Stop Complaining about Rear Visibility

Have to agree with you.
Try looking out the back of a 2nd gen Eclipse or Talon.

 

Hey it is a free country... people can complain if they want to.

 

I've always thought that the visibility out the rear of my Prius is pretty good - what with the back-up camera and the split window to look out of. I think I get a decent view of what's behind me.
It's definitely better than your picture.

 

Rear visibility depends on the driver. It's fine for me, although I don't like that the spoiler blocks my view of the turn signals of cars behind me.

It's really the pillars that are the problem, but that's true of lots of new cars. The IIHS prefers an increased risk of an accident to an increased risk of injury or death.

 

I suspect, but don't know, that most people complaining about the rear visibility don't have rear view cameras.

 

I have the rear view camera, and I am still going to complain about the rear visibility. And will do so until Toyota fixes it. I need rear visibility even when I am not in reverse. That other cars are worse is irrelevant.

 

i have more of an issue with the view over my right shoulder when i'm trying to change lanes.

 

So what you're saying is you aren't too impressed with the Impala?...Cheer up...you're only renting it...

 

Have any of you adjusted your mirrors in the way Tom and Ray describe below? I've set mine this way for several years and swear by this method.

"For years, we'd been setting our side-view mirrors so that they gave us a view of the back corner of our cars. This is the way it's been done for generations - from grandfather, to father, to us! But we finally discovered something very interesting. The back corner of the car never moves. It always stays in the same exact place. So there's really no reason to keep an eye on it.

"By moving the side mirrors farther out, you can line up all three of your mirrors so they have minimal overlap -- and you can see everything behind you and beside you."

Here's how to do it : Car Talk | How to Avoid the Blind Spot

 

I don't find the rearward visibility of the Prius to be a problem. The spoiler, which many people take issue with, is actually in just the right place to block the headlights of following vehicles. Adjusting the mirrors properly takes care of most of the 'blind spot' problem. With the back seats down, the car feels very open and visibility is quite good.

Sometimes the front visibility is a problem, though. Those large pillars are more than big enough to hide a pedestrian behind.

 

No rear visibility problems here. I don't have a backup camera either. My Trans Am was worse.

 

I'm not impressed with rear visibility of the Prius. Ours is 3rd gen, but I think very similar. We went from a '91 Accord (great visibility), to '06 Civic (mediocre visibility), to 2010 Prius (even more mediocre). I do not trust what I see (or miss) looking over my shoulder, high window sills, forest of head rests, divisions, pillars, in concert they really obscure visibility.

 

I suggest that the OP remove the rear seat headrests, while he is renting that car.

I'm used to the Prius so don't find visibility to be an issue. I have the rear camera on the 2007 but mostly ignore it.

I agree that proper adjustment of the side mirrors to eliminate blind spots is essential when driving any vehicle, not just the Prius.

 

I stuck small ball mirrors on the regular mirrors. That took care of the blind spot issues.
Now if the cow like clods that walk behind me when I am in reverse motion in a parking lot would just wake up!!!

 

All of them save one. A 2010 Insight is the only car I have ever driven with worse visibility. And not just rear visibility, I have troubles with front visibility as well.

Moreover, I can see no possible benefit to not complaining about it. The only chance that it will be improved (as admittedly it has, in both the 2010 version (slightly) and the v) would be if Toyota hears complaints.

And to answer another question, yes my mirrors are properly adjusted. I first heard that advice on the Internet in 1987, and have followed ever since.

 

I also don't recall driving a car with worse rear vision than a Prius. Backing out of a parking space it's terrible. Although, many trucks and windowless vans are worse.

I also don't think the whole thing about don't complain if someone has something or some condition worse than your makes any sense. Taken literally, that means as long as someone is worse off, you are OK. What a sales moto! Toyota should pick up on that and say "Prius rear vision doesn't suck as bad as an Impalas rear vision."

 

The best car for front side and rear visability I ever owned was a 1966 Mercury Monclair. I could easily see all four corners and everything around me. It was over 19 feet long and I could parrallel park the car anywhere. The problem was it was a death trap. I can happily give up some visability for a safe, economical and technologically superior Prius.