Prime trim level - advanced or not?

I personally went with the "what do you have on the lot?"-style of trim decision making. The Primes aren't really selling like hotcakes, so I felt the dealer would be more willing to deal if for no other reason than to get the car off their lot.

I got a Plus and the only thing I'd consider wanting from the higher trim levels would be the blind spot sensors. Without carplay or android auto, a larger screen for apps that I'd never use is not a selling point.

 

Love my Prime Advanced. Personally if money if not an option or minimal cost to get the Advanced. The HUD is my favorite feature. The sensors saved my Prime last Friday as some %&#^ in a pickup truck triggered the breaks as he almost side swiped me on the expressway. So my extra cost for the sensors saved me.

I love the Advanced features.

Safety features are a life saver. I was rolled over after being hit in another vehicle and I don't fear it with my Prime Advanced. As for the cost of the safety connect at $80 a year is nothing. I spend more on coffee than that a month.

As for availability in my area. Michigan Primes are rare.

Blue

 

All the Prime trims have the same structural safety features - crash structure, airbags, etc. Once you start crashing they are all the same.

 

The alerts the Advanced generates are differnt. I love the cross traffic sensor.

 

I'm pleased that I got the Advanced, if for only the blind spot monitors which are inexplicably absent on lower trims.

Homelink was a plus too, as had been the heated steering wheel. I got too spoiled with the heated wheel in my old car, although the Prime doesn't seem to heat as much of the wheel as I would prefer.

 

We (wife and I) ended up getting a 2020 Plus, after starting out set on the Limited.

As was said, the top of the line depreciates more, but I was certain I needed the blind spot monitor and the cross traffic sensor. My daughter, 17-years-old and a new driver, was asked about the blind spot monitor and said, "That's cheating." I figured I'd just stay in my slow outer lane like I always do already, as the fewer lane changes the better.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned though is that the Plus still has a CD player! I had researched and thought the CD player was eliminated on the Prime, which was upsetting. However, we went to the dealership, still set on the Limited while they had "only" the Plus. I was amazed when we saw the CD player there. That is because the Plus doesn't have the huge screen, which in my opinion is Toyota's attempt to go "Tesla-esque" but really is just a major expense to replace if there ever is a problem.

The other factor was we both actually liked the cloth seats in the Plus better.

The difference in price is also a factor, as the Limited came in about $5K higher MSRP if I remember correctly.

 

Congrats on the new ride.

Pics?

Good luck with the Plus.

 

Congrats on the new ride. I'm a big fan of cloth and the smaller screen myself. I'd get rid of both if I could while enjoying the Advanced's other amenities.

 

I was used to having cross traffic and blind spot on my last car so it was a no brainer to get the Advanced. The HUD is a nice touch because the Prime's dashboard is not in the driver's line of sight, but it's a tiny bit misaligned (have seen this sentiment echoed in other threads) and there's no way to adjust left/right orientation. Also remote A/C via app is something I was used to, same with heated steering wheel in the winter.

The one advantage of the base model is the small screen can be easily replaced for a proper Android Auto display. There's a couple things that I wish could be added that are not an option at all (ventilated leather seats, tilting rear view mirrors, android auto, blind spot with audible alert, brake auto hold being main ones).

 

I chose the Advanced and am very happy with the decision. I use the HUD and Homelink every time I drive the car. I often use the blind spot monitor and rear cross traffic alert. The automatic windshield wiper makes me smile when it comes on and goes off by itself. I appreciate that the Smart Key works on both front doors and the hatch and I use the Qi charger for my iPhone. The driver's seat power lumbar support is handy. The charging cable lock is a nice touch, but I haven't needed it yet. I will probably never use the heated steering wheel, Safety Connect or anything other than FM radio with the Entune system. It didn't bother me to pay an extra $395. for the Blizzard Pearl paint as I expect that it will last longer than the other colors (except red). I paid extra for the paint on a 1999 Tacoma that I parked outside for 18 years before the clear coat started to flake off, so that convinced me that it was worth while.

 

I'll agree 100% about the Smart Key working on all doors and the hatch, I think it is somewhat obnoxious of Toyota to just have the driver's door working on the Plus/LE. It is somewhat of a safety feature in my opinion. The other couple of sensors wouldn't add much to the cost of the car, and what it did add could be added to the base price. Of course, then those people who absolutely have to have Smart Key on all doors and the hatch go to the higher trim level.

I thought back on the GenII that at some point it was similar, with the base model only having the driver's door, but then eventually all models ended up getting Smart Key on all the doors. I definitely could be mistaken on that though, as we haven't looked at the new Prius models since 2006.

But then too, wow, they changed the jack at some point? It was a fine jack back then, I don't see why they had to change it. I had two available and it was so convenient to jack up either one side or one end. I like the Prime's jacking point in the back, but the front is essentially unusable for my floor jack, which I thought was a pretty typical one.

 

No on the accessories. I just got a Premium. Important for me was adaptive cruise control. I would really have liked blind spot and lane assist. I have those on my Escape and have gotten spoiled.

 

I'm trying to decide between the big screen vs small one in LE trim - do you still think the smaller one is still better to get in 2020 Prime?

 

Welcome!

I would not choose the trim just based on the screen. I have the big screen in my Premium and it has some substantial annoyances in my opinion. I miss the knobs and real buttons. The capacitive "buttons" on mine have no feedback and accidentally brushing one with a finger is the same as deliberately pressing it. Also, the big screen offers more glare at certain sun angles.

But if you give up the big screen you also give up the power driver's seat and several other nice features. Some people like cloth seats better (LE) and some like the softex better (XLE & Limited). I like the softex because I've discovered that it's easier to keep clean than either cloth or leather. More comfortable than leather, but not quite as comfortable as cloth.

 

I would go with the advanced.
The 2020 Model is called Limited.

 

Do you know if people have had success replacing the 7" screen for an Android Auto equipped unit? A quick search on crutchfield shows that they do not list any receivers and being compatible with the 2020 Prius Prime, even on the Plus/LE Trim. I suspect this has to do with the fact that the factory unit has some displays related to driving efficiency/EV Use info, but that's pure conjecture on my part

 

I don't think so. That's one argument for getting the smaller screen. But I personally wouldn't change the electronics on a car that's still under warranty. Everything is now tied into electronics, especially on this car, and would be an easy way for them to deny a warranty claim. I just use a magnetic vent mount and run AA on my phone.

 

I wouldn't say "defeats the purpose", a good, effective set of fog lights is a helpful addition to low beams. Maybe not so much in blinding/thick fog, but on dark/twisty roads for sure. Bottom line, in most jurisdictions: it's illegal to drive with fog lights only, has been as long as I can remember, and there's some rationale for the regulations.

That said, yeah: the fog lights are pretty much ornamental, if they're still like ours (third gen).

 

Choosing the right trim, too,- and so when it's out of warranty the repairs would be more substantial than lower trim levels

Thank you for your replay! My main concern is how this big screen in XLE/Limited Prime 2020 would behave 3-5 years from now, if if it's going to need any repairs when it's already out of bumper to bumper warranty?... May be that's why it would be wiser to go with LE... but yes definitely would like to have the power driver seat, heads up display, etc. I'm about to buy the car but still can't decide about the right trim for the long run!