I've seen a Youtube by a Toyota mechanic and a picture on FB showing a carbon fiber rear hatch. But on mine, it's steel! This is a magnet bumper sticker. So was it carbon fiber previously but not steel? Even the rear hatch outer surface is magnetic which is surprising because my 2011 prius rear hatch was non-metallic (presumably aluminum?) I just picked up the car last week.
Surprised it's steel, i tought it was Aluminum at least.. And yes, my 2021 Prime had a CF hatch that was worth a small fortune at the dealership.
Probably due to weight balance, as the front is still aluminium. TBH, I still miss is, carbon hatch was cool :-D
not surprising to me - - in general, having owned both 22 and 24 Primes, the move toward "cheapness" is apparent in many areas, internal and external. Prius in many ways has shifted down from being Camry-like, to being Corolla-like. Still enjoy the car, but hate to see all the cost-saving moves that have diminished the overall feel of the car.
Your 2011 Prius likely had an aluminum rear hatch as part of its lightweight design. If your new car has a steel hatch, it might be specific to the model year, trim, or a replacement part. The carbon fiber hatches you’ve seen are likely aftermarket or limited-edition. Steel hatches are heavier but offer improved strength and cost savings, which might explain their use in newer models.
I wonder if the change also had to do with the amount of glass in the gen5 rear hatch (glass weighs a lot, and the change in material to the metal surround wouldn't make a huge weight difference, or so one would think).
The Prius had an aluminum hatch and hood, perhaps back to the gen1, to cut weight. The gen4 Prime got a carbon fiber hatch, mostly to help counter the weight added by the battery in the back. The gen5 going to steel for either is about saving costs.
The Prius historically featured lightweight materials like an aluminum hatch and hood, possibly dating back to the gen1, to reduce weight. The gen4 Prime advanced this concept with a carbon fiber composite hatch, primarily to offset the additional weight of the rear-mounted battery. However, the shift to steel for these components in the gen5 seems driven by cost-saving measures.
