It’s a smoother, more lively ride than I was expecting. I was worried it would be sluggish, but I find it fun to drive.
Love the aesthetics, both inside and outside. I’ve received many compliments, even from strangers.
This is my first hybrid, and I’m really enjoying the savings on gas.
Cons
The front console and infotainment features are overwhelming. There’s too much going on, and I don’t need or want half of these features. I think it’s because I’m coming from a simple 2009 car, but still, it’s a lot. Nothing is intuitive for me. I keep trying to use the volume knob to adjust the A/C, and my first time with Cruise Control was a nightmare.
I prefer Android Auto to the Kia navigation system, but I don’t like that I have to use a USB cord and click buttons to get it to work. Also, it disconnects a lot, which is frustrating.
About 90% of the time, I turn on the car and about 30 seconds to a minute later there’s a sudden “oomph” feeling like the vehicle is gearing up for something. Does anyone know what I mean? Is this normal? I’d be fine if it happened right when I start the car, but a minute later is jarring.
The dealership I dealt with was awful, and I won’t return unless I absolutely have to. But I don’t like feeling this way.
Overall: Despite the long list of cons, I’m mostly happy with my purchase. I’d rate it an A- for now.
I own a 2022 as well but I have the 8-inch screen with wireless Android Auto. You should get the dongle for your version.
As for the “oomph” feeling—it’s normal. The car starts in “ev” mode, then needs to turn on the engine, and it’s louder when it’s cold. It’ll always do that.
Edit: If you live somewhere cold, keep in mind that using the heat will make the engine run more often, so you might see a drop in MPG!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. I’m thinking of buying this same model, so this is helpful. I’ve heard about the “oomph” thing too, even with the Prius. Makes me wonder if this is something that happens with hybrids in general.
Out of curiosity, do you have the EX version? If not, do you think the infotainment screen is big enough to see everything clearly? I know the LX version is smaller overall.
@Lisa
I actually have a “Touring.” I wasn’t specifically looking for it, but I found a great deal on one in a color I liked. Now I’m curious how the display compares to the EX or LX versions.
As I mentioned, I could definitely do with fewer features .
@Zachary
Thanks for replying. Hope the display issue gets a little easier over time. I’ll be curious to try it out myself. Glad you got a good deal and are happy with it overall .
Transitioning from a simple 2009 car to something like this is a big change. Modern cars are like computers on wheels. It can be complicated, but the good thing is that almost everything is customizable. One feature I love is changing the number of presses needed to unlock all doors from 2 to just 1. It was a constant source of tension between my wife and I with other cars.
The manual is around 1000 pages, and even after 20 months and 24,000 miles, I’m still discovering new features.
If you want to change the view of the infotainment or climate control panel, just long-press the triangular button to set your preferred view.
I mostly use the steering wheel controls for infotainment, so I keep the climate controls as my default. When I need navigation, I just press the “talk” button and say “navigation” or “map,” and it switches without having to change modes. Setting destinations with voice control is much easier than typing them in.
