Prius Gen4

[AmitG]

So far I like it. The exterior looks quite daring, it's certainly a challenging design, and for me part of the appeal is the fact that unlike so many other modern cars, it makes a statement rather than playing it safe. (Compare this design to some of the stuff that VW Group are showing.) The interior looks a little messy, and I'm not sure about the white plastic bits near the bottom, but again it's an interesting design and it makes ergonomic sense. I could see myself in one of these.

The boot looks quite deep compared to the Gen3. This, plus the shape of the centre console, makes me suspect that they have put the battery into the centre console (like the Prius+) and thus made the boot bigger.

It has independent rear suspension (no more torsion beam) so hopefully it will drive better than the current one.

Apparently full technical details will be announced at the Frankfurt show. Hopefully the white plastic interior trim will be optional

[Beefmeister]

Full details:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motor-shows-fran...

I'm staggered that people are liking the styling. Staggered.

[AnotherClarkey]

Beefmeister said:

Full details:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motor-shows-fran...

I'm staggered that people are liking the styling. Staggered.

Not exactly 'full details' is it? Just Autocar re-hashing what has been available through other sources for weeks.

[Beefmeister]

Terribly sorry. I'll go and whip myself with a branch.

[AmitG]

It's on the Toyota UK website now. Orders being taken, delivery in Feb.

No UK price or spec details yet but apparently it will start at around 22K and the trim levels will align with the rest of the Toyota range so we will get Business Edition, Excel etc.

You seem to get a lot of stuff as standard. Apparently even the base model comes with LED headlights. And there will be space for a spare wheel, since the battery pack has been moved.

There are lots of colours. I really like the aquamarine blue but there is also a Kermit the Frog green (I am sure it will be called something different in the brochure...) which has special heat reflective properties.

The most astonishing thing is that they have managed to increase fuel economy by 18% compared to the Gen3. I was expecting 10% best case. An 18% improvement on what was already one of the most economical cars in the real world is amazing, IMHO.

I must say, I really like the look of it. I think they will do well with this. What do others think? If you're an existing owner, are you looking at this or are you looking more at plug-in EVs?

[emicen]

Gen 1 just looked like a JDM saloon we weren't familiar with.

Gen 2 & 3 blended in with the furnture. Nothing pretty but nothing offensive, just another car on the road.

Gen 4: dear god that is one awkwardly proportioned, ugly as sin creation.

[gangzoom]

AmitG said:

It's on the Toyota UK website now. Orders being taken, delivery in Feb.

No UK price or spec details yet but apparently it will start at around 22K and the trim levels will align with the rest of the Toyota range so we will get Business Edition, Excel etc.

You seem to get a lot of stuff as standard. Apparently even the base model comes with LED headlights. And there will be space for a spare wheel, since the battery pack has been moved.

There are lots of colours. I really like the aquamarine blue but there is also a Kermit the Frog green (I am sure it will be called something different in the brochure...) which has special heat reflective properties.

The most astonishing thing is that they have managed to increase fuel economy by 18% compared to the Gen3. I was expecting 10% best case. An 18% improvement on what was already one of the most economical cars in the real world is amazing, IMHO.

I must say, I really like the look of it. I think they will do well with this. What do others think? If you're an existing owner, are you looking at this or are you looking more at plug-in EVs?

18% improvement is good, but on a Plug in hybrid or battery EVs the equivalent cost of fuel very electricity is 200-300% bette than even a ture 70mpg car.

It's cost me £57 of electricity to do 4500 miles in my Leaf. That's the equivalent of a petrol car doing 350mpg with fuel costs at £1.05/l. Granted that's with 'free' public charging making up some of my recharging. But even if I was charge the car 100% of the time at home, the cost would be £150, and the equivalent of 150mpg.

That's also not taking into account the fact at some point I could switch my electricity to cheap over night charging, which is will half the electricity costs, and make even a 70mpg petrol car look every expensive to run based on fuel costs. Why make
do with a 70mpg car when a 'proper'' EV will do an equivalent of 300mpg based on fuel costs .

Edited by gangzoom on Friday 13th November 09:48

[liner33]

Thats true but a Leaf or other EV doesn't suit everyone's requirements and if not then a hybrid is a viable option and not of reasons they are a much better choice than a diesel

[Frimley111R]

AnotherClarkey said:

Beefmeister said:

Full details:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motor-shows-fran...

I'm staggered that people are liking the styling. Staggered.

Not exactly 'full details' is it? Just Autocar re-hashing what has been available through other sources for weeks.

Not they have ever done that before

Styling won't matter to the thousands of taxi drivers who mostly buy them.

