The 2020 Prius Prime is out to do more than just get awesome fuel economy. Toyota is claiming it is the most advanced hybrid yet. Here are 3 reasons why.
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Sure you can buy a used Nissan Leaf, or Chevy Volt. You could even spring for a Tesla model 3, but with the advancements of the 2020 Prius Prime, there is no doubt in my mind, I want one.
Prius has always been a game changer and for good reason. It upset everything about the auto industry and changed the whole scene of transportation as we now know it. If we face the facts though, Prius has been lagging behind in a few serious ways when it comes to getting with the times. Toyota used to be such a leader when it came to advancements in technology, but other manufacturers have since caught on.
With all this commotion going on, I really feel that Toyota has been able to take a step back, think hard about what the future may look like, then go in for the kill. Here are 3 reasons you will love the 2020 Prius Prime.
Smart Flow Pollination Control Filtration
I am a city boy, born and raised, so when I moved out to the country, my allergies have been off the charts crazy. My savior has been HEPA filters. Toyota now has a system that incorporates a pollen filter. This system is Toyota Smart-flow climate control system. Basically, what it does it direct full cooling/heating to the driver. When you use it, the car manages the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system to minimize energy use.
Remote A/C System, Yes Please
I live in the desert part of Washington state. When I read that the 2020 Prime will have remote A/C I about fell over. This is like the single best thing I can think of. I hate a hot car. It is always so sweaty and gross, not to mention you feel as if you are going to pass out.
Remote A/C, like remote start is an option I really have no idea how I have lived without. Even with Smart Key entry I honestly cannot figure out how I lived without it. I cannot stand driving my wife's van with a regular key anymore. Though I do wish we could have remote A/C on it. This is just another total win for Toyota, and the Prius line up.
Qi Charging, For Your Phone
The awesome stuff never ends. I have an article that talks about updating your old second gen Prius to feel more modern, and I even share a couple links there for items you can use to help, but this is a whole new level of awesome.
Wireless charging is not new, in 2014 model year NX Lexus it was an option, but now it is looking as if Toyota will make this a standard feature. Pretty neat you won't have to worry about plugging your phone in all the time. So simple, yet so sophisticated. This for sure has me looking to get into a new 2020 Prime as soon as I can.
Conclusion
I really feel that Toyota has a great grasp on putting the Prius back in the light of more buyers. With ever evolving technology that constantly competes for the attention of us, this is a car that stands out and says, look at me, love me.
Check out my other story about 3 Ways Toyota Prius Is Superior To The Honda
See you in the next story where I am discussing why Carista is the best $20 tool for your Toyota Prius.
Also Watch New tech means more MPG from your Toyota Prius and Click to Subscribe to Torque News Youtube Channel for Daily Toyota Prius and Automotive News.
Peter Neilson is an automotive consultant specializing in electric cars and hybrid battery technologies. He is an automotive technology instructor at Columbia Basin College. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Automotive Service Technology from Weber State University. Peter is also an Adjunct Instructor of automotive technology at Columbia Basin College. Peter can be reached on Linkedin and you can tweet him at The_hybrid_guy on Twitter.
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Even though these are nice
Even though these are nice features they are hardly deal breakers for most buyers. Certainly if you have heavy allergies, better air filtration would be important for you, but without that health issue most people will not notice the difference between HEPA rated and conventional cabin air filters. Although the Toyota's remote AC feature may be new to the Prius, my Chevy Volt and Cadillac ELR had this feature 5+ years ago. On the Cadillac it even will turn on seat heaters and the rear window defroster for cold days, and of course AC for hot ones. And it works using the cell phone app, so distance from the car remote is not an issue. Finally for QI charging, I am glad that you mentioned it. I have never really had any problem plugging in my cellphone for charging in the car, but I discovered that my iPhone already has the inductive coils built-in for Qi charging, and I can buy a compatible Qi charger and cell phone mount for $25 to add to my car. So thanks for bringing the idea up as I am now going to buy one. In the end I think that the features that you mentioned are generally nice goodies to have in your car, however they are hardly "game changers" for most buyers. Especially compared to other features like much greater EV-only range, better performance, and styling (which is a buyer specific preference).