So groceries don't fit in the Prime cargo area?

you've finally figured out who the designers were targeting.

 

Probably because it was the first time she ever saw one. I had the same thing happen with my CMax and Nissan Cube as I was one of the first to own one of those in my neck of the woods. Now? Never get a second look in either the Energi or Gen 2. Old hat.

 

Don't undersell Toyota's ability to take advantage of the flexibility their design offers.

Other automakers are simply stuck when the market changes.

 

Why did or does The Prius have anything BUT a great reputation for cargo capacity?

I kinda love hatchbacks for that very reality. I expect they can hold a lot.

My 2013 Prius was great in that regard.
My only very, very slight annoyance, was the horizontal nature of the glass on the hatch, means you have to be aware of the height of anything you are putting underneath that area. But once you get a feel for how high you can go? It's was great.

My Honda Fit has a more vertical hatch, but without folding the seats down, less automatic space in the back, more akin to a Prius c, size.

It would be interesting (At least to me) to do a cargo battle between a Prius and Honda Fit with the seats down, and see who could hold the most. I actually think the Prius would win, but it would be close. The Magic Seats on a Honda Fit would give it the edge, I would guess over a Prius c.

 

I assume Toyota knew for a long time they had to go with 8 kwhr battery for CARB credits/CA HOV.
We had articles to that effect a long time ago that PiP1 was not cutting it for CARB.

Toyota were probably between a rock and a hard place, feeling from a style view point, they had to make Gen4 more sedan-like, really takes quite a bit of rear space away. The chasis was really made to fit Japan 4WD Gen4 option and Prime solar option, not so much to hide the Prime battery for the US market. They must have felt Prime would sell adequately with the reduced cargo space. Demand seems solid.

 

When heading out to buy all those groceries, why not leave the cargo cover at home? Or remove it and lay it lengthwise in the cargo space? Why not fold the rear seat backs down? You got everything in, but it seems like you did it the hard way.

Do people really find the cargo cover useful? I never have.

 

First thing I do with all new cars is take the stupid cargo cover out and set it in the garage to only return when the vehicle gets sold.

 

Will the cover stow somewhere in the car? Third gen had a spot, under the hatch floor.

 

I used it maybe once in the 7 years that I have owned a Prius. I thought it made my car look like there was something valuable under it, and since there is nothing of value, I figure I should advertise that fact.

 

Is it still white coloured? Kinda good for transporting ice cream home.

 

I don't want to establish a pattern of it being closed only when something valuable is under it. Keep it closed nearly all the time, to keep them guessing, keep their yield low, and encourage them to find a different career.

 

I always keep my cover in place unless it's in the way. It doesn't say you're hiding anything any more than a tonneau cover on a pickup truck. It just tidies things up a bit. And it shades the battery increasing the delay before it gets as hot as the rest of the car. That's kind of a big deal down here.

 

in 3 pri, i have never used the tonneau cover. it's just one more thing to mess around with every time i'm in and out of the hatch, which is a lot. maybe theft isn't as big a concern around here. the new owners get a brand new one stowed away for posterity.

 

sure, but try putting a harrier in there.