questions re: 2019 "L Eco" vs. "LE"

Hello all.

I may be trading in a 1/2 ton truck for a Prius soon. Unfortunately the salesman I met and worked with knew less than I did, and I knew next to nothing. My guess was that he was more focused on the sportier cars from Toyota, and did not focus on the Hybrids at all.

Nonetheless, the questions I have are between the 2019 L Eco vs. the LE.

It seems that, between perhaps false or true information I have gathered elsewhere, the Toyota website and large PDF brochure don't tell everything.

Questions:
1. Does the L Eco have a smaller hybrid battery than the LE model? (This was suggested, and the cargo room is more in the L Eco than other models, but I have not come across Toyota specs that say it is or isn't)
2. Can the L Eco fit a regular donut spare tire instead of the inflation kit?
3. Are there any downsides to the acceleration or any other every-day uses with the L Eco? I really don't want all the extra sensors in the bumpers and such. No trim level gives me anything close to what I have in my base-level 2015 truck, which is ridiculous, so I'm not big on paying more for plastic 'upgrades.'

Thank you!

 

Thank you! I may be looking at new 2019 models at the current time. I didn't know if 2020 models were being sold yet.

There is still a MPG increase in the L Eco vs the LE. That's what got me worried - the one source stated that the L Eco has a lighter battery to make it more efficient.

My goal would be a junkyard for the foam and tire kit eventually.

 

This seems important to know.

I need to research the Li-Ion battery to see if it's something I want or can live with. i.e. does it have the same amount of power in it?

One video I watched stated that the 2019 AWD's were getting the NiMH since they'd be more likely to be in colder weather where the NiMH does better than the Li-Ion. That, alone, isn't a problem since I live in one of the warmest states in the nation.

I just don't want a weaker battery, or one that doesn't last as long. I need to research more into the amp-hours of the 2019 Li-Ion I guess - if I can even find that info. I'm shopping what is on lots now, and that seems to be 2019's. Maybe I'm wrong about that? I didn't think to ask.

Thank you, again, Tideland!

 

Just found this: lithium-ion-vs-nickel-metal-hydride-toyota-still-likes-both-for-its-hybrids (can't put the hyper link, too new to the forum)

I think I'd be OK with either battery pack. Lighter is better, sure, but NiMH seems to last a long enough time.

 

Hey, no wrench problems here. Thank you for the suggestion.

I sat in the new Camry - the one in the showroom - today, and it was an absolutely miserable experience to get in and out of. As was the Corolla. As was the CH-R.

Now, maybe for whatever reason the seats were up as high as they could possibly go - and I didn't test for that - be the ingress and egress of these low-doorway, curved-down roof-line models aren't made for people who get in and out of their cars all day. Maybe one trip a day - like to work and back - would be OK, but anything beyond that? Ain't no way, lol. I'm a moderate-height guy, but I have been out on the road visiting clients long enough to finally realize what a guy told me about modern roof designs on cars these days.

So in and out, in and out I went, car to car. For whatever reason, the Prius made me tilt me head the least (of any 'car') - and not curve my back at all - to pivot up and out, or get down and in, from the driver's seat. The 2019 RAV4 I got in and out of the other day was similarly OK (need to do more testing with it, but I am assuming it wouldn't be a problem).

It's all just what I call bad designing - perhaps most don't notice it when not using a vehicle in their profession, but it's certainly noticeable coming from the absolute comfort of a 1/2 ton truck. My truck might as well be a modern Rolls Royce compared to what I encountered, but the goal - now - is fuel savings over some of the comfort. From a current ~ 17 MPG to whatever the Prius can get me, as long as I can live with it on the highway bumps, plus the ingress & egress cycles, should end up paying for the car.