Another thing I love about the PRius is how well they hold their value. Here in Australia a gen3 2010 Prius, a ten year old car, will set you back from $10k AUD up to $20k AUD depending on the mileage. $20k for a ten year old car is pretty awesome.
TypeYourName 564 You're absolutely right; this was the very reason I invested money in buying one 2nd hand 4 years ago - and guess what? It's literally paid for itself already, yet, it's as perfect as the day I bought it! Love my Prius Gen 2 - delightfully over engineered to be ultra reliable! :-)
I owned a 2G Prius, now I have a 4G Prius. Transition between gas and hybrid is much smoother in the 4G Prius than the 2G Prius. I think the 4G Prius looks a lot cooler than the 2G. The cost differential between hybrids and regular cars has decreased significantly between the 2G and 4G. I consider Prius more Camry-like than Corolla-like. The interior and amenities have been upgraded significantly from 2G to 4G. I bought a Three with TSS-P. My 2G was 12 years old and replaced because it was totaled in an accident (still worth $7K), no battery issues or any other major maintenance needed. I didn't think I'd have a problem with snow (I bought when I lived in Chicago, now live in Dallas) It looks you may live in a more rural area, so your concern is valid. The 4G is a vast improvement on the 2G.
I was sure I'd end up agreeing with you on a few points, but in total fairness, I disagree on all 5 points. I live in Canada, and I've never had any issues with cold weather or driving on snow. If the road's not plowed and you can't wait an hour for the snowplow to go by, buy a 4WD SUV or a pickup truck. I never had any starting issues, because the motor has no cranking starter, and the 0W20 oil that is standard year-round is perfect for any cold weather. In fact, I've heard that the Prius is the preferred car in Ulan Batar Mongolia, where -60C is fairly common. The looks and comfort are all great in my opinion. I don't know what you mean about a noisy engine; Neither I nor my passengers can hear it stopping and starting while we drive. You have to look at the display to know if the gas engine is running. As far as cost, you can't have it both ways. The Prius has two drive systems; gasoline and electric, along with a whole suite of technologies that make it the most economical car in it's class by far. I'm saving thousands of dollars per year compared to my previous car, a Toyota Corolla.
I was expecting issues someone would not know before buying the car. All of these complaints are clear when you are choosing your next car. To me, it is similar to people that buy a smart car and then complain they can't haul a big screen tv home in it. The Prius is what it is.
1. Prius handles great in the snow. Use snow tires as you should for any car in the Midwest to get the best traction. You can drive a rear wheel drive sports car in the snow with snow tires. Tires are just shoes for your car. 2. The engine is very seamless. Drive any luxury car with start/stop technology and you'll see how smooth Prius is. 3. Styling is great. It's designed for optimum fuel efficiency. If you don't like the styling Toyota & Lexus offers multiple hybrids. Prius is designed for optimum fuel-efficiency. 4. It's possible the steering wheel height has to do with airbag safety. If it's pointing too high up it might not be the best angle for safety. 5. If you hate the Prius so much why did you buy it? It's the best, most reliable hybrid in the industry and world. There's not a close second in the industry. The Volt you mentioned has almost half of the range and efficiency in a tank of gas. 37-42 MPG vs 54-58 MPG. 6. Prius has a lot more standard features than a Corolla and is a larger, more premium car. Pushbutton start and smart key alone is part of a $1500 package on a corolla, more efficient engine is in $800. Toyota only charges $700 additional for the hybrid system on the RAV4, the R&D was paid for years ago. Prius usually has rebates and incentives, plus the monthly fuel savings closes the gap as well.
I feel like everyone has their panties in a bunch! He literally says he doesn’t even want to use the word hate! As someone who is thinking about getting a Prius, this video was very helpful in helping me come to a conclusion!
The Volt has a seamless transitIon from electric to gas because there is NO transition... the motor is a generator and not linked to the drivetrain at all. That's misinformation if you don't point that out to potential shoppers of either car
You know that most of us have driven automatic transmissions in regular cars that shift 3 or 4 times. I am not aware of any shift in my 2017 Prius although I can hear the engine at slow speeds like in warm up. I am very happy after 1 year and 12,500 miles with my Prius 2 eco. Practically speaking, I am down to 75-80 cents gas per gallon verses most regular cars. For me it's a keeper!
Toyota owner here x 3. Small picture? I have irky issues w/ Toyota over little tweaky stuff. Big picture, as in major ownership issues? Total respect and gratitude.
Batteries last a long time. 90-95% of over 9 million Toyota/Lexus hybrids sold are still on the road today with original batteries. Google 600,000 mile Prius/1 million km. If a battery fails you can recondition it or replace one from a salvage yard for about $500. Also, The front brakes typically last about 150 to 200,000. Prius is consistently called the lowest cost vehicle in the industry to own.
This is true. The dealer bought my 2010 straight out and gave me over 6K for it knowing that some things in the interior no longer worked, The next week I saw it on his lot and it said reduced from 9500 to 7900 and it was gone in a week!
Regarding your #4, it's very hard for me to tell when the gasoline motor starts and stops in my 2016 Prius 4 Touring. In my previous 2005 Prius I could easily tell when the motor was on or off. They've made great improvements in this latest version.
@4:05 As someone tall, I have to agree it feels cramped. It's not even just the steering wheel though, it's that damn front console cutting into my knee room. *However*, it's not true of the second gen Prius or the Prius c.
I own a Prius and do not agree with most of his comments. But, he has experience with the car and that is valuable to potential buyers. So far in the US we can still give our opinions on cars and it is his opinion!
prius batteries have historically been life of the car items. There are Gen1 prius still running with their original batteries. You don't need to budget for that. Also - the Prius is a MUCH lager car than the corolla - and has much more tech.
In fairness, though, the first gen is something I don't recommend to anybody but enthusiasts. Too many quirks, especially in the 2001. My 2002 is about to roll over 192K miles on original brakes and no sign of weakness (equalizing) from the hybrid battery. The first gen hybrid battery is nowhere near as reliable as the second and later ones, so I may not get another 100K miles out of it - time will tell. Tonight it is off the road for the first time because of a failure - the inverter pump died. After 15 years I guess it is entitled to a week off. No other car my wife and I ever came close to the reliability of the various Prius we have had.
The battery seems to last much longer than the warranted life. I have over 167k on my 2010 Prius, and I still average over 52 mpg. Battery performance is the same as when it was new. I know people with over 200k miles on a Prius, and they have never had battery problems either. I have never heard of anyone having to replace the battery, although I'm sure some have, but it seems like it isnt much of a problem in real world driving.
I'm typing this from inside my 10 year old Prius with 300,000 miles on it. I'm having some battery problems with my auto battery. Hybrid battery is no problem. I actually have been having the auto battery die slowly for a while and yanked the hybrid battery out a few months back to check to see how it was, voltometer tested its fine. Seriously, the batteries in these are great.
tiabran 300k. Though, that was in November and I've done about 25k on it since, and I'm gonna yank the hybrid battery in a few days and use a multimeter just to double check I think. My fuel economy's dipped lately but they left something loose at the oil change place the other day, I went back and they sorted it so now I'm waiting to see if it does better and comes back up to snuff or if I need to yank that hybrid after all and test and replace the cells that've finally died. Also my O2 sensors I'm going to swap for some Bosch ones soon, I got a check engine that my catalyst is below threshold/catalytic converter, which... It's a hybrid. Saw on a forum it could be the sensors so I'm swapping those and throwing some new Bosch ones at it to see if I get the same message. All in all, when this one dies I'll be replacing it with another Prius without a doubt.
No sun visor extensions, high gloss black plastic on dash, ugly looking wheel covers, no sun roof, no turn signal indicators on mirrors, high cost of repairs for broken plastic underneath vehicle, poor acceleration to merge into traffic, and more. Drove a 2006 Prius for ten years and considered this vehicle a poor replacement. We went with a RAV4 XLE Hybrid and are very happy with it.
We bought a new 2015 Prius 2 at the end of last year. Two reasons: the dealer was giving $6,000 off sticker price (got it for $19,260 and 0% financing) and I thought the 2016 model was absolutely hideous looking. I wouldn't mind it for the newer technology and better MPG. I agree with all of the reasons that he doesn't like the Prius, yet we have a 2014 and 2015 for the reasons you love them. The other thing I don't like is the thickness of the door post to windshield, it can really block your view of traffic (I know they needed to get the airbag in there).
