Summary of proposed improvements for future versions of Prius

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Only thing to add, as said before ....

Driver's door armrest needs to be a little higher.

 

Just curious where they are shown. Don't see them on toyota.com

 

I want to see a cruise control controlled by MPG or speed.

 

Here's one I would like to see made standard across all cars: Put Pandora, and other Internet radio, in cars. I could throw away my XM subscription and tune into the far superior, vast world of internet radio.

 

Offer a 16" alloy wheel with 205/55-16 tire


That is a 205/55-16 tire above. Wheel wouldn't have to look like the Civic's shown above, but the tire size and proportion is very balanced looking. Civic is as long as a Prius also.

It's a bit disturbing to see a lot of poster looking for bigger wheels, usually the 17's which are the only bigger hybrid tire available. Would save a lot of people a lot of hassle to just offer a larger OEM wheel as an option.

I did the math, and the 205/55-16 diameter is closer to the 195/65-15 than even the 215/45-17.

And, IMHO, the 215/45-17 tires/wheels look to be a bit much on the Prius. Usually those tires are on the sportier cars with 150+ HP, the Mazda3's, Matrix S, GTI, CivicSi, etc....

 

AFS HID Projectors. Get rid of the horrid halogen beams and reflector HIDs and use proper D2S/D4S beams like on most Lexus models.

Automatic tilt/telescopic steering like on all Lexus models.

Power seats (or at least power driver seat)

Bonnet/Hood Damper, and get rid of the mechanical bar.

Automatic hatch release and close like on the Lexus SUV's (like the RX). Push a button and it opens, push a button on the inside of the hatch and it closes.

 

To be redundant:

1) Efficiency Data on Nav Screen. Gotta have that option in full color. Heck that is the whole reason for having the Prius. Sip that dino juice in Technicolor.

2) Softer plastic dash and interior like in the 2006.

3) All LEDs

4) Fog light option on all Versions

5) 16" wheel option

And everything the O.P. wrote.

 

State of the art (2012) Internet Connectivity via MFD/Nav Screen. And how about 50gigs of media storage to boot.

Please.

 

this!

 

absolutely.

 

Improved sound system; my radio crackles constantly, even though the same stations are fine on my other cars.

Make the GPS more intuitive (take a leaf from Garmin)

Make the MPG on the dash display match the actual MPG (right now, the dash is 4-5 MPG higher, which is very misleading)

Allow the IPOD classic to play (now you need a modern version of the IPOD and I don't feel like buying a new one!).

 

Allow owner to program basic vehicle settings. Owner should not have to have a tech at a dealer do such simple tasks. The software for the touchscreen needs a menu/settings function on the MFD to allow user to change basic system settings such as auto-dim, lights off time after car is turned off, tire pressure baseline, shut-off for reverse beep, turn on function for back up camera, and other conveniences and annoyance avoidances that can easily handled by the Prius owner.

 

• Please give me back the interior storage of the Gen II.
• On a related note, get rid of the awful design of the center console where you have to slide it back to open it up, and the little tray lifts with it, rendering the tray useless for storing anything. Maybe put the hinge on the side so it flips open horizontally rather than vertically.
• Move the Nav Screen up a few inches (again, closer to the position of MFD in the Gen II) so one doesn't have to look down.
• Make the angle of the screen adjustable so that you can see the information in various lighting conditions - when the sun is shining on it, the screen is wiped out.

 

1. Much better visibility out of the right rear quarter.
2. Much better audio quality from the audio system (Prius IV w/nav).
3. A tachometer, temperature gauge and oil pressure gauge.
4. Better tire specs. Yokohama Avid 195/65R-15 has only 320 tread wear rating and B temperature rating and B traction rating.
5. Less cheap-looking plastic glove compartments.
6. Allow passenger to operate nav while the car is moving.

 

My observations from a new Prius owner. First let me say I am very happy but if I had to think of items that need improvement, here is my list.

-Cloth seating, we need a better premium cloth that is standard. This cloth seems to be very thin, I am wondering if it will hold up like the cloth in my Ford Escape.

-The LCD display for the temperature and radio seems dated, if it's even LCD. I am talking about the olive green/gray background with black numbers display. Something brighter and crisper is needed.

 

In ECO mode the engine should not brake when the go pedal is released for coasting.

 

I have had my Gen III Package 4 for 2 weeks now and love it.

A few things I would like to see updated in future GenIIIs or IV.

- More contact storage - my 3000 contact iPhone will not fit in the contacts list - Ford Fusion has 10GB of storage so this could be easily improved
- Allow OPTION of contact sharing across multiple sync'd phones vs forcing a separate contact list per phone
3 trip mileage counters (ie A-run to run, B - tank MPG and, C - a trip meter)
- Allow owner to change customizable settings easily and without the dealer
- power front seats
- LED lights as a separate option
- 2 mics for the handsfree plus easily accessible mic volume
- 20->40 mile plug in range (my commuting life would be complete with that and 85% of my driving would fit into the 40mile per day option)
- DRL as an option on all Prius' -> solves multiple issues including spec'g cdn cars vs US
- remove lockout for GPS while moving

 

Three major improvements I would work towards for the future Prius: a) greater storage in battery for longer EV mode up to 40 miles; 2) diesel engine for improved mileage when running on ICE: 3) Plug-in to charge electric battery and warm the engine prior to start-up (No ICE at start-up). All three vastly improve gas mileage.