Read the comments below to see the full discussion about the Toyota Prius. If your question isn’t answered here, please feel free to take a look at toyota.co.uk, or ask us in the comments below.
Please note that this blog post was first published in 2009, so some references to specification, equipment, fuel economy, emissions and other features may not reflect the latest version of Prius – you can find out up-to-date information here.
If you want to find out how to maximise the fuel economy of your Prius, take a look at this blog post.
Read our other blogs about Prius here.
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The following topics have already been discussed:
PRODUCT:
– Customisation: options, availability and costs (including audio; roof rack, cycle rack, towbar; leather)
– Difference between second-generation Prius and new third-generation Prius
– Wheel size
– Miles per gallon
– Satellite navigation
– Bluetooth and phone sync
TECHNOLOGY:
– How a full hybrid works
– Battery charging
– Battery lifespan and replacement
COMFORT:
– Heated seats
– Cold weather driving
MAINTENANCE:
– Servicing: frequency and costs
GENERAL:
– Delivery lead times
– Depreciation
– Warranty
– Road tax
– Insurance
Thanks for all the interest in the new Prius.
sat nav for a 2009 T-Spirit Gen111 …how are we supposed to update the now 6 year old map and Gracenote db. Had this car from new and asked dealers several times but never had a clear answer.
Hi Richard
Thanks for your post.
Sorry to hear of your problem in obtaining map updates. These are all undertaken via our Toyota dealer network. Please let us know which dealer and we will be glad to help.
We have a 2010 Prius T Spirit – SatNav is excellent compared to 2 others we have had, BUT, in order to upgrade the maps we had to jump through hoops, eventually a ‘man’ came to the dealer, complete with a memory stick, and the job was completed in about an hour – cost £145. We have just enquired about having it done again – cost? £240. Why?
Hi Christine
Thank you for your post.
We would need to contact the dealer here to find our more so if you can let us know which one we can help clarify this for you.
Hope this helps.
Our dealer is Burrows Rotherham (was called Pentagon). We are happy with excellent service and support from them, apart form the Satnav update issue..
My dealer is Toyota Chelmsford …they directed me to a Toyota web site that seems to provide updates for my 2009 T-Spirit unit but I cannot see how to get the update (Toyota-mapudates.eu).
Why is this rocket science?..other maps e.g. Nokia and TomTom update regularly at no cost …why is the Toyota “Premium” system such a challenge?
The dealer has updated the car software several times since I took delivery in 2009 …why is this embedded system not updated as part of the service, it is part of the original car? even just service major interval would be a start….also to have 6 year old maps in my eye-line is arguably a safety hazzard!!
regards
Cheaper to buy a Tom Tom than update. So why buy a T Spirit and not a T4?
I have a T spirit and object to the criminal pricing of the updates. I bought a Garmin with lifetime updates and use them both with the sound off on the Garmin. If there are new roads I can follow the Garmin map. The Prius sat nav is better but out of date.
I have a Toyota Prius T4. Gen2. Reg 57. 20K miles. I want to fit a Tom Tom sat nav, and I have tried to get my local dealer Westlands Toyota Stourbridge to carry out this work. But I was informed that Toyota only fit their standard equipment and accessories, and a Toyota sat nav is a factory fitted so that is no help either.
I know there is a 12 volt power outlet inside the central console box but this is too far away from the proposed mounting point of the sat nav. A repeat of this 12 volt power outlet or a Toyota cigarette lighter that will accept the Tom Tom charger cable, mounted on the dash board in the blank space next to the EV switch would be ideal. Both of the items suggested are Toyota standard equipment and accessories
I would greatly appreciate any helpful comments on this matter
Hi Ed
Thanks for your post.
While it would be possible to make wiring modifications to meet your requirements to fit a non genuine Sat Nav, we are not wholly surprised one of our Toyota Centre partners appear reluctant to carry out the work for you. Relocating, or fitting a new power outlet and moving the wiring itself should be relatively straight forward but this would mean your car becomes ‘modified’ and no longer to original specification. The agreement we have with our dealer partners is to fit genuine parts and as such we will provide them as much technical guidance, training and support as may be necessary. We make no provision to support specification adjustments or advice on installing non genuine components or accessories. They may also be nervous about your satisfaction with the fitment of the new power switch which may require some fairly invasion work to the dashboard. How they then guarantee the work may also be of difficult to establish. While we cannot make a specific recommendations, another Toyota Centre may take a slightly different view especially if they have a technician with previous electronics expertise. Otherwise an independent in car electronics business may be a better course of action. Sorry we can’t provide you with a solution on this occasion.
I have a 2010 (March) Prius T Spirit. The rear spoiler is little loose so I asked to fix it under the extended warranty. However the dealer says that I have to pay for this as outside of the car is not covered with extended warranty.