Did they add a disable Traction Control button for the 4th gen Prius? I know on the 3rd gen there is no button so the car computer kills power when your trying to get momentum in the snow. You have to go though a series of steps to put it in "maintenance mode"
The Volt is seem less in transition from Gas to electric. The nice thing about the Volt is the driver decides most of the time when the transition will occur by selecting gas only, battery only, or both.
About to get my brand new 2019 LE tomorrow! Thanks for the information, helped me with the purchase. I'm coming from a 2007 Kia Spectra, so I don't think the jerkiness of the engine turning on will bother me at all.
He is nit picky but isn't that what most of us want to hear in a review for a product. As an example if I were 6'2" or taller, I would want to know about the steering wheel issue.
You are absolutely correct, and it sure does. I adjusted that a little closer to me, which helps with the knee room, but forced me to slide the seat back. Not ideal for having little kids with limited leg room (car seats).
Love watching these types of videos. It's just funny trying to find something to hate about your car. It's the best hybrid until the Prime is released. 5 things I Hate about my 2013 Volt 5. Seats 4 4. EV can range from 24-50 miles 3. Touch infotainment 2. Premium gas only 38-42 mpg 1. long charge time in 110V
I just got a Prius C and had a similar issue with the steering wheel. Then I realized that the steering wheel can not only be moved up and down, but also telescope in and out. Once I telescoped it all the way out I was more comfortable. Maybe this can help you out?
I have a third generation Prius IV and I love it; my first hybrid. It's also my favorite design out of all the generations so far. I've got some of the same gripes as you but still love the car and hope to drive it for a very long time.
I just bought a prius, the only one I 'd agree with you might be the steering wheel, everything else I think it's fine. question :how do you warm the prius up in winter time? mine I turned it up the gas engine kicks in and after like a min if I don't touch the gas pedal it shouts off and stays on with electric, so how do you warm it up in cold weather without you being in the car?
I have been told the best way to warm a car is to let it idle for less than a minute, and just drive slowly to start, and don't get on the throttle until the engine is fully warmed. I'm not a fan of letting cars sit and idle unless it's less than 0 degree F.
With regards to your savings due to lower fuel consumption: If the purchase price of the car is $5k higher than another car (such as a Corolla), you DO NOT need to save $5k in fuel in order for the extra investment to pay off, because when you sell the car, the sale price will also be higher than that of a Corolla. If both cars depreciate 50% in price, you'll sell the Prius for $2,5k more than the Corolla, so that's the (minimum) saving you should need to have.
Totally agree with you. I test drove an Auris (Corolla) in the UK and was a bit disappointed at the slight hesitation in acceleration when the gas engine started up. Also I was offered no discount at all for a cash sale but was told that it was a `no brainer' to buy it monthly due to the lack of discount for a cash sale which I thought was just greedy.
With the 2016 Prius body being lower do you have any problems with where driveways meet the road in terms of scraping the bottom of the front of the car? I get that with my Hyundai on occasion.
Peter Mount just take steep or awkward angled driveways slow. You might catch the scuff plate but should be fine. I feel like the touring model with 17" wheels has better clearance. Hope that helps.
It will plow snow very capably with studless snow tires - we use Blizzaks and get around in Flagstaff (12% grade to get to our house) and have no problems wherever most vehicles can go. My F350SD 4X4 work truck definitely has more clearance, but it turns out there are few times the snow depth is too much for the Prius but within range of the Ford - it is usually under 6 inches or more than a foot. (When more than 30 inches dropped overnight I had to walk down to where the road was plowed - not many trucks were going to make the 12% grade with drifting to over 4 feet! Don't worry about the hybrid battery. It is way more reliable than any automatic transmission and is currently available, if the battery fails, for $995 installed. Nobody who is familiar with the Prius even thinks about the hybrid battery. That problem is all in your mind.
Is steering height also an issue even if you adjusted it or are you not able to adjust it in your Prius or perhaps you didn't realize it was adjustable ? I know in my Prius, I could adjust the height, tilt, and extend the steering if I wanted to.
your second complaint about the gas engine coming on is a little strange. Yeah, I get it that you notice it coming on, so that's a little distracting. But honestly, have you ever noticed that when you're at a stoplight, the engine and everything else is off, and it's dead silent? That's the trade-off. Sure you may hear it coming on, which I don't, but then you also got some silence bills which are awesome.
5. Winter driving: It is a smallish 2 wheel drive car and you simply have to realize that. Get good snow tires for it. I was actually surprised by how well it did, just don't push the bad weather. 4. Transition: I drive a 2008 Prius that has always had a bit of a thunk when transitioning modes. It's still going strong, that's just the way it works. They could probably make it better but it might add several thousand to the price. 3. Looks: Looks great to me! 2. Steering Wheel: I agree, the steering wheel even in the 2008 is not set up well. 1. Price: The price is worth it. The old 2008 doesn't get the mileage the newer ones get but boy are they thrifty! They are good quality and nice driving.
Hi. Liked your video again detailing your 5 minus points in contrast with the earlier one. Another honest review which is always appreciated. Americans are blessed with cheap petrol at the pumps. Remember you have some folowers beyond USA. E.g. In UK it's nearer $5.50 per UK gallon. ~£1.08/litre at the cheapest outlets, not everywhere. However, thanks again for your appraisal.
I think the 2017 looks great. My biggest complaint is the heat. I have to have it at at least 73 or higher to not be freezing. This is in the winter. I haven’t drivetrain in the summer, I’m a little worried it won’t get cold enough. Much better car than Honda civic, in my opinion.
I jumped from a 2010 Prius to a 2017 2 eco. Price was 27,965 and they immediately came off the price 5400 dollars. I plan to keep this car for 7-10 years so I purchased from the dealer, an extension of coverage for all electronics including hybrid battery. It was 400 dollars to 10 years with no mileage limits. I thought that it was a great deal. It does have a 100 dollar deductible per use but any display that might go out could cost over 1000 to replace. I won't even think about computer failure of which there are more than 20 on this car. It's ride is superior in every way to the 2010 including the fuel mileage. As far as the looks goes, the 75K Lexus has the same shape of front end as the Prius. We share one complaint. While the 2017 is not as low as the 2010, it still get the occasion scrape on extreme driveways. One thing that I would like to see improved is winter mileage versus the summer mileage. In the summer I average 72-75 mpg and in the winter I lose 10 mpg. Maybe there is a Prius driver out there who knows how to keep this from happening but I have seen most of the videos about the mileage subject that is on youtube and nothing helps. By the way I live in N.C. so we usually don't get the rough winters like you Wisconsin people. I'm sure that hard, scraped snow could be a problem for you there.
I've been looking at a 2017 Prius and when you said you'r 6'2" like me, I don't want that wheel rubbing my knees. I have long arms too and I have my company 2017 Corolla sat all the way back and down low and that's a comfortable car. I don't want a burn from the steering wheel when I'm turning a corner lol.
leakiwen1 hey this video is whack cause I'm 6'6" and no wheel rub on my knees. Furthermore, the leg room is rediculously large in comparison to any other car I've driven
leakiwen1 I'm 6'3 and I have zero issues. I love the hid lighting at night, also love the styling of it, the tail lights, the lines, everything. I can drive hours with no back pain. That couldn't be said about my 2015 Honda Civic Si. All in all this video seems a little nit picky.
I live in California, I have a Prius, and have only driven it in snow a few times. It's not the best, front end was plowing snow and getting into ruts caused car on ice grinding. Even with chains it got stuck on hills. There was damage, (popped fasteners, minor scratches). I wish there was a higher ground clearance version, even if it cost a few MGP on the highway.
The Chevy Bolt has an 88 HP generator WHY? Prius is 121 HP. I buy a car for the technology and mpg. But I wish it were an 1" higher. My second car cost $20,599.00 in Valencia CA. battery is warranted for eight years cost to replace it now is $2,500.00. Warranties are long Toyota clearly has confidence in its battery packs, and offers an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty in most states. In states that adopt California's emissions regulations, that rises to 10-years/150,000-miles. So in a worst-case scenario, any battery failure or significant performance drop-off will be covered by the warranty for up to a decade.
