What are your thoughts on the Gen. 4 Prius?

sorry, no. and there won't be any '16 specs from anyone who has done it. but a few people have done it on the gen 2 and 3, because of the door issue. you can search for threads, and/or just google hatch struts. the mfg.'s take you through model and year, but again, will anything be available for the '16 yet?

 

A
How about a cord from top to bottom of of each strut to limit opening? Should be just about free. I haven't done it but I would expect to be able to set this up so that it folded neatly into the hatch opening as the hatch closed

B
If its the connecting arm to the opener that you are hitting rather than the door itself, you can often gain a lot of height by reconfiguring the arm

 

someone also did the cord work around. cheap and easy.

 

I'm first time Prius owner, took a test drive both 2015 and 2016 models, I will take 2016 anyday for handling performance and Lithium ion battery , average over 56+ or better mpg, could care less about interior stuff. Overall, Im pretty happy with Two Eco model, just my experience.

 

your 2010 has a much cheaper-looking/feeling interior than the 2016 by a lot. The G4 vents look much better than the G3 vents.

 

Is the open-hatch-to-ground dimension published? If not maybe someone could measure and post?

Our garage has a 10' ceiling, which maybe helps, though I guess there's an optimum height, driven by garage door height.

 

there is a second 12v at the back of the console for rear passengers

 

I believe that the optimum height is just high enough that it is about 6' 6" to the lowest point of the open hatch that people are likely to hit their head on. That is not enough for Basketball Centers but enough to be OK for almost anyone who could be reasonably comfortable driving the vehicle. The Gen 3 must be something above 6' 3" as I'm fine with boots on unless the grade is unusual.

The height at the top of the open hatch will depend on the hatch configuration and be at the tip of the Spoiler.

 

I have just had an opportunity to look closely at the 2016 Prius - my reactions were mixed:

New body style is okay - not wonderful - but I could live with it. The "bone china" trim is an abomination! Who in the Toyota design team thought this was attractive? (Must have been someone who previously designed video games or juke boxes!) Similarly, the Prius 3 and 4 wheels, i.e., two-tone, are a real turn off. And finally, the fabric upholstery is ugly! And the last straw - I wanted the technology package but it is only available on the Prius three and four - both of which have all of the appearance features that I cannot stand. What a screw up on Toyota's part. Can't believe how "tone deaf" their design department is (in my opinion).

I went to my local dealer with the intention of purchasing a new Prius to replace my 2008 Prius two with 171,000 miles - but I came away so disappointed that I will just keep what I have until Toyota comes to its senses and makes the Generation 4 Prius look like an automobile and not an amusement park ride.
jjsct

 

thank you for posting your opinion.

 

I was also wanting to replace my 2008 Pri--I am truly sad.....and I have not even seen this in person!

 

Aesthetics

 

I'm kinda put off by the exterior, has the look of flashy running shoes or whatever, just crass looking, don' like. But the interior, I hate. I couldn't live with that dash.

 

The new PiP?

 

I could LIVE with the exterior--MINUS those side back BLACK sections---why not a window there?

 

Went to the local Auto Show yesterday.
Finally got to see in person and close up the new Gen 4 Prius, also got to sit in it.

I swear it's not sour grapes, so I'll start with the positives...

The Prius has evolved.
The exterior now has creases.
The interior looks more refined.
It has a more "mainstream" look both outside and inside.

The negatives...
Nothing really blew me away.
In some ways the "mainstreaming" of the interior look, has made IMO The Prius more boring. Sitting behind the wheel now, looks like sitting behind the wheel of nearly any "normal" vehicle. With the possible exception of the drive toggle...there isn't any visual ques that make you know you're sitting in anything different or special.

It's more refined looking. No controversial flying buttress. It's "nice"...but compared to any vehicle..not anything really special. To me, it now connects more to it's own brethren in the Prius c and Prius v, which can be taken as either a good thing or a bad thing.

I like that Toyota has done away with the elliptical steering wheel, it's now round. It should make steering wheel covering options and choices wider and more easily obtainable. If you want to, you can now just go buy a cover at your local auto parts store.

A clear mistake Toyota has made? IMO...they did away with the dual glove box. Opting for a deep welled single compartment. In this day and age, I'm not sure that is wise. People have so many gadgets, the more storage compartments, I think the better. People like to separate their breath mints from their smart phones.
I like the the more horizontal upper storage glove compartment on the Gen 3 coupled with the utilitarian larger "regular" glove compartment on the bottom. The two together give me more storage choices.

This wouldn't be a deal breaker to me, but I do think it was a interior design mistake.

There remains a big center storage console, which was fine, although it felt a little lower and less comfortable to me, but this might of been my imagination or simply because I'm use to the height and feel of the Gen 3's console.

Side note, most of the Prius on exhibit had the white toilet bowl console space covered with a decal. My guess is that the white porcelain look isn't long lived in the Gen 4.

Then just in general, as far as sitting in the vehicle and looking at it, I was more or less just underwhelmed. Nothing really jumped out at me and screamed...BETTER! At best, slight improvement or "different" was the most I could say.

Pet Peeve and additional side note:
Why doesn't Toyota and other manufacturers steal some interior ideas from Honda? The Prius Gen 4 CONTINUES to have these cartoonishly large rear vehicle head rests, that if left in normal position serve as huge rear vision impediments. With both of them up, you have two large blind spot producers.

Meanwhile Honda has the wisdom to create rear headrests that push down and integrate evenly with the back seats when not in use, leaving the rear view unimpeded.

This isn't new to Gen 4, I keep the rear headrests on my Gen 3 folded forward when not in use to create a better rearward visibility, but I don't understand why Toyota doesn't try to improve in this area. Integrated rear head rests can't be a copyrighted thing. Toyota COULD do it.

All these feeling and observations don't include the actual machine itself. The improved efficiency, the independent rear wheel suspension.
I would expect that the Gen 4 Prius has become a better machine.

And admittedly, I would say it's become a more refined, mainstream looking and feeling vehicle. So taken as a whole, that's evolution. But my first impression, I was not blown away by the evolutionary leap.

Additionally, while the interest in the Prius was above average, larger crowds surrounding it. Women were NOT clamoring to have their picture taken next to it. This Prius is NOT going to compete with the Mazda MX-5 or the new Jaguars in this regard, even if Toyota's commercials would like to make us think it will.

 

Finally found my tape measure, I get for Gen2 hatch is 81.5-inches (6' 9.5") high so if the garage door is much below 7-ft you'll have the issue on a Gen2.

 

i did.

ceiling = 97" arm track = 93" door open = 84" gen 2 & 3 spoilers = >84" <93".



btw mods: well merged!

 

Checked our gen 3: tippy top of the spoiler looks to be around 87" (7'-3"). That right at the middle, and a little hard to measure, a bit of eyeballing involved.

 

Ok, here goes, I've got a Plug-in, love it. It won't set the world on fire but it's a good ride for a commuter vehicle. I sat in a couple of G4s the other day at the dealer, a white one (touring 4) and a black one (3). Didn't drive them so I can't comment there, but I'm in for a 4 Touring when I don't need the carpool lane anymore. Other than the white console area (which has a solution), I thought it looked good. Fit and finish of the interior for both was good. Will give one a test drive in the coming weeks.