My 2007 got rear-ended at a stop sign and was declared totaled. Test drove the Gen 4 package 2 today, but was a bit disappointed with the lack of storage nooks in the front of the car (no hidden compartments). Also saw the trunk "hidden" compartment was missing as well. (Does anyone have pictures of the package 2 eco's spare tire area under the main trunk?) Is it just me or does the trunk space (without rear seats down and not including the hidden compartment in the Gen 2) in the Gen 4 seem smaller then the Gen 2?
It does *seem* smaller but it should be taller. There is a 1" lip for Gen 4s with the spare tire. The cars without the spare tire gain approximately 3 cu. ft. Keep in mind that the new double wishbone suspension does take up a bit more space than a torsion beam design. The torsion beam was chosen for its low cost and compact design when the Prius was expensive to produce and needed all components to be as small as possible to make room for the hybrid components. The double wishbone suspension does wonders for ride comfort because the Prius now has 4-wheel independent suspension. The double wishbone is also design for stability and handling purposes too, keeping the tires planted on the ground during cornering. It does take up more space but Toyota said they've tried to keep the intrusion to a minimum. In addition, that underfloor storage bin was nice but it was there because of the placement of the hybrid battery. Now that the battery is under the rear seat, there no longer is a reason for a false floor The Gen 3 would've been the pinnacle of it. The cargo space is taller and wider than the Gen 2 and still retained both underfloor bins (left side and main) The Two Eco does not have a spare tire.
Oh? So the package 2 eco has an even "deeper" trunk compared to package 2? How's the transition between the trunk and the folded seats then? I guess I should have had the dealer show me the eco version as well.
check the 'visual tables' sticky for package options such as spare tyre, and other threads on the hatch floor height, what's under it, and how it meets the folded rear seats.
I don't own package 2, but my overall observation (and I too come from Gen 2 - 2007) the space is one of the few things that became worse. Instead of 2 large glove compartments, now we have one tiny. Trash box is gone. 2 cup holders instead of 4. Back seats are some 10sm or so closer. The hidden compartment in the trunk is gone (and that was huge!). Two storage areas in the trunk on each side (which are pretty big in Gen 2!) are gone. All I was able to hide in the spare tire compartment was jump start cable. It is fairly dramatic decrease of space. I assume because of all the sensors and technology. Sometimes I am beginning to think Toyota did this deliberately to discourage people from carrying a lot of crap in the trunk to improve mileage. For example, I was always carrying heavy tire chains, which I only needed a few times in 9 years. And a large heavy bag with all possible wrenches, which I actually used 0 times. You get used to it with time. Trash I solved by buying a pair of special containers from Japan, thanks to this forum. And you begin to treat space as a much more expensive commodity than I did in my 2007. Threw away half of the things that I actually don't need. Do not keep everything in the glove compartment as I did before, and so on. And btw, the trunk does feel smaller. Mine has a spare tire. I will not argue weather it is real or just perception, but it feels smaller.
Keep in mind too: if you get a model without spare tire (Eco, 4 and 4 Touring?), you don't have a spare tire.
And then you ask yourself: if I don't even have a spare tire, where did all that space go?! Good observation
A lot of it is just foam. I took out the left most foam piece and stashed it in the garage-- and filled th cavity with a whole lot of junk I will probably never need or use. Thanks to threads like this I occasionally dig up a photo so may not forget what I have under there.
This is pretty cool! I may want to do the same. As a matter of fact will go and check my 3T right now. Did you notice any noise level change? I thought all that foam was important for the noise.
Hmm, apparently my post didn't go through. Well here it is anyway. Yes, models without the spare tire have a deeper trunk (Two Eco, Four and Four Touring) There is a step up to the rear seatback when folded (it's covered like it past Prius) No spare tire With spare tire
I honestly didn't notice any change in noise level at all, but it's entirely possible. How could there not be some? I think the stuff I stashed there and carpeted trunk liner helped You really do need to fill the cavity up to support the cover that lies on top of it. One of the white plastic fasteners/screws holding in the foam is difficult to remove without damaging it. Others described doing this successfully in earlier threads, but I stripped mine. I won't miss the fastener though --it is hardly needed even if you put everything back together as it came. I wish I had photos of some of the things we stuffed into to back of our 2010 Prius. Apart from the typical Home Depot runs, we managed a rear-tine tiller (with the hatch open a bit) a few times. The best would have been a shot of the treadmill we managed to get all the way in for a 500 miler road trip. I am looking forward to putting them 2016 to those kinds of tests.