Well I have a Golf petrol (Gas) 1.4 TSI and on a long 604 mile rue cruising at 65 I got 59 miles to the gallon (UK) which I reported to a major motoring magazine. I got from my home in Kent England to Engelberg in Switzerland (via the Channel Tunnel) on one tank of petrol. Who needs an expensive to buy hybrid?
have 2012 VISIBILITY is horrible, too. And, being low has gotten the underside damaged seriously from dips in pavement and debris in the road which is unavoidable. I am surprised more people don't complain about this. Otherwise, spot on defect list.
I'm concerned about how low it sits. Does it scrape going over speed bumps or turning into some steeper driveways? With all the reasons you listed, honestly, do you regret buying this car or do you wish you'd bought a different hybrid? I'm seriously looking at this car, so if you can prevent me from making a mistake, please do.
I've scraped the front twice in 7 months. Both were on steep driveways that I could have angled better. I am very happy with the car overall, and this list wouldn't prevent me from buying it again.
jettlash1000 I appreciate you answering my concerns. I've contacted 2 dealerships looking for the perfect Prius 2 Eco. I don't like the beige seats nor the white accented steering wheel / cup holder. 2016 stock seems to be very limited.
Well buddy, I DID IT! I went today to buy a 2017 Prius 2 Eco, black with black interior. They were going to have to get it from another dealership. I drove a "pearl white" 2016. I was surprised the beige/black interior was not as hideous in person. I actually liked it. I was totally surprised how much like a regular vehicle the Prius felt while driving it. I expected the steering wheel and brakes to me a little different but to me, they weren't at all. At least not just going around the block 2-3 miles. But what felt STRANGE was, at the stop sign, the car went COMPLETELY silent. Turns out, they had a beautiful 2017 Prius 2, metallic grey with black interior and tinted windows. It looked awesome. Although it has the large white piece on the steering wheel, it actually looked okay in person and with the black interior. I would have preferred the black and I didn't despise it like I thought I would. The deciding factor of going with the Prius 2 instead of the Prius 2 Eco was, I couldn't stand the thought of not having a spare tire. I didn't like the thought of only have a "repair kit." I read a review some lady had written some where and she said that she had previously owned a Prius, but she had a flat tire on her current one and she had no idea there wasn't a spare tire. She said she had to wait 2 hours in AAA. She was livid! And seeing the incredible mileage I've seen others get with the Prius 2, I decided I'd rather have the spare tire. I didn't bring it home tonight because I wanted to wait and get it added to my insurance. I'm going to pick it up in the morning. So, let me say, "Thank you!", Jettlash1000 for the time and effort you put into your videos because it was *your* videos I kept referring back to. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
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You can recondition the batteries these days for about $1,500. I am sold on them because you get 420 plus miles per gallon tank...
1. Buy 4 snows on rims. I prefer Nokian Hakkapeliitta 2. Design rocks because the hatchback design makes this a truck. I do construction with it, go on vacation with 2 people, 2 bikes and camping gear all inside the car. 3.) I figured that my Prius would cost be $0 at around 200K mi, but that was when gas was $3 a gallon. Compared to a Corolla you are saving less, but these cars last forever, have almost no maintenance (brakes every 120K) along the way. If the battery goes out, I have my wife's '06 battery go out, I was shocked, but a local rebuilder replaced 12 bad cells and gave me a 6 month guarantee for about $450. I saved that on brake jobs alone. What other car goes 200K wiles on oil changes, 1 set of plugs, air filters and one brake job? NOTHING else on my car. Amazing. Best car in the world, I kick myself every time I glance at a Boxster or some other stupid toy. IMHO!
1/2-If gas doesn't ever come down, and it won't, low entry/ride and shift transitions will fall away in favor of frugality. 3-Also, Japan has made some of the most frightful body designs, AND some of the finest, ever seen on the road. But everything they build is solid. 4-The Japanese are, generally, a smaller people, but your point is well taken; the controls are out of the way. Why the cramped wheel? The 2016 is a noticeable improvement over the 2015, which was a nice car. 5-The battery will need to have several modules replaced, at $30 a pop, not taking out a second mortgage to replace it entirely.
Nice video, I have a Volt and a prius. While my prius is not the newest generation like yours I have to say I have many of the same problems. The steering wheel doesn't telescope or move enough up or down for a good driving position for myself so I bang my knees on the wheel or the cruise control arm. The transition from gas to electric and vis-versa is impossible to ignore...the car rattles a little bit. I took it to the dealer. Their response was to ask me if I had owned a prius before. No I had not. They explained that many first-time prius owners come in with the same complaint only to have a tech drive it and tell them it's operating normally...which by the way is what happened to me. It's a good car but it's helpful for people and toyota to be aware of these problems. I feel toyota really droped the ball engineering wise with this car compared to the Volt where the steering wheel tilts/telecopes and you can't feel any shift between gas/electric whatsoever.
So.... technology has nothing to do with how loud the engine is. Toyota made the sound dampening very limited on the Prius to keep the weight down. 90% of the times you hear the engine turn on, it is because it is in generator mode. Going up a hill or passing someone will be the 10% times the engine turns on, to give you extra HP. My wife owns a 2016. As for as looks, I think it looks the best out of all Prius in the past. I am 5'9" and my knees hits the wheel too! When it comes to price, we paid $27000 out the door. As far as the $4,000 for batteries, consider that would be the price you would pay for engine maintenance or a timing belt/water pump replacement. Since your engine is not running full time, you can easily go longer than a corolla before the need to replace that water pump.
I won't comment on looks - it's in the eyes of a beholder, and to me it looks just fine. Re low clearance. Yes, it's a legit concern so I installed a 30mm lift not only because there is sometimes a lot of snow where I live but also because I regularly drive it our land that has no paved roads. No, it doesn't make Prius a competitor to my 4Runner but I can get where I need. And finally, the "seamless engine-to-electric" complaint is not really valid, especially when compared to gm's volt. I haven't driven volt but 1. By definition, nothing gm can come close to Toyota in terms of reliability and longevity and 2. That transition doesn't bother me a bit. So even if there is no transition felt in volt, I will NEVER come close to anything gm. Don't ask me how I know. And finally, I can feel your pain concerning steering wheel being too low but I don't share it - I am 5'7". You might consider procrustean bed...
I'm surprised you didn't mention the excessive road noise the Prius has. I had a 2nd generation Prius for many years and the number one thing I hate is the ridiculous amount of road noise. But I loved the hybrid power train so I wanted best of both worlds so got a Lexus ES 300h.
You mention the Volt.....The volt operates on a different principle, the ICE only has one purpose on the volt and that is to charge the battery to run the electric motor in other words the ICE does not directly propel the car.
Been thinking about one and watched your video because I want to be objective. These are your opinion and valid to you, and possibly me too. Points to think about I hadn't considered. Thanks for the video.
Glad to see an owner confirm reason #1. You can't buy one of these new to save money. Best bet is probably a used 2007-2010 under $9000.. At that point they probably last forever and you don't have that 5K delta between a corolla and a prius.
I have an 06 Prius with the same battery . If I could I would have the plug in version as I too get a bit annoyed with the engine cutting in so much. Average 55mpg. Prices even for old cars are far too high. It must be the taxi drivers buying them up.
At 6'2 you're going to have those kinds of issues with tons of cars. I'm 6' and I find that that's getting close to the limits of comfort on most cars, except for very large cars.
I hate how low my Prius is. Sure I could see that it was low when I bought it and I didn't mind it until I started driving. If there is a truck behind you the car is the perfect height so that the headlights are coming directly through your back window into your rear view mirror and side mirrors, so you can't see. On top of that, this truck driver can't see you because your car is so low that it's basically out of his range of sight. I have been hit by a police car, backed into buy a truck, and flat run right off the road by a truck. And only one happened at night and all three stated that they could not even see my little car over their dashboards
John Puccetti There's about 20 years of history on the batteries and over 9 million hybrids sold by Toyota/Lexus. They don't break. Google 600,000 mile Prius. Hope that helps.
You hate the looks of 2016 Prius!! lol should have owned a 2nd gen first. 2016 Prius looks like a Lamborghini inside and outside compared to my 2009 Prius.
I would agree with your comment. I included this as a potential repair/replace cost , but would agree that it's possible for the battery to last the lifespan of the car.
