4th generation coming 2015!

3rd gen Prius interior ergonomics was such a disappointment to me that I traded my '05 Prius with 84,000 miles for a new' 09 Prius while the 2nd generation was still available. That's how important interior styling is to me.

 

I'm not into flying bridge either, but 2nd generation 04 - 09 Prius open space between ctr console and dash offers nowhere to rest a right shin, something good for tall drivers. If don't get good leg support from seat alone, are screwed. Do we really have to have an open space to put a purse?

I've seen open console design in previous gen CR-V, but I don't want Prius to be like a CUV. Make it similar to all the other sedans shown above, they're selling well.

 

I have been reading the last few post, and I am not really that interested in the Mercedes. What I do find interesting is the aerodynamic drag of the G3 Prius compared to the others mentioned. OK, some say the CLA is more aerodynamic. I suppose to say "It doesn't look it" would be a foolish statement. Additionally, I suppose it takes a wind tunnel to determine the numbers, but considering the fact that the Prius has underside shrouding and a profile like a "Delta Dart," to a layman, it just doesn't "look" like it.

That said, how about we concentrate the discussion on what Toyota needs to accomplish with the G4.

 

austingreen,

Why are you pining over a MB on PriusChat? I didn't participate on this board to talk about an inferior brand, but to discuss the 4th gen Prius.

Multiple speed transmissions( 18 speeds) have been around in the trucking industry and in the old hot rod days, two speed differentials coupled with 4 speed manual transmissions, effectively gave you 8 speeds. This was especially helpful when hauling around a 4:10 detroit locker that returned gallons per mile consumptions. Fast forward to 2013, drive by wire electronics and the availability of powerful CPU designs have made transmissions smoother and quicker in operation. Multiple speed trannys vs CVTs? CVTs are superior to multiple speed tranny by virtue of an theoretically infinite number of gear speeds. The electronic dance you talk about is done in milliseconds and with an infinite number of gears, the probability of finding the right gear is higher than being limited to 7 gears!

<"For those of us with hills and air conditioning, and yes I have aftermarket tires, we don't get close to 50 mpg at 75. My car does not drop off very much from other prii driving my same routes. YMMV, but you need magic gas to overcome the prius engine efficiency and drag.">

FYI, I live in SoCal with lots of mountains not hills like you have in Texas. I have even gotten a 60.6 MPG for 100 miles at an 62 MPH average with CC returning from Mt High in Wrightwood. I don't know what drag you speak about since the the 3rd gen prius has a cd of 0.25 and is more aerodynamically efficient than 95 percent of the cars out there.

​

 

I really like (and use) the bottom drawer in my 04 that opens into that space. And, yes, my wife puts her purse there sometimes. The console going down to the floor is nothing but a waste of space to me. As for resting your shin, well, I don't get it. My shin is a foot below the back of the vertical support. There's no place I can put my leg where it could possibly touch on the side. I'm short so maybe I don't get how tall people sit in cars, but my shin is close to parallel with the floor.

 

Long legs can go to the side a bit and make contact with console wall.

 

@ 6'4" mine do!

 

give it a break will you. I like good engineering, if you can't understand that I can't help you.

I also don't really like it when people exaggerate the mileage their car gets. You may get great mileage one day especially when going down hill, and YMMV. Car and driver won the prius challenge by driving a truck infront of its prius to cut down on drag. You aren't going to do that on your commute. When you go down hills you have to go back up them, but if you had said 60 at 62, I probably would not have commented.

I'm guessing you are not measuring how much gas it takes to fill up, or your odometer is wrong, or your spedometer isn't calibrated, or.... you could just be making it up. In the real world we don't get those figures. Otherwise tell me why wayne gerdes, bob wilson, and who ever tested the car for consumer reports got much worse mileage than you are claiming. And yes, these magic claims got me to borrow a different prius and see if mine was defective.

Can we just get back to the rumor that the gen IV will be more aerodynamic? Or do you want to keep making up magic mileage and say toyota has got this one perfect, it can't get any better.

 

Yep you need a wind tunnel to tell what it is. Many thought the original show car volt design looked aerodynamic and it was a total dog. My triathalon bike looks aerodynamic and it is, but it was also developed with a wind tunel.

The other part of CdA is the A - frontal area is smaller. If you lower a car it will get a smaller frontal area, and this is the other part of the CLAs lower drag. I don't expect that the prius will lose much height though, but the "toyota engineer" described a new front end that looked more like the CLA and said they were going to lower drag on the gen IV. There are also practical reasons we don't drop production cars to the 0.19 of the ev1 or xl1, it normally would take a 2 seater or a very long car if 5 people fit.

