Prime commercial During Prime time!

I think they are only available from about two dealers. One in Oregon and one in California. That is what not trying to sell cars looks like.

Apparently the hybrid system Prius Prime parts (but still a Subaru engine).

That is almost the perfect car for me, but it's a little too expensive and the cargo space is a little too small with the battery. For now a prime and an old SUV is only a little more expensive to own but offers me more efficiency when I need it and more space when I need it (but not both at the same time).

The perfect car for me would be a 4runner PHEV. The Pacifica hybrid is a comparable size with reasonable efficiency and range, so I think it can be done. If Toyota can match the price, range, and efficiency of the Pacifica on the 4runner platform I think that would be incredibly successful. But no Highlander please, it has to be able to seriously go off road.

 

They are definitely trying to sell cars, just not that model. Subaru sales have been up yearly for all but three years since 1995.

 

The motors are the ones used in the Prime, but the transaxle is Subaru, so they can use their mechanical AWD.

 

The Subaru AWD out-performs all its competitors by a lot. It's a really good system. I can take our 2010 Outback with snows on it, uphill in 10" of snow, floor it and it just goes with no drama. Very impressive.

 

+1, I've owned two Outbacks in the past 13 years, traction was never an issue.

 

In exchange for the hydrid technology flowing from Toyota to Subaru, Toyota should license the Subaru AWD technology and get the Toyota AWD out of the stone ages.

 

You have to give Toyota credit; the AWD they did create was "capable enough" for a lot of situations, and it cost less both on the window sticker and at the gas pump.

That's not a dig on what Subaru has created. Believe me I've worshipped at that mud-flinging, ice-clinging altar myself. It's just that not everyone needs that level of go.

It would be nice to see the Subaru AWD go to the Sienna. That is one that I'll call out as an exception to the above.

 

The hurdle to using Subaru's AWD in Toyota's is that it is a system designed for a longitudinal mounted engine. TNGA is a FWD platform with transverse mounted engine. Don't know how easy it will be to turn the engine 90 degrees in it.

 

I'm fairly certain my Prime is on the TNGA platform, it is FWD and it has a transversely mounted engine.

 

Oops, got the terms flipped. Fixed it.

 

Now it makes more sense. Thanks.