20% of all Prii are sold in SoCal because of over $4.00 gas prices. With the price of gas in the Midwest, you could and should have a Jeep in the Winter. For the first time in Prius history, the Gen 4 styling will be changed this Summer. You must have long legs. You need to move the seat back farther. You will save the difference in gas,parts cost and maintenance. Especially if you live in SoCal. You may be better off with the Prius Prime which is priced the same as the loaded Prius 4. The battery in Calif is warranted for 10 years or 150k. After that, a new battery may be needed. On my Gen 2, I replace my own modules at a cost of $40 each.
I fully understand that MANY people in the "real world" are inclined to say: "Okay... it's $5000 more than a comparably equipped Corolla... or whatever similarly equipped / sized car I might be considering. How many miles do I need to drive... how many years do I have to own this car in order to recover that added expense?" BUT... I truly believe that there are many MORE people in the "real world" that are inclined to say: "For me, it's NOT about the added cost. It's NOT about 'getting that $5000 back. Rather, it's about how much LESS gasoline I burn... how much LESS gasoline I have to buy... and how many fewer TONS of various pollutants / emissions the car pumps into the atmosphere each and every year as compared to that similarly equipped / sized car that costs $5000 less than this one."
In Response: I know the criticism for the looks of this car, but this car is meant to save as much money as possible. The car has 0.24 Drag coefficient, super cars need drag, but they would envy the drag coefficient of this car. My prius battery is much smaller than the 2016, and I am getting 68 to 117mpg. The whole purpose of this car is to resist air as much as possible to maximize fuel efficiency. I am sure Toyota studied every panel as possible. I suspect the next generation will look better as the prius Prime. Hyundai came out with the new prius Killer, and it looks like a normal car, I guarantee it will not have the same drag coefficient.
OMG~! Jettlash, you'r my twin, separated at birth in regarding all your 5 hates. Most one thing I really hate about my "Priuses". 2008 still in my drive way, 2013 still in the garage but why hate? Did you guys (YouYubers) hear it as soon as this video starts? Road noise~! For the 2008 Prius with leather package, I've replaced the OEM noisy and uncomfortable, hard tires with Yokohama. Dropped the MPG 1-2 ish but much softer, smoother, and much quieter on the Turnpike. As for the 2013 Prius V (Versatile), package 5 with "Toyo-creamed flavored Pleather seats", I got rid of the OEM Toyo tires in less then 34 months due to all 4 tire exteriors showed significant fractured lines in CIRCUMFERENCE lines on all 4 tires exterior~!. Now for those who saw the frontal crash video for the 2013 Vee, you should check your tires often. I was disgusted why Toyota did not recall these noise, feel-the-road-bump, and early aging line Toyo OEM tires. So, I'm not about to wonder why Toyo tires suck and cracked so early on, somewhere in the Emergency Room. I've replace them with Pirelli low rolling resistance tires. Again, MPG dropped 2 ish but much softer, quiet, and comfortable. By the way, a simple out of the way comparison "only on the road noise" level, my parents used to have 2010 Hyundai Sonata, that low, low cost car was just quiet, quiet, quiet and comfortable on highway and streets, on acceleration, and under normal operation conditions, which I highly recommended other people to buy it for teens as a cheap first car. Currently shopping for other new hybrids in the market, and looking forward to kiss my Priuses good bye. After 2 Priuses, I'm not looking forward to the 2016 onward new version. Jettlash, you might just be right about...is it worth it? when I began to compare to other offers out there at USD$ 2.20/gallon?
Are you serious comparing the way the volt works over the Prius? The volts gas engine never drives the car, it's just there as a generator, so there is no transition. The volt is a serial hybrid, the Prius a Serial/Parallel. The there is your hybrid battery cost statement. The batteries in these things are going 15+ years typically, and have you seen the price of a CVT replacement on a new Corolla? $8,000Cdn as they don't repair them.
Funny you mention batteries. In my experience with buying very old used Prius with 300,000 miles and original batteries, I can say they don't fail. No matter how badly they were treated. In fact the more you drive and use them, the better. Sitting Prius is what kills batteries over time. Also I would gladly pay for a brand new battery over a $5000 Hyundai double clutch transmission that will fail in regular and hybrid Hyundai models. Prius is a great and strong design. I've Never had any major issues. Just noises that are easily fixed or normal operating noises that you just live with.
I think in addition to the gas savings, any hybrid saves you on brake jobs. Also, insurance on the Prius has been dirt cheap. In addition to your 5, there are other downsides to my 2011 Prius such as the "bar" in the back blocking rear visibility and the heater is weak. Still think it's easily one of the best cars ever made. All cars have compromises.
The heater is better on the 4th generation Prius. Regarding the split rear window, I choose to see it as having an extra window below the dividing bar that is not there on any car with a trunk. Prius wins again!
This is pretty fair(especially the steering wheel issue). I just hate to hear complaints about the car that is able to cut my gas bill from $65 per week to $40. ;)
I hate that ALL sedans made in the 2010's are so damn low to the ground. It is absolutely nerve wracking pulling up over curbs and I think it prematurely wore the torque arms on my 14 Dodge Challenger. The Prius is already going to get way better gas mileage than anything, I would be happy to sacrifie a mile or two per gallon just to have a couple extra inches of ground clearance.
the new priuses look a LOT better, imo. they looks sportier and more aggressive and not so...weird. it's not perfect but it looks much better than before.
Another thing I love about the PRius is how well they hold their value. Here in Australia a gen3 2010 Prius, a ten year old car, will set you back from $10k AUD up to $20k AUD depending on the mileage. $20k for a ten year old car is pretty awesome.
With oil prices 3x higher and salaries 3x times lower mpg game really gets to whole another level..
TypeYourName 564 You're absolutely right; this was the very reason I invested money in buying one 2nd hand 4 years ago - and guess what? It's literally paid for itself already, yet, it's as perfect as the day I bought it! Love my Prius Gen 2 - delightfully over engineered to be ultra reliable! :-)
This comment is still relatable 6 years later.
I owned a 2G Prius, now I have a 4G Prius. Transition between gas and hybrid is much smoother in the 4G Prius than the 2G Prius. I think the 4G Prius looks a lot cooler than the 2G. The cost differential between hybrids and regular cars has decreased significantly between the 2G and 4G. I consider Prius more Camry-like than Corolla-like. The interior and amenities have been upgraded significantly from 2G to 4G. I bought a Three with TSS-P. My 2G was 12 years old and replaced because it was totaled in an accident (still worth $7K), no battery issues or any other major maintenance needed. I didn't think I'd have a problem with snow (I bought when I lived in Chicago, now live in Dallas) It looks you may live in a more rural area, so your concern is valid. The 4G is a vast improvement on the 2G.
I was sure I'd end up agreeing with you on a few points, but in total fairness, I disagree on all 5 points.
I live in Canada, and I've never had any issues with cold weather or driving on snow. If the road's not plowed and you can't wait an hour for the snowplow to go by, buy a 4WD SUV or a pickup truck. I never had any starting issues, because the motor has no cranking starter, and the 0W20 oil that is standard year-round is perfect for any cold weather. In fact, I've heard that the Prius is the preferred car in Ulan Batar Mongolia, where -60C is fairly common.
The looks and comfort are all great in my opinion. I don't know what you mean about a noisy engine; Neither I nor my passengers can hear it stopping and starting while we drive. You have to look at the display to know if the gas engine is running.
As far as cost, you can't have it both ways. The Prius has two drive systems; gasoline and electric, along with a whole suite of technologies that make it the most economical car in it's class by far. I'm saving thousands of dollars per year compared to my previous car, a Toyota Corolla.
Prius isn't for everyone.. but they sure are fun to drive!
I was expecting issues someone would not know before buying the car. All of these complaints are clear when you are choosing your next car. To me, it is similar to people that buy a smart car and then complain they can't haul a big screen tv home in it. The Prius is what it is.
1. Prius handles great in the snow. Use snow tires as you should for any car in the Midwest to get the best traction. You can drive a rear wheel drive sports car in the snow with snow tires. Tires are just shoes for your car.
2. The engine is very seamless. Drive any luxury car with start/stop technology and you'll see how smooth Prius is.
3. Styling is great. It's designed for optimum fuel efficiency. If you don't like the styling Toyota & Lexus offers multiple hybrids. Prius is designed for optimum fuel-efficiency.
4. It's possible the steering wheel height has to do with airbag safety. If it's pointing too high up it might not be the best angle for safety.
