Exclusive: 2012 MY Prius - Changes and Additions | PriusChat indicated the Two would have it, but it turned out to be either a mistake or a last minute change. And no, not all Priuses include backup cameras. On the '10-'11 model year, in the US, you had to get nav to even get a color LCD to get the backup camera. On 2nd gens, it didn't start until 06 and it wasn't included on some of the lower packages.
The 2012 level 2 we just rented last Friday from Enterprise with a manufacture date of 03/2012 as listed inside the driver's door (I looked) has the screen but does NOT have a back up camera. Level 5 we purchased last weekend, of course, does.
Cwerdna correctly describes the pattern for GenIIIs (I didn't track GenII). My 2010 Model II lacked Nav and backup camera, and that was very clear at purchase time. I upgraded to a 2012 Model Three in part to get that camera, still absent in the current Model Two.
There is a rear view mirror system you can buy that uses a rear view camera that shows up on the mirror. When I was looking at Prius C, which has no back up system, I was considering adding that. I would look into getting that as backing up in the Prius C or the Prius III/1-5's is tough without backup sensors or a camera. If you search on the threads, you should be able to find the one that described the product.
Neither does mine and it's no big deal. A nice feature to have but not essential if you're careful when backing up.
I got it but didn't agree. The neighbor's toddler is very capable of quickly scampering down my driveway, after I directly inspect the path immediately behind, and hiding behind the bumper in a location where my cranial swivel unit cannot detect him from inside the car. I trust all the local cats to move out of the way, but not him. While this car's butt is not large enough to conceal an entire kindergarten class, as has been demonstrated repeatedly with SUVs in various news reports, one is still too many. And it seems that several local toddlers die every year by this means.
I know what you mean by needing the camera, but, isn't our noise maker supposed to scare the hell out of anyone near our car? Mike
On this note: I was able to dig up this video that I'd seen before. Code: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18789538/ns/business-consumer_news/t/blind-spots-are-deadly-flaw-most-suvs/ mentions
No. The backup noisemaker is inside only, not outside. The VPNS spaceship noisemaker is towards the front, not very loud, and didn't exist before 2012. And the great majority of victims have not yet mature enough to protect themselves.
I remember test driving a Lexus CT200h, and it had the back-up camera display on the rear view mirror. Don't know if it could be adapted to the Pri. I'm sure you know there are several after market back-up camera systems available.
Our 2011 level 3 has a backup camera and quite frankly we don't pay much attention to it when reversing. It actually seems to be a distraction. We prefer to turn our head around, use the mirrors, and also have an ultrasonic backup system installed which changes the beeping frequency as objects near the bumper.
I've grown very used to having a rear view camera on both my 2008 and now on my 2011 Prius. When I get in my 2003 Lincoln Navigator and put it in reverse that beeping isn't the same as my Prius with cam.
Is the beeping an actual sonic detector? Or just a beeping noise to inform you that you are in reverse? My family and I just test-drove a Prius 3 a few weeks ago and heard the beeping, but the salesperson said it was not ultrasonic and designed to modulate based on obstructions. I did notice one negative of the back-up camera with the LCD screen, with a lot of direct sunlight, the screen ends up getting white-washed, has anyone else had this problem? Any suggestions on how to solve this problem? The CR-V's screen, while smaller and further from the driver is within the dashboard console and has a little hood, at first I thought it was silly, but now that I think it is actually really smart to provide it shading in high sunlight situations.
