As best I can tell the Gen II Prius came with the rear view camera on most all models. Now, with Gen III, I am left to conclude, after reading the brochure and studying what cars I have seen on the lot, that if you don't get the nav package you don't get the rear view camera. I hope I am wrong, but it looks like safety has taken a back seat to profit taking again...
It is true that the Gen 3 Prius II and any model without navi does not have the back-up camera. However, they have also redesigned the rear hatch window and as an owner of a Prius II, I do not miss, nor do I need the back-up camera. It may be a cost-cutting factor for Toyota but I haven't heard that to be the case.
Sometimes if you want to see what is behind you, the best thing to do is to turn your head around and look. Keith (Your peripheral vision is far better than that of the rear view camera.)
I just got a call tonight from the dealer where I have a deposit and they said they can get my Model IV, but it won't have the naviation package, so of course no backup camera. They can add it, but he will have to find out what it would cost as that would be the only thing in that package that I might like as I have not heard as good things about the DVD navigation system and that could be replaced with a Garmin or some other system (I currently don't use one, not sure if I would really like one or not).
Hello Reb: There has been indeed been some "content reduction" with the G3,although there are new features on the G3 that never existed on the G2 (auto-up on all windows, for example). As you've noted, the backup camera is one of the casualties. The 3 door SKS is another (all G2s with SKS had the 3 door version). Unfortunate that the camera only comes with one option package now, because it was a great feature to include as "almost standard" equipment. Even the best "peripheral vision" can't see below the rear hatch level of the Prius (or most other cars). And if you have the rear hatch area loaded up, the visibility gets even more restricted. With the backup camera, you can clearly see almost the entire rear bumper, as well as objects on the ground up to within 1 foot away from the car. It works very well on the G2. Sure, we all got around for years without them, but after you've learned how to best use the backup camera on a G2, it's difficult to have to give it up. As you mentioned, you can still get it with the NAV package if you want to pay for it. Best wishes, Frank
The rear view camera was added to the Gen II Prius in the 2006 model year (in 2004 you couldn't get the rear view camera). In the Gen III Prius, the display screen is part of the navigation package, so there is no place to display the image from the rear view camera unless you have the navigation package. I am sure there were other options for displaying the image without the screen (e.g. in the rear view mirror). However, Toyota didn't choose to implement any of those options.
I have the rear view camera on my 2008 Prius, but I have to admit that I reflexively tend to check the rear view mirror rather than the camera display, as the latter takes time to display and is not in the same location. A much better solution would be to incorporate the camera display as an image in the rear view mirror. I understand there are some after-market devices that do exactly that.
I always thought the reverse cameras were a bit gimmicky. Yeah, it's a cool feature, but most likely not worth the cost.
They've all gone to Canada eh. Oddly all but the base package for us gets the backup camera in the mirror at least if you don't have nav.
I used to think the same thing until one day I ran over a child's toy that was in my driveway behind me. I was not able to see it by turning my head around and looking because it was right behind my car. Had that been a child, I would have never forgiven myself. Since having the camera on my 2007 Prius, I don't miss seeing anything behind my car. It is a great safety feature.
+1 No amount of peripheral vision, side mirror adjusting or head turning will eliminate that blind spot below the rear window and extending X amount of feet back that all vehicles with rear windows have. Although this blind spot on the Prius is relatively small -- nowhere near the huge blind spot that a lot of SUVs and minivans have -- it's still big enough to hide a child or adult who's crawling or lying on the ground. The backup camera is a good safety feature. It's also very useful for parallel parking or backing into a parking spot or against a wall. My biggest complaint about the 2010 Gen III Prius is that the lowest priced one with the backup camera is around $1500 more than the lowest priced Gen II with backup camera.
I am mainly concerned with seeing a small child that could be below and out of the view of the rear hatch see through portal. Thanks for the responses. Did someone indicate that the rear view camera screen is in the rear view mirror? I have seen this on the new RX350 when it does not have NAV.
I really like the rear view camera and it is one of the features that passengers are really impressed by, this is a major downer that it is not included without the nav pack. I use the backup cam in parking lots because of the wide view that it has, turning my head to duplicate the camera's view, would be a trick. What do you do when large vehicles are parked on either side of you?
Now that I've had the backup camera for a couple of years, I don't think I'd buy another car without it. I use it every day for all the reasons listed above. Additionally, it's sometimes the only thing that can provide the view of the street I need to back into, when backing out of a diagonal space at the side of the street and surrounded by SUV''s or pickups that block all view, or backing out of a parking space similarly surrounded by big vehicles.
I have '09 Pri, pkg. 2, and I think the camera came with the pkg. 2 and up. I do know that it didn't come with the base model. I use the camera everytime I back up, in addition to the other mirrors. It is a great convenience.
And let's not forget the auto-dimming mirror with Homelink started with package 3 (on the 2009). I really like both of those features. The three door SKS started with package 2 for 2009.
On the Gen2, all trims came with a mulit-function display, the place to display the rear-view camera. On the 2010, the place to display it is on the navigation screen, so rearview camera is bundled with nav. Seeing another's post about buying an aftermarket nav with rearview camera, I'd have no problem passing on the Toyota nav. The other thing is if the Toyota navigation pooped out 7 years later, it would likely cost a lot more to replace than a Garmin nav/camera, for example. Other than that, the 2010 is no step backwards. Toyota improved the really important things that are very difficult to improve otherwise - namely ... front seats, steering wheel power chassis ... nav systems are easy upgrade mods to do.