5. If you hate the Prius so much why did you buy it? It's the best, most reliable hybrid in the industry and world. There's not a close second in the industry. The Volt you mentioned has almost half of the range and efficiency in a tank of gas. 37-42 MPG vs 54-58 MPG.
6. Prius has a lot more standard features than a Corolla and is a larger, more premium car. Pushbutton start and smart key alone is part of a $1500 package on a corolla, more efficient engine is in $800. Toyota only charges $700 additional for the hybrid system on the RAV4, the R&D was paid for years ago. Prius usually has rebates and incentives, plus the monthly fuel savings closes the gap as well.
Stfu
I feel like everyone has their panties in a bunch! He literally says he doesn’t even want to use the word hate! As someone who is thinking about getting a Prius, this video was very helpful in helping me come to a conclusion!
The Volt has a seamless transitIon from electric to gas because there is NO transition... the motor is a generator and not linked to the drivetrain at all. That's misinformation if you don't point that out to potential shoppers of either car
Tom W The volt is a lemon i just spent 1000 dollars for anew exhaust cooler on a 2016 volt with 80k.
You know that most of us have driven automatic transmissions in regular cars that shift 3 or 4 times. I am not aware of any shift in my 2017 Prius although I can hear the engine at slow speeds like in warm up. I am very happy after 1 year and 12,500 miles with my Prius 2 eco. Practically speaking, I am down to 75-80 cents gas per gallon verses most regular cars. For me it's a keeper!
Absolutely love the look and everything about it. Toyota fan big time.
Toyota owner here x 3. Small picture? I have irky issues w/ Toyota over little tweaky stuff. Big picture, as in major ownership issues? Total respect and gratitude.
Toyota makes great cars, but the Prius is their biggest flaw.
I like it too. Only thing is that the back end looks weird. Prius C makes it a full hatch so it elimnates even that complaint.
Batteries last a long time. 90-95% of over 9 million Toyota/Lexus hybrids sold are still on the road today with original batteries. Google 600,000 mile Prius/1 million km. If a battery fails you can recondition it or replace one from a salvage yard for about $500.
Also, The front brakes typically last about 150 to 200,000. Prius is consistently called the lowest cost vehicle in the industry to own.
I keep calling my local dealer for a used Prius. Final answer re why they haven't had any? "People buy them, then drive them forever".
This is true. The dealer bought my 2010 straight out and gave me over 6K for it knowing that some things in the interior no longer worked, The next week I saw it on his lot and it said reduced from 9500 to 7900 and it was gone in a week!
183,000 miles so far on original brake pads. Had them inspected recently out of concern and shop said over 50% left, no work needed. Amazing. (2008)
Regarding your #4, it's very hard for me to tell when the gasoline motor starts and stops in my 2016 Prius 4 Touring. In my previous 2005 Prius I could easily tell when the motor was on or off. They've made great improvements in this latest version.
@4:05 As someone tall, I have to agree it feels cramped. It's not even just the steering wheel though, it's that damn front console cutting into my knee room.
*However*, it's not true of the second gen Prius or the Prius c.
Of all the TH-cam video's I have seen this one needs to be removed.
Why...?
Not well thought out. Short on solid information.
Clearly stated personal opinions, together with data when relevant - from my point of view..
I own a Prius and do not agree with most of his comments. But, he has experience with the car and that is valuable to potential buyers. So far in the US we can still give our opinions on cars and it is his opinion!
prius batteries have historically been life of the car items. There are Gen1 prius still running with their original batteries. You don't need to budget for that.
Also - the Prius is a MUCH lager car than the corolla - and has much more tech.
In fairness, though, the first gen is something I don't recommend to anybody but enthusiasts. Too many quirks, especially in the 2001. My 2002 is about to roll over 192K miles on original brakes and no sign of weakness (equalizing) from the hybrid battery. The first gen hybrid battery is nowhere near as reliable as the second and later ones, so I may not get another 100K miles out of it - time will tell. Tonight it is off the road for the first time because of a failure - the inverter pump died. After 15 years I guess it is entitled to a week off. No other car my wife and I ever came close to the reliability of the various Prius we have had.
The battery seems to last much longer than the warranted life. I have over 167k on my 2010 Prius, and I still average over 52 mpg. Battery performance is the same as when it was new. I know people with over 200k miles on a Prius, and they have never had battery problems either. I have never heard of anyone having to replace the battery, although I'm sure some have, but it seems like it isnt much of a problem in real world driving.
That's awesome to hear, I love hearing that these batteries have some longevity!
I'm typing this from inside my 10 year old Prius with 300,000 miles on it. I'm having some battery problems with my auto battery. Hybrid battery is no problem. I actually have been having the auto battery die slowly for a while and yanked the hybrid battery out a few months back to check to see how it was, voltometer tested its fine.
Seriously, the batteries in these are great.
Sam Dragoo 300k!? 😱😱😱
tiabran 300k. Though, that was in November and I've done about 25k on it since, and I'm gonna yank the hybrid battery in a few days and use a multimeter just to double check I think. My fuel economy's dipped lately but they left something loose at the oil change place the other day, I went back and they sorted it so now I'm waiting to see if it does better and comes back up to snuff or if I need to yank that hybrid after all and test and replace the cells that've finally died. Also my O2 sensors I'm going to swap for some Bosch ones soon, I got a check engine that my catalyst is below threshold/catalytic converter, which... It's a hybrid. Saw on a forum it could be the sensors so I'm swapping those and throwing some new Bosch ones at it to see if I get the same message.
All in all, when this one dies I'll be replacing it with another Prius without a doubt.
Sam Dragoo If I may ask, what is it that you do that the car has so many miles? You work for Google Maps? Lol!
No sun visor extensions, high gloss black plastic on dash, ugly looking wheel covers, no sun roof, no turn signal indicators on mirrors, high cost of repairs for broken plastic underneath vehicle, poor acceleration to merge into traffic, and more. Drove a 2006 Prius for ten years and considered this vehicle a poor replacement. We went with a RAV4 XLE Hybrid and are very happy with it.
0:29 wonder how much it could be raised with different rims and winter tires ?
We bought a new 2015 Prius 2 at the end of last year. Two reasons: the dealer was giving $6,000 off sticker price (got it for $19,260 and 0% financing) and I thought the 2016 model was absolutely hideous looking. I wouldn't mind it for the newer technology and better MPG.
I agree with all of the reasons that he doesn't like the Prius, yet we have a 2014 and 2015 for the reasons you love them. The other thing I don't like is the thickness of the door post to windshield, it can really block your view of traffic (I know they needed to get the airbag in there).
it's not too bad in snow taxis use it all the time
The snow is ON the road...
***** hmmmm 4 months out of 12 have snow on the road here
That profile picture is just... yuck lol
ThatGearHead my profile picture isn't too bad i think your are refering to 9a2er's profile picture
Then get your Public Works Department to plow it.
Did they add a disable Traction Control button for the 4th gen Prius? I know on the 3rd gen there is no button so the car computer kills power when your trying to get momentum in the snow. You have to go though a series of steps to put it in "maintenance mode"
The Volt is seem less in transition from Gas to electric. The nice thing about the Volt is the driver decides most of the time when the transition will occur by selecting gas only, battery only, or both.
About to get my brand new 2019 LE tomorrow! Thanks for the information, helped me with the purchase. I'm coming from a 2007 Kia Spectra, so I don't think the jerkiness of the engine turning on will bother me at all.
Feel like this whole video is basically First World Problems...
Hahahaha, I would have to agree 100%.
I agree. He sounds like a nit picky ah.
He is nit picky but isn't that what most of us want to hear in a review for a product. As an example if I were 6'2" or taller, I would want to know about the steering wheel issue.
Youre right but... We live in a first world country and we have the right to critique things that we spwnd our hard earned money on
Does the steering wheel telescope? If it does, could telescoping it closer to your body get it higher up from your knees?
You are absolutely correct, and it sure does. I adjusted that a little closer to me, which helps with the knee room, but forced me to slide the seat back. Not ideal for having little kids with limited leg room (car seats).
Love watching these types of videos. It's just funny trying to find something to hate about your car. It's the best hybrid until the Prime is released.
5 things I Hate about my 2013 Volt
5. Seats 4
4. EV can range from 24-50 miles
3. Touch infotainment
2. Premium gas only 38-42 mpg
1. long charge time in 110V
I just got a Prius C and had a similar issue with the steering wheel. Then I realized that the steering wheel can not only be moved up and down, but also telescope in and out. Once I telescoped it all the way out I was more comfortable. Maybe this can help you out?
