1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

PriusChat's 2016 Toyota Prius First Drive Video Review

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by Danny, Nov 18, 2015.

  1. KrPtNk

    KrPtNk Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2015
    323
    283
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Danny,

    Thanks very much for the video and all your work in presenting so much information on PC. I learned a lot I was curious about and was very impressesed by the job you did introducing the car. It was worth the wait.

    Did you find out anything about the 2nd Gen PIP?

    Alan
     
    Danny likes this.
  2. mozdzen

    mozdzen Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2011
    719
    295
    0
    Location:
    Phoenix
    Vehicle:
    2015 Tesla Model S
    One comment you made about the traffic aware cruise control (TACC)- Model S Tesla has it too. You can engage TACC in stop and go traffic at very low speeds - 5 mph or so, and it will lock in at 18 mph, but slow down to a complete stop and restart on its own if necessary. Sounds like a lot of the autopilot features of the Teslas are now going to be available in the Gen IV.
     
  3. joe1347

    joe1347 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2007
    669
    44
    0
    Location:
    AZ
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Thanks for the review. You certainly did a great job answering our questions.
     
    Danny likes this.
  4. chughes123

    chughes123 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2010
    66
    8
    0
    Location:
    vancouver washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Details on the differences between the regular 54city, 50hwy regular Prius and the 58city, 53highway eco Prius? And those numbers are Toyota estimates I'm sure but usually man. estimates are very close to EPA. Slightly disappointed in only 1MPG improvement in highway but the Eco isn't a bad improvement. Curious if any drivetrain changes for the Eco vs regular beyond maybe lithium ion.. instead of NiMH.
    --Hmm eco-windshield, no rear wiper, no spare tire (may be forgetting something)? Not enough to account for city MPG increase imo
    Prius Eco 58 MPG vs Prius 54 MPG - What's the difference? | Page 2 | PriusChat

    Is the possibility of an AWD Prius busted?

    Hopefully the 5th gen Prius will have an HCCI engine, which should be a bit more efficient than Atkinson cycle, though more sensors.

    EDIT: Since the acceleration is about the same you say, then I guess the articles of the past saying the 2016 Prius is expected to be 20% lighter, which was a long shot, isn't true. Maybe a few 100 pounds lighter?

    7:30 into the part 2 of the Prius Walkthrough: thermal efficiency. I guess they didn't go with the turbo Atkinson cycle engine, which was 'concept 2' Toyota was mentioned in a Greencarcongress article back in 2011. But instead just concept 1; direct injected Atkinson with a longer stroke? Green Car Congress: Toyota targeting thermal efficiency of more than 45% for next-generation gasoline engines for hybrids
    8:00 into the part 2 of the Prius walkthrough; 60% structural rigidity improvement; The 2010-2015 Prius, you can get a genuine rear sway bar for it. What about the 2016 Prius? Does it come with one or can you install one?
     
    #24 chughes123, Nov 18, 2015
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2015
  5. Danny

    Danny Admin/Founder
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2003
    7,093
    2,100
    1,174
    Location:
    Charlotte, NC
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    That's a good question and one I can't really answer yet since I didn't have anything to test with. I can say that I accidentally locked myself in the hatch (long story) and I was quite cozy :)

    Thanks for the feedback! They were pretty tight lipped about the next gen Plug In, but I'm guessing we'll start getting some answers early to mid 2016.
     
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,767
    16,014
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    FYI, Toyota has had full-speed DRCC since 2007 on the Crown and Mark X models.
     
  7. Stevevee

    Stevevee Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2013
    821
    224
    0
    Location:
    Vermont
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Great review Danny. Most objective one. You do point out the negatives, even persistent ones. Would love to have a roundtable meeting with Toyota and have them list their defenses;)

    I have a bug that is likely to be one most non-Prius loyalists would have. Things like a 30-pound weight loss with no spare. Given some of the huge differences in the driver's weights, I find this an especially weak statement many have made. So if I carry two bowling balls at once, or maybe eat too much fast food, my mileage will suffer. LOL

    I doubt I'm the only one not completely blown away by the mpg estimates shown so far. Or the lack of a standard power driver's seat. Homelink mirror should be standard as well. Fully agree with you that the packages are confusing, and it's certainly not limited to the Prius, much less Toyota.

    Things I like:) Very happy to hear that it drives better, rides better, and handles better. Being quieter with a nicer interior certainly helps out as well.

