Prius would look better with a Gen 3 redesign

It definitely looks like it's an improvement to me, and I owned a gen 3 pruis and now own a Prime. The only thing I don't like is the double wave rear glass, but the normal gen 4 prius doesn't have that.

At least it doesn't like the 99 models of crossovers that all look the same! Now that's ugly!

 

I like the front but not the back so much. I’m used to the futuristic look now and at times it makes a lot of other cars look boring to me. Add some 17” wheels and it looks a lot better. But really, the car is so good that I can overlook some design quirks.

 

@Walker you're preaching to the choir.

 

Virtual choir in more ways than one .

 

Opinions are like butts. Everyone has one and they vary widely. (Pun not intended, but serendipitous.)

Still:
I'd driven gen 2 and then a PiP for 4-1/2 years. Wife still drives and likes her gen 2. Not one compliment on appearance. Ever.

I've had the Prime for one year. Lost track of all the appearance compliments long ago. In fact, one person has mentioned it several times.

This thing looks WAY better than previous versions. But that's not how I choose cars. This one costs me less than 2-1/2 cents per mile for gas and electric combined. And it's vastly more comfortable than the older Prii. It still has annoyances, but I've never had a car in 45 years of driving that didn't.

 

Answer is NO.
Next question.

 

Designs hardly ever go in "reverse". Gen 3 was an evolution from Gen 2...Gen 4 was an evolution from Gen 3.

I like the Gen 4, I think Toyota wanted to give it "Prius" distinction, while moving it to a sportier, more mainstream look.
Personally, I think they were pretty successful.
I say "pretty" successful if only because I'm not a big fan of the rear end. I don't like the scrunched accordion bellows look.

But overall, I like the evolution. And I don't see Toyota evolving it backwards to look more like previous generations.

 

I'll never forget a work colleague saying one time, regarding the progress of a conveyor design: "we're going backwards".

I don't think that's quite it, time is not a linear thing, and you're kidding yourself thinking life is a path you're meandering along.

But really, product changes are not always positive, nor necessarily motivated by the desire to improve. The bells-and-whistles stuff in particular.

What's that main touch-screen cost to replace now, something over six grand (USD)? A few months back someone here was inquiring. Finally disclosed: it was cracked because he'd punch it.

 

What's not to like?

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

If you think the current generation of Prius is a step backwards, what do you think about the front end of the current Lexus? I feel fortunate Toyota didn't go that route.

 

Personally, I like the Prime's styling, for the most part. In particular the back end with the double-wave glass and tail-light design, Not as much at the front, there's too much black, though I like the row-of-ice-cubes headlights and the low hood, and the fact that it doesn't have an oversized grille. I also don't like the puny 15" wheels and cheap looking wheel covers, but that is easily rectified with 16" or 17" aftermarket wheels. And there's also some attractive colour choices, though I'd like to see more than red, blue and grey-scale. It was one of the reasons I chose it over the Hyundai Ioniq PHEV, a car so anonymous looking, even the paint choices were boring.

Functionally, I love it. Certainly the drag co-efficient and overall efficiency are impressive, and it's a very care-free car to own. Plug it in when you can, don't sweat it if you can't.

It'll be interesting to see what Toyota does with this car and the rest of it's electrified line-up in the future, with more HEV's, PHEV's and probably BEV's coming.

 

And then there's the interior...

For some reason, Triumph motorcycles came to mind (maybe because we're watching Heartbeat 1992). I see they have a current model that looks pretty faithful to the classic now.

Probably all but the price...

 

I should clarify a little bit.
If we are talking body design of automobiles, I would say perhaps I was wrong in my statement that it hardly ever goes in reverse. You've got several auto's made with "Retro-Styling". I'm thinking of the Ford Mustang, The Camaro, and other current vehicles that embrace previous decades styling ques.

This being said, I'm still betting that you won't see Prius reach back significantly with any design ques.

 

Ok, I'm with you there: they don't often revert to an older style. And if they do, it's likely to be big back step.

Yeah I was thinking more of technical progress. I really think they're backsliding on that right now, all the stuff @Walker mentioned in the initial post. Mainly: silly/superfluous styling exercises, that confound aerodynamics, raise manufacturing and repair costs.

Front "bumper" of the Prius Prime is one example.

 

first compliment i have ever read for toyota 'infotainment'

 

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Both are ugly (IMO) and I have one of each. I didn't buy the car for its looks. In all other respects that matter (ride, handling, mileage, quietness, nicer interior...), the Gen 4 is a better car. But, you know, I like the flying buttress in the Gen 3.