I'll check on that. I'm also trying to keep the seat as far forward as possible, since I almost always have back passengers. Thanks for the tip!
I have a third generation Prius IV and I love it; my first hybrid. It's also my favorite design out of all the generations so far. I've got some of the same gripes as you but still love the car and hope to drive it for a very long time.
the one thing I don't like about my Prius is that the sun visor does not extend out when the Sun is going down drives me nuts
Agreed, I'm about to fabricate my own little visor.
I just bought a prius, the only one I 'd agree with you might be the steering wheel, everything else I think it's fine. question :how do you warm the prius up in winter time? mine I turned it up the gas engine kicks in and after like a min if I don't touch the gas pedal it shouts off and stays on with electric, so how do you warm it up in cold weather without you being in the car?
I have been told the best way to warm a car is to let it idle for less than a minute, and just drive slowly to start, and don't get on the throttle until the engine is fully warmed. I'm not a fan of letting cars sit and idle unless it's less than 0 degree F.
With regards to your savings due to lower fuel consumption: If the purchase price of the car is $5k higher than another car (such as a Corolla), you DO NOT need to save $5k in fuel in order for the extra investment to pay off, because when you sell the car, the sale price will also be higher than that of a Corolla. If both cars depreciate 50% in price, you'll sell the Prius for $2,5k more than the Corolla, so that's the (minimum) saving you should need to have.
no continuous beep while on reverse? I had to program that right out of it the first week lol.
I could have done a list of 10 things, short sun visors is on that list too!
Rom R how did you do that???? I need to know!
www.dogberrypatch.com/archives/programming-a-prius-to-disable-the-backup-beep/
Totally agree with you. I test drove an Auris (Corolla) in the UK and was a bit disappointed at the slight hesitation in acceleration when the gas engine started up. Also I was offered no discount at all for a cash sale but was told that it was a `no brainer' to buy it monthly due to the lack of discount for a cash sale which I thought was just greedy.
With the 2016 Prius body being lower do you have any problems with where driveways meet the road in terms of scraping the bottom of the front of the car? I get that with my Hyundai on occasion.
Peter Mount just take steep or awkward angled driveways slow. You might catch the scuff plate but should be fine. I feel like the touring model with 17" wheels has better clearance. Hope that helps.
Doug Vanni Thanks for that.
It will plow snow very capably with studless snow tires - we use Blizzaks and get around in Flagstaff (12% grade to get to our house) and have no problems wherever most vehicles can go. My F350SD 4X4 work truck definitely has more clearance, but it turns out there are few times the snow depth is too much for the Prius but within range of the Ford - it is usually under 6 inches or more than a foot. (When more than 30 inches dropped overnight I had to walk down to where the road was plowed - not many trucks were going to make the 12% grade with drifting to over 4 feet!
Don't worry about the hybrid battery. It is way more reliable than any automatic transmission and is currently available, if the battery fails, for $995 installed. Nobody who is familiar with the Prius even thinks about the hybrid battery. That problem is all in your mind.
Is steering height also an issue even if you adjusted it or are you not able to adjust it in your Prius or perhaps you didn't realize it was adjustable ? I know in my Prius, I could adjust the height, tilt, and extend the steering if I wanted to.
It wasn’t as much of an issue when I brought the steering wheel closer to my body.
your second complaint about the gas engine coming on is a little strange. Yeah, I get it that you notice it coming on, so that's a little distracting. But honestly, have you ever noticed that when you're at a stoplight, the engine and everything else is off, and it's dead silent? That's the trade-off. Sure you may hear it coming on, which I don't, but then you also got some silence bills which are awesome.
Yeah, I love stoplights now. I hardly ever use the radio now.
5. Winter driving: It is a smallish 2 wheel drive car and you simply have to realize that. Get good snow tires for it. I was actually surprised by how well it did, just don't push the bad weather. 4. Transition: I drive a 2008 Prius that has always had a bit of a thunk when transitioning modes. It's still going strong, that's just the way it works. They could probably make it better but it might add several thousand to the price. 3. Looks: Looks great to me! 2. Steering Wheel: I agree, the steering wheel even in the 2008 is not set up well. 1. Price: The price is worth it. The old 2008 doesn't get the mileage the newer ones get but boy are they thrifty! They are good quality and nice driving.
I think all generations look cool. Also, because you know what they can do in terms of milage and hybrid tech that also adds to the cool factor.
I agree 100%. Thanks for the comment.
Hi. Liked your video again detailing your 5 minus points in contrast with the earlier one. Another honest review which is always appreciated. Americans are blessed with cheap petrol at the pumps. Remember you have some folowers beyond USA. E.g. In UK it's nearer $5.50 per UK gallon. ~£1.08/litre at the cheapest outlets, not everywhere.
However, thanks again for your appraisal.
Thank you for the comment!
You complain too much! Best car I ever had, just go walk dude😎👍🏻
I think the 2017 looks great. My biggest complaint is the heat. I have to have it at at least 73 or higher to not be freezing. This is in the winter. I haven’t drivetrain in the summer, I’m a little worried it won’t get cold enough. Much better car than Honda civic, in my opinion.
how many miles do you guys get from a full tank? mpg? ive heard a lot of very different stories just want to hear from you giuys
I've done 50 000 km in my 2017 and I've put in almost exactly 2000 liters. I'll let you convert to American units.
The steering wheel position is not due to gauges but AIRBAG Airbag has to be positioned properly for the tiny japanese driver.
I jumped from a 2010 Prius to a 2017 2 eco. Price was 27,965 and they immediately came off the price 5400 dollars. I plan to keep this car for 7-10 years so I purchased from the dealer, an extension of coverage for all electronics including hybrid battery. It was 400 dollars to 10 years with no mileage limits. I thought that it was a great deal. It does have a 100 dollar deductible per use but any display that might go out could cost over 1000 to replace. I won't even think about computer failure of which there are more than 20 on this car. It's ride is superior in every way to the 2010 including the fuel mileage. As far as the looks goes, the 75K Lexus has the same shape of front end as the Prius. We share one complaint. While the 2017 is not as low as the 2010, it still get the occasion scrape on extreme driveways. One thing that I would like to see improved is winter mileage versus the summer mileage. In the summer I average 72-75 mpg and in the winter I lose 10 mpg. Maybe there is a Prius driver out there who knows how to keep this from happening but I have seen most of the videos about the mileage subject that is on youtube and nothing helps. By the way I live in N.C. so we usually don't get the rough winters like you Wisconsin people. I'm sure that hard, scraped snow could be a problem for you there.
I've been looking at a 2017 Prius and when you said you'r 6'2" like me, I don't want that wheel rubbing my knees. I have long arms too and I have my company 2017 Corolla sat all the way back and down low and that's a comfortable car. I don't want a burn from the steering wheel when I'm turning a corner lol.
leakiwen1 hey this video is whack cause I'm 6'6" and no wheel rub on my knees. Furthermore, the leg room is rediculously large in comparison to any other car I've driven
leakiwen1 I'm 6'3 and I have zero issues. I love the hid lighting at night, also love the styling of it, the tail lights, the lines, everything. I can drive hours with no back pain. That couldn't be said about my 2015 Honda Civic Si. All in all this video seems a little nit picky.
The steering wheel is telescopic , you can adjust to your height and comfort
I live in California, I have a Prius, and have only driven it in snow a few times. It's not the best, front end was plowing snow and getting into ruts caused car on ice grinding. Even with chains it got stuck on hills. There was damage, (popped fasteners, minor scratches). I wish there was a higher ground clearance version, even if it cost a few MGP on the highway.
The Chevy Bolt has an 88 HP generator WHY? Prius is 121 HP. I buy a car for the technology and mpg. But I wish it were an 1" higher. My second car cost $20,599.00 in Valencia CA. battery is warranted for eight years cost to replace it now is $2,500.00.
Warranties are long
Toyota clearly has confidence in its battery packs, and offers an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty in most states. In states that adopt California's emissions regulations, that rises to 10-years/150,000-miles.
So in a worst-case scenario, any battery failure or significant performance drop-off will be covered by the warranty for up to a decade.
My car is at 10yrs/ 300k mi and the hybrid battery is still going strong. I need a new auto battery actually.
Sam Dragoo THANKS for that! That gives me great ease in buying a hybrid!
