3rd gen Prius smaller than 2nd?

Which specific dimensions do you mean?

My pre-purchase comparison spreadsheet shows only driver headroom and passenger volume smaller. Everything else I recorded, including total volume, is larger.

 

The trunk space is larger. Which contributes to the only thing I don't like about the Gen III, that fat square boxy a**. The Gen II has nicer lines.

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...

To the uninitiated, Priuses all look pretty much alike, but I prefer the lines of the III to the II....

 

In all fairness, I love the front and headllights of the Gen III, but I prefer the side and rear of the Gen II. It is much less angular.

 

The III has more leg room than the II...

 

I thought the III was supposed to be slightly bigger.

 

It is slightly bigger. As previously mentioned, there are a couple of smaller inside measurements, but mostly it is larger.

For some, the flying bridge between the front seats makes it feel smaller up front.

Tom

 

One area where Toyota fudged up on the Gen III is the rear of the center console. In the Gen II, the back of the center console is more upright, so you could potentially fit a long rectangular box behind the front seats in that passenger footwell area. In the Gen III, the rear curves outwards (back towards the passenger footwell) a bit. Not that big a deal normally, but I found this out the hard way when packing for a long trip over the Thanksgiving holiday.

 

Just regarding looks - I have a gen II and have always thought that while an innovative design it seemed only 95% done - the gen III looks fully cooked. I also like the interior of the gen III far more. The dash is a huge improvement. While the touch screen was cool for a short while I hate having to use it for heat, radio, etc.

 

I am 6'2" and my sons are 6'3" and 6'4". The Gen 3 easily fits the 3 of us plus another person of the same size and would be comfortable doing so for long trips. We can fit a 5th adult but this would not be ideal for really long trips.

Leg Room
While the Gen 2 had lots of leg room in the back seats, the leg room available in the drivers seat was far too limited for me to consider buying one. The Gen 3 has more travel on the front seats enabling you to adjust it to accommodate people with very long legs in the front seats as well as the back seats at the same time.

Rear Headroom
The Gen 3 roof peak is further back than the Gen 2 and does not taper down as fast. I believe this has significantly improved headroom in the rear seats.

Front Head Room
The Gen 3 roof may possibly be a fraction lower at the front than the Gen 2 due to the flatter windshield and/or the roof peak being further back but it is still higher than most cars and I have not noticed any problem. This may be partly because the drivers seat in the Gen 3 can be lowered significantly and the front passenger can push their seat back if necessary.

 

If you like your Gen II then keep it. If you want to upgrade get the Gen III. I for one am glad Toyota did the right thing and kept overall dimensions close to the original. Most other manufacturer's (including Toyota) on most other car lines can't resist serious size and weight inflation between generational changes...Just look at how Camry has porked up over the years.

If its style that's holding you back then you should face it...no one thinks your Gen II or my Gen III is a cool looking ride except other Prius owners (and Prius owner wannabees). You should get a Camero or Mustang or some other macho thing like that if style concerns you.

To most people in the outside world (lacking whatever gene posesses people to like the looks of the Prius) there is no difference between Gen II and Gen III except whether you are a new nerd or have been a nerd for a while.

 

Hmmm. I've been wondering if the time is right too; to get the Gen III. An ad in yesterday's paper shows new 2010's at $3,000 off or 12.7%. I have a 2008, and really like the looks of the new ones. I wish there was a magic formula to figure out when the best time it is to trade. Seems like you get screwed no matter when you do it.

 

Timing is everything. If I had to choose one superpower it'd be impeccable timing. For anything.

 

These days, I judge the driver's seat 'legroom' by measuring the angle of bend in my right knee while fully depressing the brake pedal with seat set in the best position (in the garage of course, what were you thinking? ) ... I have a little protractor to use.

I've read the knee bend ought to be about 130 deg. which I find comfortable.

The stock gen2 Prius puts my right knee about 110 deg. while applying or holding the brake which is quite awkward and uncomfortable. Seat full back of course. How it is with 35" legs.

The gen3 Prius with a preferred setup allows me about 130 degrees knee bend on the brake which is much better.

Luckily for me, my modded gen2 allows about 125 degress.

the gen3's brake pedal is also moved slightly to the right which is nice. Try a Jetta, the brake is very close horizontally to the gas pedal. Makes for comfortable application of the brake.

When the gen3 front seat(s) is slid fully back and put down, yes, there is less kneeroom in seat behind (even with slim seatback), but that's due to about 2.5" more seat travel in the gen3. So, you'd just move up and be good.

There is a little bit more rear headroom in gen3 and the cargo area is certainly wider.

One thing that is curiously funny in the gen3 is that the roof liner curves upward over the driver's area (even w/o sunroof), but it comes back down into the headspace at the rearward settings of the driver's seat. Gen2 does not curve back into the headspace like the gen3 does. Bit odd.

 

i just saw an ad for the 'new, larger mini'. isn't that an oxymoron?