Towing with 2016 and newer Prius: UK vs NA
 

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.gre...dc7cb0ada9.jpg

Sorry if this has been discussed in older threads. Did a search and couldn't really find answers to what I was looking for.

In 2016 Toyota announced in the UK with some fanfare that the 2016 Toyota Prius could now tow up to 725 kg (1,598 lbs), “Its new ability has been made possible thanks to heat management measures introduced in its main electric motor-generator and differential.” Toyota even advertised photos and a blog showing its Prius towing an ultralite caravan (camper) into the English countryside. But in North America Toyota still rated 2016 and new Prius' with zero towing capacity and warned that the Prius was not designed to tow. In one of the articles linked below, the author tried to find out from Toyota why the difference. He asked if there was any mechanical difference but apparently got no reply from Toyota in the UK or the US. The other linked article explains that the difference is not in the specifications but in the different rules governing towing in the UK and NA. The UK has strict speed limits for vehicles towing and in some cases requires additional licensing. So if you have the proper towing equipment and you are towing less than 1500 lbs loaded and traveling under 60 mph it may invalidate your warranty in NA and Toyota may warn you in the manual not to do it, but why wouldn't it be mechanically safe to tow your 2016 and newer Prius V and C if it is exactly the same vehicle that Toyota advertises as a vehicle safely capable of towing nearly 1600 lbs in the UK?
There were a few articles that came out in 2016-2018 about this, but since then there has been little discussion in the press. Is there now any data on people towing caravans with their Prius' in the UK? Have they all destroyed their cars?
Interested in feedback from people who have towed a lightweight camper (say, 1000 lb dry weight) with their 2016 or newer Prius. Have you towed over any kind of elevation and/or long distance?
Cheers,
Mark
https://tiremeetsroad.com/2018/12/18...esponsibility/
https://www.carscoops.com/2016/04/ne...h-adds-towing/

Re: Towing with 2016 and newer Prius: UK vs NA
 

It should have.. not much drag there other than that mesh (but large) tailgate. Drag is much more of a factor than weight unless you're in very hilly terrain. Even so, the bike and trailer together are what? 1000lbs? If you ever tow a 5x8 enclosed uHaul trailer on the interstate, you'll understand... it's like towing a parachute.