I'd buy another Prius before I bought anything else, including a Tesla. No question about it.
The new 2017 Pug-in Prime Prius seems like a great car $27,900.00 with about $5,000.00 rebates.
Not sure what you mean about the Bolt, it is an EV with a 200 hp electric motor, it has no generator.
Seems like you should look into the RAV4 Hybrid
The steering wheel is telescopic And adjustable, you can adjust to your height and comfort
I don't know why this video got so many dislikes, I agree with you in all five.
What do you think a cool car should look like in your opinion?
And I agree with you about the steering wheel. I am 6' 3" and I struggle in the seat.
I personally like the styling of a Tesla. Aerodynamic, but still a work of art.
Did you know you can adjust the steering wheel
Well I have a Golf petrol (Gas) 1.4 TSI and on a long 604 mile rue cruising at 65 I got 59 miles to the gallon (UK) which I reported to a major motoring magazine. I got from my home in Kent England to Engelberg in Switzerland (via the Channel Tunnel) on one tank of petrol. Who needs an expensive to buy hybrid?
have 2012 VISIBILITY is horrible, too. And, being low has gotten the underside damaged seriously from dips in pavement and debris in the road which is unavoidable. I am surprised more people don't complain about this. Otherwise, spot on defect list.
Agreed! I've been plowing roads in the winter with this.
I'm concerned about how low it sits. Does it scrape going over speed bumps or turning into some steeper driveways? With all the reasons you listed, honestly, do you regret buying this car or do you wish you'd bought a different hybrid? I'm seriously looking at this car, so if you can prevent me from making a mistake, please do.
I've scraped the front twice in 7 months. Both were on steep driveways that I could have angled better. I am very happy with the car overall, and this list wouldn't prevent me from buying it again.
jettlash1000 I appreciate you answering my concerns. I've contacted 2 dealerships looking for the perfect Prius 2 Eco. I don't like the beige seats nor the white accented steering wheel / cup holder. 2016 stock seems to be very limited.
You're welcome. I'm a pretty techie guy, and I feel pretty satisfied with the standard features for the price.
That sounds very reasonable based on what I've been seeing.
Well buddy, I DID IT! I went today to buy a 2017 Prius 2 Eco, black with black interior. They were going to have to get it from another dealership. I drove a "pearl white" 2016. I was surprised the beige/black interior was not as hideous in person. I actually liked it. I was totally surprised how much like a regular vehicle the Prius felt while driving it. I expected the steering wheel and brakes to me a little different but to me, they weren't at all. At least not just going around the block 2-3 miles. But what felt STRANGE was, at the stop sign, the car went COMPLETELY silent.
Turns out, they had a beautiful 2017 Prius 2, metallic grey with black interior and tinted windows. It looked awesome. Although it has the large white piece on the steering wheel, it actually looked okay in person and with the black interior. I would have preferred the black and I didn't despise it like I thought I would.
The deciding factor of going with the Prius 2 instead of the Prius 2 Eco was, I couldn't stand the thought of not having a spare tire. I didn't like the thought of only have a "repair kit." I read a review some lady had written some where and she said that she had previously owned a Prius, but she had a flat tire on her current one and she had no idea there wasn't a spare tire. She said she had to wait 2 hours in AAA. She was livid!
And seeing the incredible mileage I've seen others get with the Prius 2, I decided I'd rather have the spare tire.
I didn't bring it home tonight because I wanted to wait and get it added to my insurance. I'm going to pick it up in the morning. So, let me say, "Thank you!", Jettlash1000 for the time and effort you put into your videos because it was *your* videos I kept referring back to. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
You can recondition the batteries these days for about $1,500. I am sold on them because you get 420 plus miles per gallon tank...
1. Buy 4 snows on rims. I prefer Nokian Hakkapeliitta
2. Design rocks because the hatchback design makes this a truck. I do construction with it, go on vacation with 2 people, 2 bikes and camping gear all inside the car.
3.) I figured that my Prius would cost be $0 at around 200K mi, but that was when gas was $3 a gallon. Compared to a Corolla you are saving less, but these cars last forever, have almost no maintenance (brakes every 120K) along the way. If the battery goes out, I have my wife's '06 battery go out, I was shocked, but a local rebuilder replaced 12 bad cells and gave me a 6 month guarantee for about $450. I saved that on brake jobs alone. What other car goes 200K wiles on oil changes, 1 set of plugs, air filters and one brake job? NOTHING else on my car. Amazing. Best car in the world, I kick myself every time I glance at a Boxster or some other stupid toy.
IMHO!
1/2-If gas doesn't ever come down, and it won't, low entry/ride and shift transitions will fall away in favor of frugality. 3-Also, Japan has made some of the most frightful body designs, AND some of the finest, ever seen on the road. But everything they build is solid. 4-The Japanese are, generally, a smaller people, but your point is well taken; the controls are out of the way. Why the cramped wheel? The 2016 is a noticeable improvement over the 2015, which was a nice car. 5-The battery will need to have several modules replaced, at $30 a pop, not taking out a second mortgage to replace it entirely.
Nice video, I have a Volt and a prius. While my prius is not the newest generation like yours I have to say I have many of the same problems. The steering wheel doesn't telescope or move enough up or down for a good driving position for myself so I bang my knees on the wheel or the cruise control arm. The transition from gas to electric and vis-versa is impossible to ignore...the car rattles a little bit. I took it to the dealer. Their response was to ask me if I had owned a prius before. No I had not. They explained that many first-time prius owners come in with the same complaint only to have a tech drive it and tell them it's operating normally...which by the way is what happened to me. It's a good car but it's helpful for people and toyota to be aware of these problems. I feel toyota really droped the ball engineering wise with this car compared to the Volt where the steering wheel tilts/telecopes and you can't feel any shift between gas/electric whatsoever.
So.... technology has nothing to do with how loud the engine is. Toyota made the sound dampening very limited on the Prius to keep the weight down. 90% of the times you hear the engine turn on, it is because it is in generator mode. Going up a hill or passing someone will be the 10% times the engine turns on, to give you extra HP. My wife owns a 2016. As for as looks, I think it looks the best out of all Prius in the past. I am 5'9" and my knees hits the wheel too! When it comes to price, we paid $27000 out the door. As far as the $4,000 for batteries, consider that would be the price you would pay for engine maintenance or a timing belt/water pump replacement. Since your engine is not running full time, you can easily go longer than a corolla before the need to replace that water pump.
Your right on...well done
Thank you!
CyberGypsy
I won't comment on looks - it's in the eyes of a beholder, and to me it looks just fine.
Re low clearance. Yes, it's a legit concern so I installed a 30mm lift not only because there is sometimes a lot of snow where I live but also because I regularly drive it our land that has no paved roads. No, it doesn't make Prius a competitor to my 4Runner but I can get where I need.
And finally, the "seamless engine-to-electric" complaint is not really valid, especially when compared to gm's volt. I haven't driven volt but 1. By definition, nothing gm can come close to Toyota in terms of reliability and longevity and 2. That transition doesn't bother me a bit. So even if there is no transition felt in volt, I will NEVER come close to anything gm. Don't ask me how I know.
And finally, I can feel your pain concerning steering wheel being too low but I don't share it - I am 5'7". You might consider procrustean bed...
That'd be my ideal combo. A Prius AND a 4Runner!
I'm surprised you didn't mention the excessive road noise the Prius has. I had a 2nd generation Prius for many years and the number one thing I hate is the ridiculous amount of road noise. But I loved the hybrid power train so I wanted best of both worlds so got a Lexus ES 300h.
You mention the Volt.....The volt operates on a different principle, the ICE only has one purpose on the volt and that is to charge the battery to run the electric motor in other words the ICE does not directly propel the car.
You are correct!
The steering wheel is at the height due to crash requirement.
I like how this newest Preus looks
Recommend you get a RAV4 hybrid...41mpg and good ground clearance.
I wouldn't mind that at all!
Been thinking about one and watched your video because I want to be objective. These are your opinion and valid to you, and possibly me too. Points to think about I hadn't considered. Thanks for the video.
Glad it was helpful!
Glad to see an owner confirm reason #1. You can't buy one of these new to save money. Best bet is probably a used 2007-2010 under $9000.. At that point they probably last forever and you don't have that 5K delta between a corolla and a prius.
idk why so much dislikes i have this car and ur right
It does not matter of the looks on the car it still looks nice
I have an 06 Prius with the same battery . If I could I would have the plug in version as I too get a bit annoyed with the engine cutting in so much. Average 55mpg. Prices even for old cars are far too high. It must be the taxi drivers buying them up.