 

austingreen - Thanks. I always enjoy your post. You respond to the question; you explain it effectively; you "appear" to know what you are talking about; and you do all that without offending or insulting anyone.

I read only this thread, because later this year, I will be seriously looking at a new 2014, or waiting for the G4. So far, I do not like the looks of either of the depictions I have seen, but I do like the predictions for performance and efficiency. The only rumor I have heard that I don't like, is a smaller G4.

In my opinion, the G3 will be hard to beat. It has exceeded every expectation I had. I would not consider any car that is not a hybrid.

 

I highly doubt it will be smaller. And I highly doubt it will look like those artist renderings.

(I feel like we've been over this before.)

 

Amen to Lee Jay's comment about the drawer under the 2nd generation console. Those of you who bought the 3rd generation sedan & never owned a 2nd gen have no idea how many storage options were either eliminated or reduced in size in today's model. I have easy access to all 4 cup holders, 2 large door pockets, the drawer under the console, the console itself & 2 larger glove boxes that you 3rd gen folks don't have.

 

If I had a choice, I'd go for the Prius V design. The 3rd Gen is on the bottom of the totem pole for me. While the 2nd Gen may look awkward, I value function over form on the interior. Just reading the posts here show that we have a 3 way split. Some like the bridge, some like me like open space and others wants to emulate best selling sedans. Looks like Toyota won't be able to please everyone.

 

and the little flip open shelf under the radio, i really miss that one!

 

Markabele - You are correct, we have. And, I agree with you completely .... I am certain the depictions will not be accurate .... I just hope not.

But the recent talk on this thread about aerodynamics, and front end designs cause me a little concern. I honestly do not like the current trend of these enormous "maws" with all manner of bends and side "swoops" that seem to be the fashion. Some of which are not even real (Ford something with the fake side grilles on either side of the main grille). I do like the sculptured side treatment, however, and I like the wedge shape of the current Prius.

 

Ya, I feel like Ford's trend to put those fake little silver side grills up and behind the front wheels is really going to date them 5-15 years from now. You'll see them and be like, ya, I know exactly how old those cars are. Especially if future fashion rules them a little less pretty.

 

autingreen,

You claim you are interested in good engineering, but Mercedes Benz products are not synonmous with good engineering in MPG, Emissions, Hybrids/EVs, and Reliability. Your focus on cd as an excuse for good engineering and using an inferior Mercedes Benz make to back up your argument is not the subject matter of this thread. It is all about the 4th Gen Prius and nothing else.

 

No absolutely not. The lower drag is part of both economy and performance. Lower cd is a win win.

MB created crumple zones and smart key. Do you think the prius would be better if Toyota had not coppied these MB innovations? Stop being such a brand loyalist. Toyota is very good at learning what other car companies are doing, and incorporating them into their designs. Well except lexus as been bad at figuring out some BMW engineering, so toyota is partnering with them on some projects. Crumple zones add cost and weight. Smart key adds cost. Not everything in the prius is about Japanese efficiency. There is some well engineered safety and luxery features too. If you want the ultimate in efficiency, look at very light car, which when it looked at efficiency decided lightness helped more than the hybrid. They even traced it to the prius, and figured the hybrid system while only weighing 300 here, made the prius as efficient as a 2000 lb car. Most of the prius efficiency is not hybrid, but low rolling resistance, low drag, and efficient engine, but the hybrid system helps keep the engine in the efficient range. Very light car got there by under sizing the engine, and then using aggressive egr. The Gen III prius also uses aggressive EGR.

I'm sure the gen IV prius has some efficiency tricks up its sleave, but we have heard about lower weight by about 150lbs, lower rolling resistance tires, and lower drag. Many of us think they will also add DI, which they have just added to the Lexus ISh, but adds about $100 cost per car for the gain in efficiency.

 

Austingreen,

Smart keys are RFID technology which has been around for 20 or so years in the electronic industry. They did not invent it. If you want to hang your hat on that make's crumple zones and ignore their weak points, go right ahead. How about this for your history, back 1979 while Toyota was beginning to use ECU( Electronic Control Units) modules, MB was running advertisements in the LA Times, stating their simple mechanical computer was state of the art in engine control vs any ECUs. To this day MB is NOT state of the art in Automotive electronics, just look at their audio systems in their automobiles. Ever heard of Bla-Junk?

 

There definitely some stylistic things going on even on the prius. I take this as one of the stupidest designs

Its an expensive Aston martin station wagon Doesn't that just scream, I have so much money, that I don't car how bad my car looks. I think the front wedge of the prius is more stylistic than aerodyanmic. I expect now that 2016 is looming that toyota will try to pull out the aero stops to ad efficiency, as long as it doesn't hurt comfort by reducing interior volume.