Why the Toyota Prius is the Perfect Holiday Road Trip Car
If you follow along over on Instagram, you know I’ve been lucky enough to work with the Toyota Dealers of Atlantic Canada this year, and they’ve generously sponsored this post. We have a fantastic giveaway happening right now, so be sure to read all the way to the end for all of the details of how to enter!
With the holiday season approaching, it’s also road trip season for us. We do lots of traveling around the Island and Maritimes this time of year to catch up with friends and family. Given that we are about to drive lots of kilometers we are happy to be doing so in our Toyota Prius. We think it’s just the perfect road trip car. So let’s hear why!
Comfort/Vibes
Comfort and good vibes are the key to a great road trip for me. My Prius has several features that will keep you cozy and grooving on your holiday travels. The infotainment system is the best road trip companion. It’s compatible with Apple CarPlay, so it’s easy to hook up your phone for messaging, music, podcasts, and navigation. It’s easy to play a holiday playlist or listen to audiobooks and navigate maps on the 7 inch display screen. The JBL Premium Audio system is one of my absolute favourite features in the car. It makes rocking out to your favourite holiday hits a real party.
I use the wireless charging holder daily while driving but it is extra handy on a road trip. If I’m not driving I’m probably posting on social media and using up my phone battery. Charging is so easy you just set your phone in the holder and it will charge wirelessly, ensuring you stay powered up during the entire trip. My husband and I have different phones that require different cords to charge so this feature is so easy as it can charge both of our phones without any cords. There are also multiple USB ports that can also charge my other gear!
Winter road trips often mean packing a lot of stuff, whether it’s your weekend bag, Christmas gifts, Winter coats, or snacks for the drive. The Prius has a roomy cargo area and one of my favourite features is the split back seat options. It’s divided into a 60/40 split rear seat that adds a lot of versatility for everyday but especially on road trips during the holiday season when packing is often a game of Tetris. This flexibility is perfect for our holiday travel when we need to carry a mix of stuff and people.
My Prius has several features to make a long road trip comfy and convenient!! The 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat lets me find the perfect seat position for long stretches on the road. You can even program your settings and one other driver. We love this on road trips when we are frequently switching who’s behind the wheel. On chilly winter days, I’m a big fan of the heated seats and heated steering wheel. Everyone stay comfortable with the car’s dual-zone climate control. This way there’s no fighting over the temperature!
Highway Driving/Safety
Safety on the road is always a top concern. I want to feel safe while driving, now more than ever since we have a little baby on board. The Prius has many safety features to help give me peace of mind while driving with my family.
Winter on PEI and the Maritimes is no joke. With snow storms around every corner, I want a car that can handle the tough road conditions. The Prius’ electronic all-wheel drive system gives me confidence driving in the holiday season. The AWD system automatically engages when needed, increasing the car's stability and traction on snowy roads. AWD isn’t common among hybrids. This is just another reason why I think Prius is perfect for winter road trips where the weather can be so unpredictable!
The Prius has many advanced tech features that were made for road trips! Here are a few of the advanced features I love. The dynamic radar cruise control feature maintains a set distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you. This feature is so smart, adjusting and adapting your speed based on what’s around you. This makes highway driving more relaxed, especially during long stretches. Blind spot monitor alert makes sure you never miss seeing a car, or pedestrian while driving on the highway or in town. The lane departure alert with steering assist helps you stay in your lane if you start to drift from your lane. If you’re still drifting out of your lane, the car’s steer assist will even guide you back into your lane. I’m not the biggest fan of night driving but the automatic high beams feature makes it feel more safe and comfortable. This feature detects oncoming vehicles and automatically changes between high and low beams, so you can focus on the road while still having optimal visibility without blinding other drivers!
Fuel Efficiency
The Toyota Prius is famous for its fuel efficiency and I can see why. It’s my first time having a hybrid and I just love it. I can’t get over how easy it is and how much we are saving on fuel. It’s the ideal car for a holiday road trip to help save money this time of year. Its hybrid powertrain balances gas and electric power, providing up to 4.1L/100kms in the city and 4.1L/100kms in the country.
The holidays are busy enough and the Prius ensures that we are spending less time at the gas station, going further between fuel-ups. Since it's a hybrid electric vehicle, we don’t have to plan out where to stop to find charging ports which gives us more time to spend visiting friends and family. The hybrid system easily shifts between gas and electric power. We love to switch the infotainment system to the screen where you can watch what power systems the car is using at that moment. Compared to gas-only cars, the hybrid Prius has reduced emissions. This allows us to do all of our holiday driving without feeling like we’re leaving a big environmental footprint.!
When it comes to holiday road trips, comfort, fuel efficiency, and safety are at the top of my wish list. The Toyota Prius combines all the qualities needed for a smooth, spacious, safe, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly journey. The car’s AWD gives me confidence when navigating icy or snowy roads with my family on board. Holiday season expenses stack up quickly but the Prius’ fuel efficiency is a money-saver. This allows us to visit our friends and family and stay on budget. The car’s thoughtful features make winter travel more comfortable and stress-free. The Prius is ready to get us through traffic, snow, and many kilometers so we can arrive with energy to spare for all of our holiday plans.
Holiday Contest
As promised, you now have a chance to win your own holiday road trip helper, thanks to your Toyota Atlantic Dealers. They are giving away a $250 gift card to fuel up your holiday travels. So let’s pack up the car and hit the road!
Click here to enter now.
(Contest is open to residents of NS, NL, NB & PEI of age of majority, and closes at 5:00 p.m. ADT on Dec 16, 2024 / Approx. retail value: $250.00 CDN / Full rules at contest link)
