Topic: Test Drive: 2017 Toyota Prius Prime

[AutoTrader.ca]

Toyota finally shows it's serious about plug-ins.
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[Great_Big_Abyss]

Okay, so mixed feelings about this car.  The tech is pretty advanced, and you KNOW this car is going to run for 300 000+ kms before needing any major mechanical work (battery refresh not included).  And fuel consumption will be stellar.

But the styling?  Oh my GOD!!!      Couldn't they have just made it look like a normal car?  Take all the mechanical and electrical stuff and throw it into a Corolla chassis or something. 

[dirtyjeffer]

i can't get the article to load for some reason...but yes, these are ugly...if i were in the market for one of these, the looks alone might push me to the Ioniq as it at least looks like a regular car and is still a very decent hybrid.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Great write-up. 

Such a weird thing, and no rear wiper? That would be a pain in the ass.

[sszoomzoom]

Cannot get the article to load.

[draghon]

Okay, so mixed feelings about this car.  The tech is pretty advanced, and you KNOW this car is going to run for 300 000+ kms before needing any major mechanical work (battery refresh not included).  And fuel consumption will be stellar.

But the styling?  Oh my GOD!!!      Couldn't they have just made it look like a normal car?  Take all the mechanical and electrical stuff and throw it into a Corolla chassis or something.

 

If i were in the market for a plugin hybrid, the styling would probably cross this one off the list.

[Blueprint]

Okay, so mixed feelings about this car.  The tech is pretty advanced, and you KNOW this car is going to run for 300 000+ kms before needing any major mechanical work (battery refresh not included).  And fuel consumption will be stellar.

But the styling?  Oh my GOD!!!      Couldn't they have just made it look like a normal car?  Take all the mechanical and electrical stuff and throw it into a Corolla chassis or something.

 

If i were in the market for a plugin hybrid, the styling would probably cross this one off the list.

As I wrote, not beige 

[Fobroader]

Why does this have to look that weird?!?! I mean Toyota cannot do something that looks good, they operate at either beige, put you to sleep boring or some sort of futuristic robotic sex toy...why no middle ground??? I'm sure its a fantastic car that will give you many years and kilometers of service, but damn its ugly.

[johngenx]

Prius has always been homely/ugly/unique and customers like it that way.  Sales will show if they're still on that mark.  There is more competition now though and Toyota might consider taking it more mainstream for even wider appeal as regular car buyers will now consider hybrids.

I like it, but I'm a huge fan of Toyota's new super-futuristic styling including the outrageous F-Sport grilles, etc.

[Blueprint]

I mean Toyota cannot do something that looks good, they operate at either beige, put you to sleep boring or some sort of futuristic robotic sex toy...why no middle ground???

They can when they want to:

[dkaz]

If you want a normal looking hybrid, you get a Camry hybrid, RAV4 hybrid, or any of the other Priuses. The Prius is for people who want cutting edge technology. I think the Prius Prime is a little less polarizing since it’s their only plug in hybrid. I actually like the Prime’s front end.

[johngenx]

The only thing I don't like about the looks is that the wheel openings seem too large for the wheel/tire set-up.  What's I really like is for a two-tone like the teal-white combo that the CH-R can be had in.

[rrocket]

As expected and predicted, Toyota has severely dropped the ball on pricing here.

In the US, the Prime is a mere 15 percent more money than the normal Prius. There is absolutely no reason why it couldn't have been priced with a similar premium here.

Idiots.

[johngenx]

Toyota was gouging Canadians (not as badly as Subaru, but badly) until 2008 when they adjusted prices pretty significantly.  Back to their old ways?

[rrocket]

Toyota was gouging Canadians (not as badly as Subaru, but badly) until 2008 when they adjusted prices pretty significantly.  Back to their old ways?

I guess! It costs no more to send a Prime to Canada than it does to the US.

Why the markup?

[EV Dan]

Toyota was gouging Canadians (not as badly as Subaru, but badly) until 2008 when they adjusted prices pretty significantly.  Back to their old ways?

I guess! It costs no more to send a Prime to Canada than it does to the US.

Why the markup?

 

[rrocket]

Last time the market didn't bear their stupid plug-in pricing...

[EV Dan]

Last time the market didn't bear their stupid plug-in pricing...

As I said before, if it wasn't for provincial rebates, the Prime's "MSRP" would be lower. But in Toyota's opinion, if there is "free" taxpayer money, why not take advantage?

[rrocket]

Last time the market didn't bear their stupid plug-in pricing...

As I said before, if it wasn't for provincial rebates, the Prime's "MSRP" would be lower. But in Toyota's opinion, if there is "free" taxpayer money, why not take advantage?

But there's still tax payer money in the US! In some states, with rebates, it's the same price or cheaper than the regular Prius.

Do the same thing here. Price it where it should be (low $30s). With the rebates this thing sells like hotcakes and undercuts and strangles the competition.

[Ex-airbalancer]

Last time the market didn't bear their stupid plug-in pricing...

As I said before, if it wasn't for provincial rebates, the Prime's "MSRP" would be lower. But in Toyota's opinion, if there is "free" taxpayer money, why not take advantage?

But there's still tax payer money in the US! In some states, with rebates, it's the same price or cheaper than the regular Prius.

Do the same thing here. Price it where it should be (low $30s). With the rebates this thing sells like hotcakes and undercuts and strangles the competition.

Maybe they keep the price high because they cannot produced that many.