I just took delivery of a 2013 after 9 years with my 2005, which I loved and am passing on to a family member. In the 2nd Gen, there was a secret compartment (I call it secret only because I didn't know it was there until after owning the car for 3 years) in the center console at the floor level. The 3rd Gen doesn't seem to have any such compartment. The curious thing is that the arm rest in the center console seems to have a hollow lid, but I can't figure out any way to get into it. Is there such a way?
I know exactly what you're talking about and I didn't find it until a few years after owning the car.. I haven't found anything 'hidden' on my 2014, but I hope one day I do.
i cut a slot in the bottom of the arm rest to hide valuables. it's hollow inside and a typical toyota waste of space. think how much space could be had in the flying bridge if the shifter were not there, it's practically empty inside.
As mentioned, the Gen III does not have the pull out tray the Gen II did. The Prius v does, but not the liftback. As for you mentioning something about a 'hollow lid', the lid opens up like any other center console lid to reveal storage inside but there is no 'extra' storage in the 'hollow lid' as you described.
but the lid is thick enough for a double opening tray like the old camry's from back in the day when toy understood the techniques of living in a small house.
And we've had many thread about this topic, and based upon how they end up, keep further discussion about it in the pancakes forum.
The hidden compartment is in your trunk. I was pleasantly surprised at the "extra" space when I took shipment of my car.
3rd Gen holds a ton of stuff when you stash it everywhere possible inside. We drive rental Prii when we go out surplus shopping and load 'em from the floor pan to the ceiling front to back leaving room for the driver and passenger. Mike
Couple pics of a loaded Prius we drove around the country. Lots of room under both front seats too Mike
Y'all gotta check out Jeep stuff for all kinds of ideas on storage and organization of stuff. I've considered and have saved gun safes for under my seats but I want them as large as possible fitting there for non-gun items. Trucks have an option for a false bottom of the back bench seat for storage galore and or guns/rifels. Not to mention also a cool bumper w storage, water hose, and even a hidden kitchen. Hint to Toyota, come pay me in creative ways for brain picking ideas. SM-N910V ?
If you look at the mechanic manual for our prii, you can figure out where can has unused, hidden, wasted space. Now, one does need to take into consideration how much weight and mass is being added to where and whether or not it provides any type or level of insulation to have any kind of guess on whether or not it will lower ones mpg or possibly cause other problems. Think about wires and buttons that could be effected. From what I can tell, removing the inside cover of the top of the console storage section isn't worth the hassle, IMO. Now, if one turns into included fridge, then maybe worth it afterall. hope this helps. YMMV SM-N910V ?
If you change out your shifter for an electronic version, there's plenty of space under it to fab a secret compartment.