Deep dive: Prius Prime tech trades function for flash
Deep dive: Prius Prime tech trades function for flash
3:27

Deep dive: Prius Prime tech trades function for flash

Cars
[MUSIC] Toyota completely reinvented the Pruis's dashboard with the plug-in prior model. It didn't have to, but it did it anyway. So take a close look and I'll show you what they're working with. Now, the Prius's dashboard is divided into two main areas. There's the upper brow and the main display. Now, upstairs, things are actually looking pretty good. We've got a very simple setup with two screens. One's a digital instrument cluster and trip computer. And the second is a multi information display where you can see things like your hybrid information, fuel economy. You can also monitor your various driver aid features, as well as mirror Your audio source and navigation information up there if you wanna keep it in your line of sight while you're driving. You control that second screen with a pad here on the steering wheel. It's very well organized and laid out, I really like what's happening up there. Now, downstairs. We've got the large main display. It's a 12-ish inch vertically oriented display, very similar to what we've seen in vehicles like Tesla's Model S or Volvo's 90 series of vehicles with their Senses Connect. Now here's where the biggest changes from the standard Prius occur and also where Things start to get a little bit wonky. Let's take a look at the interface. You've got this big map that sort of fills up the screen and serves as the background of most of the interface. And above that, you've got these widgets that sort of overlay and pop in for the various parts of the interface. Now, on the home screen here We've got three widgets, for destination input, shortcuts to Toyota's Entune app suite which requires a paired smartphone running a companion app, and a big old green button in the middle for all of your hands free calling stuff. You can also pop out sections to allow you to do things like monitor your current audio source and climate control And if you tap this Menu button, you get a second overlay menu that for some reason shows the same three options that were on the home screen. With a fourth Info option, where you can monitor your various fuel economy information and hybrid systems. Now my problems with this system are twofold, partially software and partially hardware. On the hardware side you've got this really big screen that's very prone to glare and kind of washes out in direct sunlight and at night? Well, it's a Big or bright screen in the middle of your dark car it's kind of a distracting eyeball magnet. The software issues pretty much lie in the fact that there is just a whole lot going on here things are popping in from all different parts of the interface and it's just a lot of visual information that van be very distracting. It doesn't seem to make, Very good use of its real estate. This is particularly evident when you're in a densely packed urban areas with a lot of streets on this map. It's a lot of visual noise and it can be kind of hard to find your little car icon on the map at a glance. And if you add to that a very complicated menu structure underneath it that makes even the simplest task like choosing a satellite radio station that's not a preset into a multitap odyssey, you'll start to see Why I'm pretty frustrated with this system. Plus, there's no android auto or apple car play available so if you don't like what Toyota has given you here, you're kind of stuck with it. With a standard Prius it had an in tune system that I wasn't a huge fan of. But, at the very least, it was small and unobtrusive and kind of stayed out of the way. This system is just big and bold and always in your face with its frustrations. At the very least, it's kind of flashy. So maybe you'll be able to show it off to the people who ride in the car with you, this has been your deep dive into the tech in the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime, [MUSIC]

Up Next

2023 Toyota BZ4X: Comfy Electric Cruiser
toyota-bz4x-2023-first-drive-holdingstill-cms

Up Next

2023 Toyota BZ4X: Comfy Electric Cruiser

2023 Toyota GR Corolla Debuts With 300-HP, Rally-Bred AWD
toyota-gr-corolla-2023-first-look-holdingstill-cms-v1

2023 Toyota GR Corolla Debuts With 300-HP, Rally-Bred AWD

2023 Toyota Sequoia debuts twin-turbo hybrid V6, bold new look
toyota-sequoia-2023-firstlook-holdingstill-cms

2023 Toyota Sequoia debuts twin-turbo hybrid V6, bold new look

2022 Toyota Tundra first look: The next-gen full-size truck is here
tundra-first-look-still-v1

2022 Toyota Tundra first look: The next-gen full-size truck is here

2022 Toyota Tundra first look: Let's check out the tech
tundra-first-look-int-still-v1

2022 Toyota Tundra first look: Let's check out the tech

2022 Toyota Corolla Cross wants to be the best of both worlds
toyota-corolla-cross-2022-first-drive-holdingstill-cms

2022 Toyota Corolla Cross wants to be the best of both worlds

Toyota BZ4X Concept has a clunky name and a cool look
bz4x-2-19-1

Toyota BZ4X Concept has a clunky name and a cool look

2022 Toyota GR86 keeps it simple
gr86-2-4-1

2022 Toyota GR86 keeps it simple

2022 Toyota Corolla Cross aims for the best of both worlds
corolla-2-4-1

2022 Toyota Corolla Cross aims for the best of both worlds

Minivan duel: 2021 Toyota Sienna vs. Chrysler Pacifica
chrysler-pacifica-2021-vs-toyota-sienna-2021-feat-holdingstill-cms

