New Toyota Prius Not IPod/iPhone/USB Compatible

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot indeed. How could Toyota Prius, The Next Generation, not offer direct access to Apple’s technophile (technophobe?) gizmo? No USB paradise by the dashboard lights? True story, brought to you by PriusChat (motto: “Press our buttons”). “The USB integration won’t be available out of the factory until September, and it will only come with the Navigation option package that is available in the Prius III, IV, and V. Customers who buy their Navigation-equipped Prius before September will be able to have the USB kit installed at the dealer, but at their own expense. There are no specifics right now, but it looks like in September when the USB connectivity is added to the Navigation package, the price of the Navigation package will be going up. It hasn’t been established yet whether that price increase would be the same as the price a dealer will charge to install it, or if the dealer-installed USB will be more expensive.” It doesn’t take much Insight, or a Honda Odyssey without iPhone integration, to realize that this is a major marketing misstep by the ToMoCo. Did you know that Microsoft’s Zune can operate through your vehicle’s FM radio? Just sayin’.


Robert Farago
Robert Farago

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  • Mirko Reinhardt Mirko Reinhardt on Apr 28, 2009

    @menno : Meh…. not much news here. Why? Because, most Prius drivers I see? Are my age (just over 50) and older. Shock! Hunh?! Wow! Nope, straight up. Newsflash: People over 50 have iPods too. My dad is 57 and doesn't go anywhere without his iPod and 30-some gigabytes of Grateful Dead. His 530d has an iPod interface. Grandma died 3 years ago, but she had an iPod too. My mother has an iPod, and her base model Hyundai i30 has a factory iPod interface (standard in the base model!). My 118d had USB/iPod connectivity as a 300€ option. One of my friends just bought a Toyota Auris and an iPod interface was a 160€ option. No nav needed. Another friend has an Audi A4 TDI, iPod connectivity was just an option from the list. As it should be. The "if you want this, you also need to take 43 things you don't need" tactic is stupid. In the end, maybe you can upsell a few people to the more expensive model, but must people will just buy something else. @KixStart and tops out at about $32K with something that no one else has, solar cells to provide power for cooling Audi introduced solar cells to provide power for cooling in the 1994 A8. Others followed suit. How is it an innovation 15 years later?

  • Theflyersfan Theflyersfan on Apr 28, 2009

    @Mirko - Mazda Millenia (sp?) was the first I think. It had that and the Miller cycle engine and didn't sell... I also have 50+ something family members with satellite radio in the home and car, iPods and iPhones...and hours of tutoring from the rest of us on how to use iTunes and the hardware! It's one of those things that everyone says - once you use one, there's no going back to the old way of listening to music.

  • Toyota USA Blog Toyota USA Blog on May 18, 2009

    It would be nice if Toyota though more about this especially for the Prius. It is a nice car and should have the best tech features.

  • Leva Leva on Oct 15, 2009

    I had a 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid with built in USB plug which worked perfectly with my iPhone and USB jump drives and most other usb devices. I had full control over music from the steering wheel audio controls. Radio display showed song / album / artist / etc. I could navigate through music by song / album / artist / style etc. All functions of iPhone / iPod were available. with USB rive i could easily go through folders and songs... 2010 honda insight has the same usb interface. Now I have 2010 prius... love the car, but lack of usb o=interface drives me crazy. I hate AUX port. I hate unlocking my ipone to change the song. There are too many wires. it is just SOOOO annoying. WHY the hell it's not built in??? it is so easy and inexpensive. And prius is supposed to this crazy technologically advanced vehicle.... ughhh..

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