When you decide to take on the open road in your Toyota Prius you may want to look into some car upgrades. We are going to go over some of the best upgrades you should look into before you start your journey.
1. Dash Cam/Cabin Cam-
Adding a dash cam can save you if you are ever involved in an accident while on the road. They record everything to give you peace of mind as you travel. Having a dash cam also allows you to record things that you would easily miss because you are focused on driving. They can help you during an incident to prove to your insurance that you are a safe driver. You can also use them to make funny Youtube videos while you drive (we don’t encourage uploading and/or viewing while driving). They may also help solve a case if the inevitable were to happen while on the road. There exists a variety of types and below you can find a few that we recommend. They are typically easy to install and they will last a long time.
2. Window tint-
Tinting your windows is our top upgrade for you to add to your Prius. It helps with keeping the inside of your vehicle cool and discreet. If your state’s laws allow for tinting the front windows we highly recommend you do it. UV rays can be strong specially when at a higher elevations and at peak times of sunlight. It is possible to get sunburned while driving and window tint with uv protection can prevent sunburns from occurring. Window tint also helps with privacy, safety and security. It can keep people away from seeing whats in your car, it can prevent glass from going everywhere if the windows were to break from a break-in or car accident.
3. Silicone windshield wipers-
The last thing you want is to run into bad weather and not be able to see out the front window. Unlike regular rubber window wipers, silicone wipers are made to last in all extremes of weather and they also keep a silicone film making it more difficult for water and elements to stick to the windshield.
Toyota Prius Windshield Wiper Size Overview
From 2016 to 2020, the Toyota Prius has a 28″ driver’s side windshield wiper, a 16″ passenger’s side windshield wiper and a 16″ rear windshield wiper.
From 2010 to 2015, the Toyota Prius has a 26″ driver’s side windshield wiper, a 19″ passenger’s side windshield wiper and a 16″ rear windshield wiper.
From 2004 to 2009, the Toyota Prius has a 26″ driver’s side windshield wiper, a 18″ passenger’s side windshield wiper and a 16″ rear windshield wiper.
From 2001 to 2003, the Toyota Prius has a 24″ driver’s side windshield wiper and a 17″ passenger’s side windshield wiper.
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4. Lift Kit-
Although this upgrade may seem strange, it may surprise you that with a little lift kit you can go explore a lot more than you’d imagine a Prius could go. Not only do you get great clearance from rocks and terrain but you also wont be scraping on any steep driveways or ditches that you’d run into on your journey. A lift kit is a must if you plan to drive with a trailer hitch carrier. The only disadvantage would be a little drop in gas mileage but you would be able to put on bigger tires so you would get smoother ride as well.
5. Aftermarket radio-
If you have a newer Prius then you probably don’t need this upgrade but if you drive a 3rd generation or lower than it would be a great upgrade. Many aftermarket radios are able to connect to your newer devices with Android Auto and CarPlay which allow a number of apps to be displayed and used right in the middle console so you don’t need to keep your phone in your hand while you drive. Most radios are pretty easy to install if you have some wiring and basic tools experience. We recommend getting a multimedia aftermarket radio where you can enjoy watching movies while you are parked or camping.
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6. Trailer Hitch and Carrier-
Adding a trailer hitch opens a few new doors to capabilities for your Prius. Adding a trailer hitch allows you to add a mini trailer, a trailer carrier or even a bike rack. If you decide to pull a mini trailer than you are going to have to add a light connector to your trailer hitch. A trailer carrier is a great way to carry your equipment and free up the inside of your car without actually losing any gas mileage. While traveling on our USA road trip we averaged 45-47mpg with having our trailer carrier instead of a roof rack. We discovered roof racks reduced mpg by 10 to 15 miles because of increased drag.