I can not find anything to justify the dealer’s version in the extended warranty certificate. In fact the certificate says “the 5 year warranty consists of Toyota’s standard 3 year 60000 mile manufacturer warranty extended to cover 4 & 5 years. The level of cover in years 4 & 5 will match the cover for the first 3 years.”
Is the dealer right to refuse this repair? I would appreciate comments.
Hi Don
Thanks for your post.
Sorry to read the detail and we would recommend contacting our customer relations team who will be able to help advise you further. They can be reached via the attached link. https://mag.toyota.co.uk/how-to-contact-toyota-uk
Hope this helps.
Actually, what Toyota UK should do is conduct the investigation internally and post its findings back here for the benefit of everyone else. The investigation should be conducted in an unbiased way and where issues are found, at least the name of the dealership should be posted here.
A while ago, I raised a similar concern on this blog about my dealer and I was asked to get in touch with customer relations team – which I did. However, a few weeks later I got a reply saying that they (customer relations) had contacted the dealer in question and they (the dealer) had confirmed that they had been correct in the way they had assessed the repairs required for my car. What sort of an investigation is that – might as well ask criminals when they are suspected of committing offences, and if they say no, oh well that’s fine then.
Having had my car for over Four years now and dealing with my dealer, I am convinced that dealerships around the country are exploiting customers far and wide. The only reason cars sell well is because they are well made and reliable. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a fair marketplace as it happens often, there will only be one dealership around where one lives so competition is non-existent.
I was dismayed to learn that Toyota have discontinued the use of a hard drive in the audio system. This was a very innovative idea and to do away with it is a retrograde step. When someone is spending £25000 on a car a few quid extra is making no difference. Not having CD’s in the car reduced the risk of accidents changing cd’s whilst moving and also help alleviate theft. Now it’s back to having to have loads of cd’s in the car. OK you say that there is an IPod dock well not everyone wants to spend money on an IPod. Yes, you could use a mobile phone but that use quickly discharges the phones battery. Please reintroduce the HDD before I buy my new Prius in September!!!
This IS a retrograde step. If TOYOTA want to save money, do away with the useless voice command unit and the equally useless parking system. I have a Prius for 6 years and never used either after the initial exploring of the gadgets.
Yes, me too I never use them. Two useless gimmicky gadgets. The park assist is good for scaring passengers though.
You may not have the HDD, but for around £10 you can buy a 32GB USB stick – simly copy your iTunes library (or a subset) from your PC onto the USB and leave it plugged into the car. Far cheaper and more flexible than the HDD.
Dear Toyota Prius Blogger,
Just asking if I need to change my Brake disc & brake pads (both rear & front) with different brands would affect the process of the Regenerative Braking System of my Prius T3 3rd Generation.
Hoping for your favourable response on this query.
Many thanks.
Thommy L.
Hi Thommy,
Thanks for your post.
Toyota can only recommend approved Toyota replacement parts for the braking system as we do not test other supplier’s parts. Because of this we are unable to give you definitive answer.
Sorry we can’t be of further assistance.
Hi just bought a new Prius T Spirit (3 weeks old) previously had a 2010 model, where has the HUD navigation gone? Asked the dealer and could hear him shrug his shoulders on the phone, also asked how to get the text message reply to work with an iPhone 5 same shrug. I am not really fussed if I can’t get my texts but the HUD NAV is something I used on my previous model why have they removed it? It is shown in all the brochures and on the web page I know specs change but on a car of this price surely it’s not that expensive, wish the dealer had told me could have asked if it was an option.
Hi Patricia,
Thanks for your post.
The reason your vehicle no longer includes the HUD feature is due to a NAVI upgrade applied to the latest Prius. Although this recent system has been improved in a number of ways, unfortunately the HUD functionality has not been included. We have passed on your comments regarding this to the relevant product team.
In relation to your iPhone 5’s compatibility issues, the reason for this is due to the restrictions Apple place upon third party products such as Touch & Go Plus.
Sorry if your Dealer did not explain this clearly. If you would like to follow this up, feel free to contact Customer Relations here: https://mag.toyota.co.uk/how-to-contact-toyota-uk
Hope this helps.
HELLO . IAM JAMAL . I LIVE IN JORDAN . I JUST BOUGHT 2010 PRIUS CAME FROM GERMANY . I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH NAVIGATION AND HDD . I WENT TO DEALER AND HE ALSO DONT KNOW ANYTHING . HOW CAN I USE MY LAPTOP TO PUT JORDAN MAP ON NAVIGATION SYSTEM . AND WHAT DOES THE CODE TA MAENS . AND WHERE CAN I GET USER GUIDE FOR AUDIO AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM
Hi Jamal,
Thank you for taking the time to contact us.
Unfortunately your Prius will have a different format system to the one used in Jordan, the mapping will not be compatible.
We recommend contacting your local dealer for further advice.
Sorry we couldn’t be of further assistance.
Hi, I think you will find TA means traffic announcement.