Thanks. I disagree with all of your reasons, so I like my Prius even more now.
lol
This week we had 4 ft of snow and -27 with wid chill of -38 had no problem with my 2020 prime good luke with yours
That's awesome! Have a great day!
Thank you for sharing this. I want to get the prime but was worried about snow if I go skiing!
At 6'2 you're going to have those kinds of issues with tons of cars. I'm 6' and I find that that's getting close to the limits of comfort on most cars, except for very large cars.
It helps to adjust the seat all the way down, and pull the tilt/telescoping steering towards your body.
HOW DID YOU MAKE IT ONLY 5???? I did a list and I only got it down to 9899889989988999899
I hate how low my Prius is. Sure I could see that it was low when I bought it and I didn't mind it until I started driving. If there is a truck behind you the car is the perfect height so that the headlights are coming directly through your back window into your rear view mirror and side mirrors, so you can't see. On top of that, this truck driver can't see you because your car is so low that it's basically out of his range of sight. I have been hit by a police car, backed into buy a truck, and flat run right off the road by a truck. And only one happened at night and all three stated that they could not even see my little car over their dashboards
I hear you!
Whats up no solid info on batteries? Help help some fact checking here.
John Puccetti There's about 20 years of history on the batteries and over 9 million hybrids sold by Toyota/Lexus. They don't break. Google 600,000 mile Prius. Hope that helps.
You hate the looks of 2016 Prius!! lol should have owned a 2nd gen first. 2016 Prius looks like a Lamborghini inside and outside compared to my 2009 Prius.
Yes I totally agree
3:39 toyota must have decided to go the “cool car” route with the 2023 redesign
Yeah, that's quite a change with the new model.
@@jettlash1000I think the 2023 looks more similar to my 2002 first generation Prius than any other generation.
The length of the battery warranty in no way determines it's lifespan.
I would agree with your comment. I included this as a potential repair/replace cost , but would agree that it's possible for the battery to last the lifespan of the car.
A company called "Prius Offroad" makes a $350 1.5" lift kit that you might consider.
Use spacers
20% of all Prii are sold in SoCal because of over $4.00 gas prices. With the price of gas in the Midwest, you could and should have a Jeep in the Winter. For the first time in Prius history, the Gen 4 styling will be changed this Summer. You must have long legs. You need to move the seat back farther. You will save the difference in gas,parts cost and maintenance. Especially if you live in SoCal. You may be better off with the Prius Prime which is priced the same as the loaded Prius 4. The battery in Calif is warranted for 10 years or 150k. After that, a new battery may be needed. On my Gen 2, I replace my own modules at a cost of $40 each.
I fully understand that MANY people in the "real world" are inclined to say: "Okay... it's $5000 more than a comparably equipped Corolla... or whatever similarly equipped / sized car I might be considering. How many miles do I need to drive... how many years do I have to own this car in order to recover that added expense?" BUT... I truly believe that there are many MORE people in the "real world" that are inclined to say: "For me, it's NOT about the added cost. It's NOT about 'getting that $5000 back. Rather, it's about how much LESS gasoline I burn... how much LESS gasoline I have to buy... and how many fewer TONS of various pollutants / emissions the car pumps into the atmosphere each and every year as compared to that similarly equipped / sized car that costs $5000 less than this one."
In Response: I know the criticism for the looks of this car, but this car is meant to save as much money as possible. The car has 0.24 Drag coefficient, super cars need drag, but they would envy the drag coefficient of this car. My prius battery is much smaller than the 2016, and I am getting 68 to 117mpg. The whole purpose of this car is to resist air as much as possible to maximize fuel efficiency. I am sure Toyota studied every panel as possible. I suspect the next generation will look better as the prius Prime. Hyundai came out with the new prius Killer, and it looks like a normal car, I guarantee it will not have the same drag coefficient.
Most people hate the way it looks, like a tree-hugger dork-mobile. But the newer ones look better.
I have a 2002, basically it looks like a Corolla
This guy needs to buy a 1989 Geo Metro XFI, it gets 53 MPG and a good used one only costs $2,000. He won't complain about price on that one.
OMG~! Jettlash, you'r my twin, separated at birth in regarding all your 5 hates. Most one thing I really hate about my "Priuses". 2008 still in my drive way, 2013 still in the garage but why hate? Did you guys (YouYubers) hear it as soon as this video starts? Road noise~! For the 2008 Prius with leather package, I've replaced the OEM noisy and uncomfortable, hard tires with Yokohama. Dropped the MPG 1-2 ish but much softer, smoother, and much quieter on the Turnpike. As for the 2013 Prius V (Versatile), package 5 with "Toyo-creamed flavored Pleather seats", I got rid of the OEM Toyo tires in less then 34 months due to all 4 tire exteriors showed significant fractured lines in CIRCUMFERENCE lines on all 4 tires exterior~!. Now for those who saw the frontal crash video for the 2013 Vee, you should check your tires often. I was disgusted why Toyota did not recall these noise, feel-the-road-bump, and early aging line Toyo OEM tires. So, I'm not about to wonder why Toyo tires suck and cracked so early on, somewhere in the Emergency Room. I've replace them with Pirelli low rolling resistance tires. Again, MPG dropped 2 ish but much softer, quiet, and comfortable. By the way, a simple out of the way comparison "only on the road noise" level, my parents used to have 2010 Hyundai Sonata, that low, low cost car was just quiet, quiet, quiet and comfortable on highway and streets, on acceleration, and under normal operation conditions, which I highly recommended other people to buy it for teens as a cheap first car. Currently shopping for other new hybrids in the market, and looking forward to kiss my Priuses good bye.
After 2 Priuses, I'm not looking forward to the 2016 onward new version. Jettlash, you might just be right about...is it worth it? when I began to compare to other offers out there at USD$ 2.20/gallon?
Are you serious comparing the way the volt works over the Prius? The volts gas engine never drives the car, it's just there as a generator, so there is no transition. The volt is a serial hybrid, the Prius a Serial/Parallel. The there is your hybrid battery cost statement. The batteries in these things are going 15+ years typically, and have you seen the price of a CVT replacement on a new Corolla? $8,000Cdn as they don't repair them.
Why the steering wheel is so low?
Because it’s a Japanese car, design for Japanese lady, usually they are about 5”2 LOL
Funny you mention batteries. In my experience with buying very old used Prius with 300,000 miles and original batteries, I can say they don't fail. No matter how badly they were treated. In fact the more you drive and use them, the better. Sitting Prius is what kills batteries over time. Also I would gladly pay for a brand new battery over a $5000 Hyundai double clutch transmission that will fail in regular and hybrid Hyundai models. Prius is a great and strong design. I've Never had any major issues. Just noises that are easily fixed or normal operating noises that you just live with.
I think in addition to the gas savings, any hybrid saves you on brake jobs. Also, insurance on the Prius has been dirt cheap. In addition to your 5, there are other downsides to my 2011 Prius such as the "bar" in the back blocking rear visibility and the heater is weak. Still think it's easily one of the best cars ever made. All cars have compromises.
The heater is better on the 4th generation Prius. Regarding the split rear window, I choose to see it as having an extra window below the dividing bar that is not there on any car with a trunk. Prius wins again!
There are so many good looking hybrid cars! Why did you buy a Prius if you don't like how it looks?
Reliability, price, and gas mileage are high on the list. The looks aren't as important.
This is pretty fair(especially the steering wheel issue). I just hate to hear complaints about the car that is able to cut my gas bill from $65 per week to $40. ;)
I think the Prius is now considered a midsize car, so shouldn't you be comparing price to a Camry rather than a Corolla?
I hate that ALL sedans made in the 2010's are so damn low to the ground. It is absolutely nerve wracking pulling up over curbs and I think it prematurely wore the torque arms on my 14 Dodge Challenger. The Prius is already going to get way better gas mileage than anything, I would be happy to sacrifie a mile or two per gallon just to have a couple extra inches of ground clearance.
the new priuses look a LOT better, imo. they looks sportier and more aggressive and not so...weird. it's not perfect but it looks much better than before.
"Why can't they make it look decent?" Well my friend, I got good news for you from the future!!