    There are things that car buyers tend to expect now. If cars demand higher prices, they need to earn the sale by providing better quality, some luxury features, or a lower price. Cars that don't have power seats? I hope to never have one again. I just fear people look at the price and sigh a bit. Although a January intro is a bad time to do this, maybe pent up demand will take care of sales until spring arrives in the colder climates.
     
    Danny likes this.
  8. heyphillip

    heyphillip Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2014
    131
    47
    0
    Location:
    Maple Shade NJ
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    The current Prius sucks big time in snow driving I was looking forward to the addition of a AWD Prius for Generation 4 for this reason I won't be buying this new car.I'm sure the Generation 4 will suck in the snow also.Plus the damn thing is uglier than my 2014 Prius I live in the Northeast N.J. where winter can get harsh.
     
  9. GasperG

    GasperG Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 13, 2011
    1,168
    597
    1
    Location:
    Slovenia
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    It sucks in snow only because of ground clerance, with the right tires it just as good as any FWD car.
     
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,767
    16,014
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Agreed. The east coast of the U.S. gets a lot of snow with each storm, upwards of 30 to 40cm is possible so yeah any normal car will suck in the snow. I've driven with winter tyres in the last 6 years and it works fine. I don't get the heavy snow storms like @heyphillip does (usually 5-15cm at a time) but the snow sticks around all winter so I'm usually driving on compact snow (they groom the snow to no less than a 5cm depth. They don't clear the snow to the bare road to minimise wear and tear on the asphalt). With winter tyres, the Prius works very well.
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    we don't get any centimeters of snow.(n)
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  12. minnyprius

    minnyprius Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2014
    141
    45
    0
    Location:
    Twin Cities
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Danny, great job on the information you're providing to all of us!

    Question for you... I was most disappointed to learn that they've lowered the front seats by 2 inches... Did it feel like getting in and out was more sports-car challenging, or not really that noticeable? Also, you drive a Gen3.. how was the front leg room? Any better in the new one?

    Thanks!
     
    Danny likes this.
  13. GaryD1

    GaryD1 Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2011
    302
    138
    0
    Location:
    Seagrove, NC
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Great review, enjoyed the video
     
    Danny likes this.
  14. chinna

    chinna Member

    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2009
    162
    44
    15
    Location:
    Bellevue, WA USA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Danny,

    Wondering when are we getting our 0-60 timing, 50-70 timing?
    Also can you find out weight distribution information for front and rear axles and actual power comparison with Gen 3(using both same version of rating system).

    Thanks
     
  15. tmacrp

    tmacrp Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2015
    74
    47
    20
    Location:
    Santa Rosa, California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Hey Danny!

    Did you notice that it scrapes coming in/out of driveways?

    I can't go anywhere without being afraid of scraping my front bumper!
     
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    since it's even lower, i suspect the problem will only get worse.
     
  17. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,767
    16,014
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Well the problem tmacrp describes is more about the approach and departure angles rather than ground clearance.
     
    tmacrp likes this.
  18. energyandair

    energyandair Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2009
    905
    339
    0
    Location:
    Victoria BC Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    I agree that its a problem with the Gen 3 but are we sure that the bottom of the Gen 4 front bumper is lower?
    We know that the gen 4 ground clearance is a fraction lower but minimum ground clearance is almost certainly somewhere the front and back wheels and tells us nothing about what the clearances are at the front and back of the car.
     
  19. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,309
    3,586
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Danny think I am little disappointed Toyota USA is quoting 27.4-ft3 Cargo space in the first Video. I don't believe we've actually gone from 16-ft3 in Gen2 up to 27.4 ft3 in Gen4. I believe what's happening is we're changing to "EPA Cargo Space" quotation which seems to me bogus or something.

    Toyota Japan Gen4: Cargo Space is 502-liters = 17.7 ft3 (no spare tire case). We are quoting the 27.4-ft3 for the same vehicle.

    I wish Toyota could break down the Cargo volume for us. They did this for Gen3 roll-out technical video on YouTube, but never totally explained how they shifted to the newer "EPA Cargo Space"
    basis.

    Why Cargo Specs Can Stretch the Truth
     
    #39 wjtracy, Nov 20, 2015
    Last edited: Nov 20, 2015
  20. tmacrp

    tmacrp Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2015
    74
    47
    20
    Location:
    Santa Rosa, California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    That is exactly what I am talking about!

    The ground clearance was probably a little lower because of all the panels underneath now... so it doesn't it wouldn't have anything to do with up front.