flat cargo floor in the hatch (no lip to get things in and out), a spare tire, and nice buttons for audio and ac controls with some on the steering wheel instead of touch screen ones, go for the gen 3.

 

...seems funny new Gen4 is not a candidate also. Or used 2015 PiP would give you all the space benefits of the Gen3 with plug-in flavor.

 

There is not a lot of difference between the gen 4 and the prime? Yeah, I know there are some exterior tweaks. Inside the 5th seat deleted, hatch floor raised, spare tire a distance memory.

Purely my chauvinistic thought: I'd get the 2015 level 5.

 

Driving in all-electric mode is very quiet and pleasant. It also cuts down on trips to the gas station, which is very convenient. But of course you still have a gasoline engine for long trips and whenever you forgot to plug in. So I would go with the Prius Prime, if you park in a garage with an electrical outlet. I wouldn't bother with the fancy 220V electric hook up, just the 110V that comes with the car.

 

To drive 100 miles it would take about $4 worth of electricity at 12c kwh so it's about the same in gas costs currently for the Prius. Plus you can to deal with more expensive batteries that could go bad in the future on a low demand car.

Used Prius V with tech package might be worth it if you do a lot of highway driving.