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Where did the underfloor storage go?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by Whiteyprius, Jan 1, 2018.

  1. Whiteyprius

    Whiteyprius Active Member

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    I loved the storage under the trunk floor in my Gen 2 and Gen 3. If the new independent rear suspension needed that space I'll accept that. Otherwise, I don't know. Anybody got an answer? Thanks!

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  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I think there were a few factors.

    The biggest is probably the battery moving from the cargo area to under the rear seats. The bin essentially allowed Toyota to stash the battery in the cargo area and create a flat floor. The bin is essentially the same height as the battery compartment.

    The other is the independent rear suspension that takes up a bit more space than the compact torsion beam.

    I suspect the combination of the two resulted in a height difference small enough that it wasn't worth putting a skinny box so they just made the floor lower.
     
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  3. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    I don't know Tideland, I suspect the foam blocks added are for rear collision protection. They first appeared in the Prius C, but are now in most Prius. Perhaps the IRS caused some structure to "go away" in the rear. Alarmingly, that would mean the battery in the Prime is "collision protection". ;)

    If the foam is not needed for protection, then adding back storage is simple. And the spare might have been deleted for weight?
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Just curious: your stat's show gen II and III, but avatar pic is gen IV; have you taken the plunge?

    I'm struggling to understand, how the battery moving forward makes it more difficult to have an underfloor tray. I can see the new suspension being a factor.

    Further on storage: the 4th gen goes from upper/lower glove boxes (the lower one quite generous proportioned, to just the lower, and apparently not able to hold much more than the Owner's Manual.

    When Danny did the video reviews with Toyota USA rep, he said something about the upper glove box being deleted to avoid disrupting the flow of the dash "sculpture".
     
    #4 Mendel Leisk, Jan 2, 2018
    Last edited: Jan 2, 2018
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  5. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    I think Gen4 Toyota was striving to be more sporty looking and more sedan-like, so they dropped the back-end to look like a sedan. This involves taking quite a few ft3 out of the back-end to get rid of the bulbous look of Gen2 and Gen3. Meanwhile sedan sales are down 20% just this year.
     
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  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    prius is now 'high art', and no longer utilitarian.
     
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  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    For the Pepsi generation, if I may borrow your phrase.

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  8. Whiteyprius

    Whiteyprius Active Member

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    Did I take the plunge Mendel Leisk? Yes! My wife gave our daughter her 2008 for college graduation, so I gave my wife my 2012. Thus, I had to buy me the new 2017. (Aw shucks!)

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  9. Whiteyprius

    Whiteyprius Active Member

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    OK. I'll at least accept the independent suspension diagnosis -- Huge improvement over Gen 3.

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  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Sounds like a lot of payoffs, before you got your new toy. :whistle:
     
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  11. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    Did that mean it's time to update your profile to Gen 4? ;)
     
  12. Whiteyprius

    Whiteyprius Active Member

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    Yes, but I just can't figure out how!

    XT1710-02 ?
     
  13. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    Look to the to the of the page and click on your icon. From the drop down menu click on the blue hyperlink to your Profile Page and once there, amend as necessary. Ta-dah!
     
  14. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    The biggest problem people have with the 4th generation Prius is from previous owners. We miss what we lost but people who never owned one don't miss something they never had.
     
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  15. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    Hmm! Never had a Prius before, but I miss lots of useful cubbies etc, the ergonomic nightmare of badly placed switches and the lack of a modern information system integration. All things I can live with, but tarnish the overall product.
     
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  16. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    What do you consider modern information system integration, I don't keep up with what other companies are doing?
    What car did you have before your Prius that was better in the way of useful cubbies?
    I don't like the heated switch for the seats but other than that I will forget about those when the weather warms up, single digit F here today and about 6 inches of snow on the ground.
     
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  17. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    When using the web interface, click your Username in the upper right.
    Select "Personal Details"
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  18. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    I've had Nissan X-TRAIL, MB C Class, CRV and many others, all with more cubby holes and preferable rotatable knobs instead of touch screen only controls. The overriding omission, imho, is lack of Android Auto or Apple Car Play. Any form of smart phone screen mirroring is a tragic oversight on such a technically advanced car.
     
  19. Whiteyprius

    Whiteyprius Active Member

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    Thanks Prodigyplace. I had to go to my desktop -- Couldn't update on my mobile device.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  20. Whiteyprius

    Whiteyprius Active Member

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    Thanks RCO! I had to go to my desktop-- Couldn't update on my mobile device.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.