I love almost everything about my 2012 Prius 3 except the plastic material that they put in. Compared to my wife's 2008 Camry Hybrid, this was a disappointment. Here's a list of my complaints which I hope Toyota will address in future models: It attracts dust It's rough and when you move your finger across, it acts somewhat like an emery board and leaves a trail. I don't like the pattern-did they need to put a pattern here?
1. all dashes seem to do this. 2. and 3. I think they do this to make it look better. If the dash was smooth if would look alot cheaper.
It may be cheap, sure, but the money is really put into the technology of the car. Also, the plastics in the car are made primarily of recycled plants. I honestly don't mind it too much, but it does seem a bit "cheap". Keep it clean and wipe down the dash with a microfiber cloth every once and a awhile and it'll look just fine.
I like the looks, it does not feel cheap (in a way most American cars do). I should force everyone to wear microfiber gloves upon entry. Oh, and polarized glasses make it worse.
I have to agree that the quality of the interrior is about as bad as any car I have owned. I bought it for the fuel cost savings and nothing else. When I looked at the Big 3, all their interiors were light years better than the Prius. It's a trade-off.
Biggest beef with the plastic Prius (or any other car) interior... scratches easily. Wife's finger bling can be deadly. Anything sharp will leave a nasty mark at the slightest contact. I've seen some pretty scarred up Prius interiors. I really like the microfiber glove idea. Brilliant!
Agreed- "the quality of the interior is about as bad as any car I have owned". If the Prius didn't get 50+ mpg the interior plastic would really be a big negative. But it pretty much gets a pass (along with a lot of other issues with the Prius) because of the big 50+mpg stat. If the current Gen III Prius got 30mpg (straight ICE no HSD technology) how many would buy one because of it's other attributes? Would probably be a pretty poor seller....
The Prius is made of plastic like most other cars. One big thing, it actually fits together unlike most of the Big3. Nearly every (not all) Big3 cars I have been in, the tolerances on the interior trim were so horrendous, that you could actually see gaps. Things were crooked, misaligned, or just didn't fit right. The Prius does fit together. The pattern is so that it doesn't seem "ultra-cheap". You can find pictures of 2004-2005 interiors versus 2006-2009 interiors and it looks very different. The only difference is the rubbery applique and the pattern versus smooth plastic.
If you want a Prius-like hybrid that has a nicer interior get a Lexus CTh. However, look at the EPA of Prius vs. CTh and you notice what heavier/nicer material does to FE. Not that all of the MPG difference is due to material weight, but some of it definitely is. Also, I too have heard that much of the plastic used in newer models is renewable plant based materials. If true, we should be pleased about that.
I like the appearance of Gen 3 Prius interior as an inexpensive and durable alternative to cloth. We live in a warm climate zone and have not experienced the cold rattles described by some. I dislike how easily the the plastic interior scratches and how it feels, although we are careful with ours and have kept it looking close to new condition.
.... but we still have to hear it! I know... turn up the radio. So there you have it- drive your Prius at night with the radio up and you'll love the plastic interior
We keep a microfibre cloth in th eglove box and give it a wipe now and again. I know there are some vinyl-nylon-rubber protectants out there that claim they attract dust less than others. I believe the dust attraction is due to static electricty. I would have rather had Zebra Rosewood from Brazil hand-crafted by carpenters from Finland but that negates not only the overall concept of the car but the amount I can pay for it. I am also now looking into a 3M clear plastic for the area where the seatbelt returns (makes a mark) and for the low foot-kick points. The product is made for smooth surfaces but I'm gonna do some experimenting soon. I wash my car and take care of the paint quite regularly so each time I use an APC and some 303 on the plastic parts. Quick, easy, best I can do. Cuban cigars are noticeably better than the 'hack' ones I smoke but........
I'm considering some pretty curtains for mine. Distract attention. When I was a kid we had a 1958 Mercedes 220S with a walnut dash. The gorgeous glossy finish (lacquer??) didn't last long in the California sunshine.
I said it before in this thread but it seemed to get ignored. You aren't going to be able to get heavy expensive interior and great gas mileage (compared to the Prius) as well.
