Thoughts on GIII compared to "Prototype"

Well I finally got to look at a 2010 today. It was a white "technology package" unit with solar roof. Had 15" wheels, backup camera, cloth interior. No nav., park assist, lane keeper, etc.

I'm glad to see the "Prototype" that was shown in Canada was truly a prototype! It had thin cheap plastic interior panels. The production car is MUCH nicer!

The wheels are different than what the prototype had. Much better, easier to keep clean, nicer looking without the plastic covers.

Anyone else think the interior (drivers position) seems roomier? In the Prototype it seemed "cramped". This car was ok re drivers side room - particularly the console extension to the dash. It seemed to me the shifter was also shorter in the production unit. It felt "right". The prototype felt "awkward".

My only pick on the GIII is the oft mentioned storage. The glove boxes are less useful without the shelf (upper) and manual slot (lower). How about fixing that please Toyota? The rear under hatch floor tray has lost a corner to battery cooling. I guess that's a good place to loose it to. I'd feel better if the storage tray under the shifter had bungie cord netting at least half way to the shifter bridge. It just looks like a place from where "stuff" will fall under foot when driving.

Hey, I learned something new when looking at it. The floor mats, when upside down, are "winter" mats, designed to hold water. Flip them over in summer and they are carpeted mats.

I found the display fascinating. So many choises. How do you owners decide what to look at?! Loved the button repeat on the display as you gently touched them. Great solution to the "darn dim backlit steering wheel buttons" so often complained about with the GII.

I really liked the improvements to the A/C system. Now you CAN have -just- fan driven ventilation without cooling, even in "AUTO"! Fabulous.

I didn't notice loss of headroom with the sun/moon roof. It had a nice slide-closed cover too.

Man, that engine is huge. The cover tries to trick you into thinking it's small, but it's not! What happened to the inverter cover?

Pearl is just over two years old, so I'm not planning to trade up just yet, so I didn't take them up on a test drive offer. This car is their "demo" model.

All in all, same excellant design re use of space, layout, neater exterior (taste dependant of course), more power, better mileage, fancier options. No wonder it's flying off the lots, especially in Japan!