Toyota confirms Prius-derived wagon; 2009 Prius to increase in size

Excellent!!!

 

Hope they don't make the Prius too much larger. I'd rather see the same size with better MPG, rather than a Camry-sized "big Prius". Then add a hybrid minivan instead of the station wagon, a lot more useful for commercial users and big families alike.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(John L. @ Nov 6 2007, 12:28 AM) [snapback]535356[/snapback]</div>

X2

 

Hey!! I want a wagon. I kept my Camry wagon so long because Toyota didn't make a wagon the same size as the 90 camry and I loved it, it was the perfect size. Prius was the closest I could find.

A Prius size wagon would have me at the dealers door but unfortunately not for 5 years, that's the earliest I'll replace this car. If it comes out in 2010 then 2012 would be perfect, second edition has the bugs fixed normally.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mingoglia @ Nov 6 2007, 07:44 AM) [snapback]535358[/snapback]</div>

x3

 

Hi All,

Welp, looks like the marketeers are back in charge at Toyota. Sigh...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(patsparks @ Nov 6 2007, 03:05 AM) [snapback]535380[/snapback]</div>

X2

 

I love wagons. My main reason for buying the Prius is that it's wagon-like, and does fit a heck of a lot of cargo for a car of its size. Having a choice between the hatch and a true wagon next time around would be great.

 

A wagon would have been a cool form factor but as Brick points out,
the hatchback is almost a wagon on its own. If the butt end were
"inflated" just a wee bit more then it would pretty much be about
as wagon-like as, say, a Matrix except bigger inside.
.
But frankly, I'm sick of this back-and-forth rumor mill BS that can't
make up its bloody mind about wagon, van, NiMH, Li-ion, plug-in,
size variants, or whatever. How many "official statements" and
"sneak peeks" that are forgotten in 3 weeks is it going to take
before enough people get disgusted and tell Toyota [and all the
makers, for that matter] to crap or get off the pot and make a
goddamn *decision* already? The marketroids that keep spewing this
nonsense need to be the first ones up against the wall.
.
The Estima gets something like 40+ MPG and has all-wheel drive in
the form of an extra electric motor in the back. Japan's been
enjoying them for 4 years or more now. WHY THE FVCK is it not on
roads EVERYWHERE by now?
.
_H*

 

So when are we getting a smaller one? The Prius is a large family car - how about something a bit more suitable for a city runaround?

What's a "wagon" is US-speak anyway? An estate?

 

I'm with Hobbit, the Estima would be perfect here in the US and it's all set to go.

 

If the next Prius is bigger I will not buy one. I do not like driving a larger car. One of the things I love about my Xebra is its small size. I like the station wagon body style for its cargo space, which is why I kept my Civic station wagon as long as I did. Honda had quit making the Civic wagon by the time I would have been ready for a new car. The Prius, with its hatchback, is close enough for me.

I'd like an EV made from a car like my old Civic station wagon. Nothing larger. Smaller would be good.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Nov 5 2007, 11:59 PM) [snapback]535339[/snapback]</div>

How big is needed to "comfortably accomodate 3 adults in the back seat?" Are they talking about 3 sumo flighers?

3 average-size adults sit comfortably in the back seat of my Prius. We don't need bigger cars --- okay, some do, but please create a compact version also. My Prius is big enough for my family.

BTW, sub-compacts like Honda Fit will get bigger next time (Scion xA already became xD), according to reports. Is there really no market for small cars?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KMO @ Nov 6 2007, 08:46 AM) [snapback]535434[/snapback]</div>

Yes, I believe that's the same thing, like the Subaru Outback. Four doors and and the interior is continuous with a large trunk/hatchback. Full phrase is "station wagon". What term does Australia use?

Sedan=four doors and external trunk (boot)
Coupe=two doors and external trunk
Truck=lorry, but can also include pick-up trucks, which I don't think are commonly seen in Europe.

Bonnet = front hood. There's something different about sidewalks and pavement, but I forget how that goes. You also have a special term for the common white delivery vans I think.

 

I'd love a Prius Wagon or a good small hybrid wagon too. My ideal length would be around 158" - like Daniel's Honda Civic Wagon and the current Honda Fit. But a Prius Wagon at the current Prius length of 175" would be great (I would prefer the Wagon version over the current Hatchback).

But I vote NO to increasing the size of the Prius.

This constant increasing of the size of a car while keeping the same nameplate and/or ostensible size category is rediculous and wasteful because it slowly changes people's concept (for the worse) of how big a "compact" or "mid-size" or "large" car should be. We've seen the Honda Civic grow from 139" to 177" and the Honda Accord from 162" to 194", and similar growths in the Toyota Corolla and Camry. Japanese car manufacturers are the worse offenders of this (compare, for example, the relative consistency in size of the BMW 3 series).

If Toyota wants to come out with a larger Prius, they should just call it something else.

 

IMO, what's REALLY needed is more leg room for tall drivers. They need to add driver seat height adjustments before doing ANYTHING else.

What a bunch of deaf-dumb-and-blind product marketeers.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Nov 6 2007, 12:40 PM) [snapback]535576[/snapback]</div>

Usually, in practice, it means both wider and longer. I think it's the rare instance when a car has only increased in width. (And not that there's anything right about that.)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nerfer @ Nov 6 2007, 09:33 AM) [snapback]535568[/snapback]</div>

Footpath, carriageway, verges (shoulders).

Don't forget the wings (fenders).