Featured What Drives Us Podcast - What Drives Us – One on One #2 – Death Of The Prius, Tesla, Volt...

I'll listen to the podcast later but the subject matches my experience:

• Sold both Prius Gen-1 and Gen-3
• Bought BMW i3-REx and Prius Prime Plus

When we 'sold' our 03 Prius to the housekeeper, we had an empty space. So I test drove a 2016 and the only one with TSS-P was a 2016 Level Three. I tested the moonroof equipped car and it could not bust 100 MPG on my test loop that I knew the 2016 Level Two ECO would. Then the dealer offer it for $33k and then $28k that bound the price of a used, 2014 BMW i3-REx that had come off lease.

Now the first model year of the BMW i3-REx has the usual infantile problems and sure enough, it went back to the local dealership. Yet they would loan me something I learned to loath, a BMW Series 2. Then the motor mount bolt broke and I went back to driving our Prius Gen-3 that does not have TSS-P or anything like it. I realized a car without TSS-P or equivalent, I don't want it!

The 2017 Prius Prime Plus (the basic model) comes with TSS-P. But the Prime also significantly improved the control laws. Granted I don't have hands on with the Gen-4 but the Prius Prime has easily met and exceeded expectations. To the degree Prime control laws show up in the Gen-4 or Gen-4+, the unplugged Prius will remain competitive.

Even if every city of 50,000 or more had a fast DC charger, it would still be impractical to do cross country trips with 30 minute to 80% charge. I know, I drove 700 miles in a BMW i3-REx and have upfront and personal experience with a short range car. I can fix the BMW i3-REx gas range problem but EV range is limited by technology more complex than a fuel tank.

Now that I think about it, I probably should 'test drive' a Prius Level Two ECO. It is entirely possible that car already incorporates the control laws in the Prime. Spread them out to the complete hybrid line, Toyota will have a manufacturing problem . . . not enough capacity.

Bob Wilson

 

The 2017 Prius v is 39/43 per the Toyota web site.

I drive mine in very mixed conditions (hot, cold, city, interstate) and one of the things I like is I get the mileage shown in my fuelly figures below which means it is pretty easy to get the EPA MPG because I don't drive it in an manner that is different than my prior CRV or Porsche. That 42 figure is the most typical average achieved for a v per fuelly.

The fuelly Rav4H most often achieved average is 33. That is a 27% difference between the 2 cars.

I'm mystified by your MPG figures cited on your podcast. You cite much less for the v and much more for the Rav4H. I'd figure with your eco-driving experience you'd get much more than mine which means you should best the EPA.