Differences between Gen II and Gen III???

Thanks to all those trying to help me out, but my complaint is with the so-called "smart key". I prefer just to keep it in my pocket, and with my Gen II Prius, I can do that and open the passenger door, or the driver door, or the hatchback door without taking the key out. I've looked in my Gen II Manual, and apparently this isn't possible. Small complaint, but still a nuisance.

 

Are you referring to driver's only SKS vs. 3-door SKS? On the Gen II, if you have SKS (I'm not sure whether that was available for all packages) it would open all 3 doors. On the Gen III, it's driver's door only for package II and III I think. You have to have package IV or V to have 3-door SKS.

 

Thanks, Tideland, that's the answer I was looking for! Wish it were different, but...

 

The 2010 handles better, from what I understand. (Bought a 2010, haven't owned one previously.) I've seen quite a few remarks that the steering has a much better feel, in particular.

It's my impression that the Gen III is much more of a normal car, while the Gen II was more of an acquired taste. Just an impression from what I've read... and I certainly didn't consider a Gen II.

 

Suppose you stepped into a Prius and weren't sure if it were a 2009 or a 2010. What would be the most obvious way to tell the difference? For instance, are the "eco", "Power" and "ev" buttons on the 2009, or just the 2010. Thanks.

 

The dash/console/shifter layout is completely different between the two.

 

I agree that the 3-door SKS on the IV and V should be standard on the lower models, but I don't find it a major inconvenience on my III model. It's a simple matter to program the SKS to unlock all doors when the driver's door is touched. On the lower models, with the SKS set for unlock all doors, when I need to get into the hatchback I simply touch the driver's door and then walk back to the hatch. This isn't quite as convenient as SKS on the hatch but it's far easier than digging for the remote, or opening the driver's door and pressing the unlock button. I generally find that I don't need SKS on the passenger door.