[AmitG]

Frimley111R said:

Styling won't matter to the thousands of taxi drivers who mostly buy them.

The new one has a much bigger boot, plus the ability to take a spare wheel, plus 18% better fuel economy. I think that taxi drivers are going to love it

[liner33]

Its only the Gen3 plug in that loses the spare wheel though. I do wonder if they will be quite as popular as Taxis now the congestion charge limit changed, and also with the road tax now levied it might hurt future sales a bit

[AmitG]

liner33 said:

I do wonder if they will be quite as popular as Taxis now the congestion charge limit changed

It comes in at 70g/km of CO2, which I think means it will be congestion charge exempt.

It gets 94mpg according to Autocar, in their completely predictable review.

I will go and take a look once they are available in the UK. Website says February, dealer reckons they will have demonstrators in before then...

[liner33]

Didnt think the co2 figures have been released, currently its only the plug in that's exempt but most in use are the non plug in version and what with the government allowance i wonder if they will be worthwhile

For us when we bought ours back in March the plug in was £3k extra after the government grant, so potentially next year that could become £8k extra, i'm not sure it will be a popular option on an already expensive car for what it is

[AmitG]

The CO2 and mpg figures come from the Autocar review.

[liner33]

AmitG said:

The CO2 and mpg figures come from the Autocar review.

this bit ?

Toyota hasn’t issued any definitive CO2 emissions or fuel economy figures - it says EU NEDC numbers will be released at a later date - but it has revealed that this Prius will bring efficiency gains of 18% over its predecessor. That's the biggest jump between generations in Prius history, and could give the car CO2 emissions and combined fuel economy of 73g/km and 85mpg.

[Andy Allenton]

liner33 said:

AmitG said:

The CO2 and mpg figures come from the Autocar review.

this bit ?

Toyota hasn’t issued any definitive CO2 emissions or fuel economy figures - it says EU NEDC numbers will be released at a later date - but it has revealed that this Prius will bring efficiency gains of 18% over its predecessor. That's the biggest jump between generations in Prius history, and could give the car CO2 emissions and combined fuel economy of 73g/km and 85mpg.

I'm sure it'll be a worthy successor, but I wouldn't take any official figures too seriously - my own car's official average is 67.9 mpg. Driving like a granny gives me an average of 57. It seems like the higher the official figure, the bigger disparity with the real world. I look forward to comparing the official figures with Honest John's 'True mpg'.
Slightly off-topic, but in light of the VAG scandal I hope the EU can sort out some new official testing that's realistic and let manufacturers face prosecution if they can't be achieved.

Edited by Andy Allenton on Friday 20th November 09:17

[AmitG]

liner33 said:

AmitG said:

The CO2 and mpg figures come from the Autocar review.

this bit ?

Toyota hasn’t issued any definitive CO2 emissions or fuel economy figures - it says EU NEDC numbers will be released at a later date - but it has revealed that this Prius will bring efficiency gains of 18% over its predecessor. That's the biggest jump between generations in Prius history, and could give the car CO2 emissions and combined fuel economy of 73g/km and 85mpg.

I think the Autocar review gave the actual figures. In any case, they're on the Toyota UK blog now:

http://blog.toyota.co.uk/2016-toyota-prius-mpg

In particular this bit:

Toyota blog said:

As a result, CO2 emissions for the new model are from 70g/km, with average fuel consumption from 94.2mpg. This compares to the 89g/km and 72.4mpg achieved by its predecessor.

I am pretty sure this is for the non-plug in version, since the plug-in version has not been announced, and I would expect the mpg for that to be comically high.

[AnotherClarkey]

I'm a big fan of my Gen 2, which has given sterling service and 56mpg over 100,000 miles of motorway commutes, trips to Italy and general trundling about. I am sure that the Gen 4 will be excellent too but I find myself wavering when it comes to replacing the old one - it just seems too expensive.

I will see what the small Tesla is like but I suspect that is quite a few years off once you factor in Tesla's penchant for delays and the availability of RHD models. So I suspect that the next brace of cars (we have an IQ as well at the moment) might be a top spec. used Leaf or i3 and a cheap, economical petrol car - I find myself strangely intrigued by the mild hybrid Suzuki Baleno which looks like it will be a genuine 60mpg car and will probably have similar performance and reliability as the Prius but at half the price.

[AmitG]

Will be in UK showrooms this month according to one of my local dealers. They are expecting details of UK prices, trim levels etc. "imminently" and asked me to call back in a week's time.

Has anyone seen one in real life yet?

[ajprice]

There's an as being filmed for the Superbowl. I was getting used to the looks in the pictures I'd seen. Now in this one it looks weird again... http://www.autoblog.com/2016/01/11/new-toyota-priu...