Prius model changes

Well nothing really major changed ... if that is your question ... only cosmetic changes I had a 2010 II and now a 2012 Two.... I would say that mechanically NOTHING changed ....

Some change in the front grill plastic ... different tail-light. 2012 has integrated bluetooth... the LCD panel is better in the 2012 .... maybe some of the technology packages are improved... but again the engine/HV battery/wheels/breaks are the same. Some of the firware surely upgraded (we know that the one drives the inverter was upgraded ... maybe the inverter assembly is improved 2013 and later models)...

 

2010 and 2011, had to get Prius III for 2010, Three for 2011, w/ navigation to get a touchscreen. There was a III without navi which is what I have, has an old school LCD display for radio. II's and III's only had one door Smart Key,
III's with navigation, IV's and V's gained touchscreen navi. IV's and V's had 3 door Smart Key.

2012 brought mid-cycle refresh with upgraded front grill, black alloy 15" wheels with new style covers. All 2012+ models Two through Five gained a touchscreen, and Three's and up got 3 door smart key. Three lost JBL audio upgrade, but got navigation in all Threes and Entune Apps. Heads up display I think came in both Four and Five, JBL audio also and larger touchscreen.

2012 also brought Softex material for Four and Five with 8 way power driver's seat w/ power lumbar adjust. 2010 and 2011 had leather on IV for 2010, Four for 2011 and V for 2010 Five for 2011, but no power driver's seat, only 6-way manual adjust.

Persona came for 2013 and 2014 model year (?) with 17" special wheels, Softex, but 6-way manual dr. seat and equipped like a Three.

Prius v came out for 2012 model year, so they started calling liftback Two, Three, etc instead of upper case Roman numerals cause the 2010 V for example would have caused confusion.

 

What I really missed from the old Gen2 is the backup camera ... which is NOT standard for 2010-2012 (maybe again 14??) on the two-s ....

I think it is standard now...

 

Got a 2010 III. I like the Prius; but if there's one serious demerit it's the view out the rear. There's small kids in my development. One of my recurring nightmares is some 3 year-old hiding back there when throwing the car into reverse. While the Prius isn't the worst of cars with bad views out the rear, my old 2002 Civic, the '95 Civic station wagon before that, the Datsun B210 before that, and the VW Beetle before that all had better rear views. A rear view camera solves the problem and prevents nightmares. It's not up there with air bags in terms of saving lives, but there's Very Good Reasons that this relatively cheap technology is going to become mandatory in a couple of years.

One of these days I'm going to get the kit form of a rear-view camera with the view on the center mirror and install same.

KBeck

 

Yes it only worked in reverse ... (I think there was a hack to make it work other modes as well).

I do park reverse at my work at home and any other places except supermarket parking lots... It is very very useful especially indoor/dark places. Since I do not have it now ... of course I can live without .. but it is great to have. Also someone already pointed out the safety issue (I do not really care about that much ... )

 

Great explanation

 

The feds have required that all cars starting in model year 2018 will have to be equipped with a back-up camera.