How long did it take for you to get used to the split rear window?

Took me a few days, but I actually really like it now as it blocks peoples headlights if they decide to hug my bumper. So once they get close their lights don't blind me any more.

 

I think the split rear window panhandles the Prius. Split windows is a lot better than the alternative that would be to only have the top window.

 

you never get used to it, you just learn to live with it.

 

It does cause the headlights of a car behind you to appear to 'blink" off and on. Because as speed changes the spoiler blocks then uncovers the lights. Once you get past that you're fine. I never pay any attention to it now.

 

I had the same initial reaction, and as much as I wanted to get the new Gen II right away, I was put off by the split rear window. Today, it doesn't even cross my mind. I find the visibility out the rear window to be just fine. I do think I actually enjoy/appreciate the darker lower section. Thankfully, it doesn't alter your view or distort what you see. You see more than you might out of other cars.

One way of dealing with it may be to raise the rear view mirror so that you see out of the top section only. Try this for a short while to see whether you feel differently about the view.

To me, this would be a bigger concern. If you are not comfortable in your driving position, and you expect to spend many hours in the car, you should find a way to solve this before making the purchase.

Right now, I can't recall whether I believed the Gen II or Gen III seats were more comfortable to me. I know I noticed a change, but at this point, I'm very comfortable, 58,000+ miles into life in my 2010.

Thank you for taking the time to do a search before posting. I wish more people would take this route!

 

I should have added that the one thing which still bothers me about the car's design -- in terms of safe and comfortable use, not looks -- is the placement of the A pillar in combination with the rear-view mirror. I can't tell you how many times a car has suddenly "appeared" to my right (perpendicularly) at a four-way stop. I have learned to look very intently to make certain there isn't a car already there and ready to go before I go into the intersection.

 

Agreed. The annoying thing is the bar that separates the 2 rear windows is perfectly placed so as to block the car behind you...

 

I'll let you know....so far I haven't "gotten used to it."
The Prius isn't the worst car I've ever driven for rearward viability, a '71 Mach 1 and 94 Miata with the top up are a little bit worse...but it's pretty bad, especially when you also have to deal with an out sized A-pillar as well. The G3 has absolutely the worst visibility imaginable for a five-door car with as much glass as it has!

Don't get me wrong.....the Prius is fairly well executed, it's just that you have to make sacrifices if you're going to roll green at a given price point. Part of that means that you have to put up with some things....like the bifurcated rear-view for example.
That's engineering for you.

I've gotten used to the "feel no evil" steering, the felt-thin carpet, and the rattles, but the rear-view still bugs me a little bit after 30,000 miles, since like many other drivers I like to use that those mirror thingys to monitor what's going on behind my car. I don't let it bug me very much though, since there's not very much I can do about it---especially since "my" Prius is a company car.
To be perfectly honest...if they were tow capable?
I'd consider buying one for my personal use!


YMMV!

 

It really bugged me, when I first drove one.

That's why I bought a "v."

 

Rear window? Crap I just took out the rear view mirror and the split window went away.

 

Bugs me as well, and I don't think I'll ever get used to it. It always blocks the following car's grill so I can't see what make and model the ID10T tailing me is driving.

 

To me this is the single worst feature of my 2010 Prius, because it's dangerous. I've had pedestrians suddenly come into view in parking lots, and on winding roads I actually lean to the center of the vehicle to get a better view. It's also the "feature" that strikes me the most whenever I transfer to the Prius from any of the other cars I drive.

 

Agree. You do just learn to live with it. After a few days I never gave it another thought.

I also agree with this as being the only thing positive about it.

 

Took me a few days and then you forget about it. In reality, if you don't count the bar, the combined rear windows are just as big (and maybe bigger) than a lot of cars.

 

Try looking out the rear window of one of these.

 

I'm in. When can I have it?

 

And neither one matches the aerodynamics of the liftback, so both lose some MPG to style.