Minivan duel: 2021 Toyota Sienna vs. Chrysler Pacifica

Tech Shows

The Apple Core
apple-core-w

The Apple Core

Alphabet City
alphabet-city-w

Alphabet City

CNET Top 5
cnet-top-5-w

CNET Top 5

The Daily Charge
dc-site-1color-logo.png

The Daily Charge

What the Future
what-the-future-w

What the Future

Tech Today
tech-today-w

Tech Today

Latest News All latest news

New Xbox Leaked
240328-yt-xbox-leaked-image-v01

New Xbox Leaked

Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter
pic3

Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter

Apple and Meta Are Competing for Your Memories
screenshot-2024-03-22-at-17-41-16.png

Apple and Meta Are Competing for Your Memories

Nvidia's Project GR00T vs. Tesla Optimus: Competing Robot Strategies
240321-site-nvidia-project-groot-vs-tesla-optimus-v1

Nvidia's Project GR00T vs. Tesla Optimus: Competing Robot Strategies

What Google Gemini AI on the iPhone Could Look Like
240321-site-apple-and-gemini-ai

What Google Gemini AI on the iPhone Could Look Like

DOJ Sues Apple: Everything to Know About the Antitrust Suit
240321-site-doj-sues-apple-for-antitrust-on-iphone-v2

DOJ Sues Apple: Everything to Know About the Antitrust Suit

Most Popular All most popular

First Look at TSA's Self-Screening Tech (in VR!)
innovation

First Look at TSA's Self-Screening Tech (in VR!)

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: More AI at a Higher Cost
240123-site-samsung-galaxy-s24-ultra-review-4

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: More AI at a Higher Cost

'Circle to Search' Lets Users Google From Any Screen
circlesearchpic

'Circle to Search' Lets Users Google From Any Screen

Asus Put Two 14-inch OLEDs in a Laptop, Unleashes First OLED ROG Gaming Laptop
asus-preces-00-00-25-11-still003

Asus Put Two 14-inch OLEDs in a Laptop, Unleashes First OLED ROG Gaming Laptop

Samsung Galaxy Ring: First Impressions
samsung-galaxy-ring-clean

Samsung Galaxy Ring: First Impressions

Best of Show: The Coolest Gadgets of CES 2024
240111-site-best-of-ces-2024-1

Best of Show: The Coolest Gadgets of CES 2024

Latest Products All latest products

Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter
pic3

Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter

Nuro R3 is an Adorable Self-Driving Snack Bar
240320-site-nuro-r3-first-look-v1

Nuro R3 is an Adorable Self-Driving Snack Bar

First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day
240304-site-nothing-phone-2-first-look-v3

First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day

Best of MWC 2024: Bendable Screens, AI Wearables and More
240229-site-best-of-show-at-mwc

Best of MWC 2024: Bendable Screens, AI Wearables and More

This Concept Laptop from Lenovo Has a Transparent Display
240225-site-lenovo-translucent-laptop-concept-v3

This Concept Laptop from Lenovo Has a Transparent Display

Motorola's Rollable Concept Phone Wraps on Your Wrist
240225-site-motorola-rollable-concept

Motorola's Rollable Concept Phone Wraps on Your Wrist

Latest How To All how to videos

Windows 11 Tips and Hidden Features
240311-site-windows-11-hidden-tips-and-tricks-v2

Windows 11 Tips and Hidden Features

Vision Pro App Walkthrough -- VisionOS 1.0.3
VisionOS 1.0.3

Vision Pro App Walkthrough -- VisionOS 1.0.3

Tips and Tricks for the Galaxy S24 Ultra
240216-site-galaxy-s24-ultra-tips-and-hidden-features-2

Tips and Tricks for the Galaxy S24 Ultra

TikTok Is Now on the Apple Vision Pro
tiktok-on-vision-pro-clean

TikTok Is Now on the Apple Vision Pro

Get Your TV Ready for the Big Game: Super Bowl Setup Tips
superbowl-tv-settings-thumb1

Get Your TV Ready for the Big Game: Super Bowl Setup Tips

How to Use a Quest 3 Like the Vision Pro
240202-site-spatial-computing-on-meta-quest-3

How to Use a Quest 3 Like the Vision Pro