Warning: Gen III front seats are a torture device...

It must be a lonely world for you, seeing as you’re the only person in it. Your selfish opinions are breathtaking to watch. Instead of going somewhere else to eat, you would probably sue your local diner because the bathroom sink is an inch to low or too high for you, and tell them their booths were badly designed because you were uncomfortable in them. It is NOT all about you, or anyone else for that matter. Consider yourself lucky that cars are not one size fits all. You have options; go pick one that is comfortable for you and quit whining about it. No one likes a whiner. Now I'm going home.

 

A better question might be to ask yourself why you jumped into a thread started by someone who, like many others on PriusChat, has a problem with the Prius seats.

What is the point of your denials in the face of many Prius drivers noting the uncomfortable and poorly designed seats? What is the point of your overwrought personal insults? You are so over the top with denial and insults, it seems clear you have some other issues.

 

The fact that you "Liked" your own post is very telling about you.

 

This from someone who would rather continue driving a “torture device” so you can complain about it, instead of buying a car that is comfortable for you. Now who has issues?

 

If anyone here can find me one car that EVERYONE agrees that the seats are comfortable on long trips, then this thread may have a point. Otherwise, pointless thread is pointless.

I am the majority.

 

A while back I also posted about this problem with uncomfortable seats. The prius Just isn't a driver's car car but there's a way you can get around this. What I did was added aftermarket leather to the seats and It made a huge difference and now I'm much more comfortable. Of course all this doesn't change the layout of the cockpit.

 

I'd rather trade it in on Ford Fusion Energi to get comfy seats (among other things) and I'm looking into it.

But that doesn't change the fact that Prius seats are poorly designed and complaints about them are frequent on Prius Chat.

 

But the plenty of legroom is mostly for not unless the car offered telepathic steering. ....

Simply put, Toyota checked the tilt/telescopic feature chart, but it's crappy execution. That said, there's a lot of cars with only 1 1/2" of crummy scope range. sad state the industry is in at this point. They're so afraid the airbag might be too close. pffft. As said before, the steering wheel is 17" from my chest. That's waayy more than the necessary 10 or 12 inches.

Anyone read the Prius owner's manual where it states NHTSA minimum distance from center of wheel to chest is 10"? Guarantee those of you with seat slid far back are much more than 10", probably near limit of 17 or so. ...

But everyone wants to only talk about the seat as if that's the only thing that matters in driver ergonomics / human factors. yeah sure.

I wouldn't mind ditching the car soon, but it's bad timing.

Watch out for the total lamo left foot rest in new Ford Fusion. It's so narrow, my foot just slipped off it. pathetic design.

iClaudius, I think you need to be more specific about what you think is so poorly designed in the 3rd gen driver's seat.

So, what is so poorly designed? Seat cushion? Lumbar area?

Ok, but it ought to have good and adequate range of adjustability in the all of the seat AND the steering wheel. Those are the two units we adjust. C'mon, they could skimp on a lot of things, but the friggen steering wheel? Seriously? The driver is the last person you want to piss off in the car, they are the ones who bought it and have the power to sell it off and call it a POS to all their friends.

It's easy to tell people, just get rid of your Prius liftback and go buy something else. What else? What other real competitors are there to Prius? C-Max? Not so much.

It's not going to help the hybrid/plug-in cause if mfrs are overly focused on drivetrain design and put out crap box seating/steering wheels/ armrests/footrests. People might buy it once, but not again. Said before, I sat in 2013 Leaf. HATED it. Disgusting seating / ergonomics. Supposed to be the most important EV on the planet. Headroom to the moon, but no thigh support, no scope steering wheel. A joke to sit in, like a toy, not a car.

Too bad manufacturers don't just put up on window sticker like at amusement parks like 'should be at least this tall, but not taller than this' to drive this car.....
because that's how they design them: for a limited height range of drivers. They limit the usable interior space by limited range of seat / controls adjustability.

Maybe it's an underhanded way of getting bigger people to buy bigger cars and burn more gas.

Auto manufacturers are not always your friend. In the '60's they built cars with no headrests, and once upon a time, no seatbelts. Tell me auto manufacturers didn't know people would get killed without seatbelts. They knew. They just didn't want to put in the extra cost until they were forced by regulations to do so. Funny how people blindly think everything that lands in a car is 'proper'. yeah sure. They're built to cost.

 

Can someone setup a poll and settle this? It's 2AM and I'm too lazy to learn.

I'm 5"11, 165lbs. I have no problems with the seats, arm rests, or steering column. I wouldn't say they are comfy but they are adequate and cause me no grief.

 

I haven't followed this thread, but it sure seems like it. He "tossed a grenade" and ran. Looking at his activity, he hasn't been back online since his OP.

 

He or she stated a fact, the seats were torture on long rides, and it is one that has been posted before with some frequency.

As for sticking around and fending off the Prius fanboi's "Leave the Prius alone" comments...a personal preference there. It was another of many affirmations of serious problem with the Prius seats.

 

Who said 10" - 12" is the ideal distance? NHTSA said 10" is the minimum, do they recommend a maximum? My wheel is 15" from my chest and it feels perfectly normal.

Distance is going to vary from one individual to other based on height, thus arm length. Unless you are 5' 1" or you have T-Rex arms, you can't keep the steering wheel 10" from you.

 

Your right, they are not your friends; they are car makers who make money building and selling cars. You are also correct when you say they design and build to a cost. The drive train in a hybrid uses up the majority of the budget and people already complain about how much the Prius costs. You can make the car more comfortable, but the cost goes up. How much more would you pay to get a more comfortable car? I’m sure Toyota has researched this and figured out the price point they have to reach. Currently no other hybrid holds a candle to the Prius for sales, so it looks like Toyota found the price point and comfort sweet spot. I’m not a Toyota fan, or a cheerleader; it’s economics, plain and simple. This is why I say, you’re not in the majority; if you were Toyota would have made changes, but they didn’t because their sales are excellent for a niche market like hybrids. There are a few things about the Prius I don’t care for myself and I just posted them in a different thread, but I can also see why they are the way they are, so there is no sense in getting worked up over it. Have you written to Toyota to explain your comfort issues? If you have, they may address them in a future model; if you haven’t then complaining here won’t help you. I guess the main thing that rubs me the wrong way, is when people are unhappy about something; they immediately start bashing the car or the company. So many seem to take everything so personal, when nothing could be further than the truth; just like the guy the other day that blamed the Prius and Toyota because he ran out of gas and drained the battery.

On the steering wheel; the main reason it can’t telescope as far as others, is because it doesn’t have the type of linkage a normal steering wheel has, that linkage provides the room for the longer column you need to have more telescopic range. There is no room for a normal steering column because of the space used by the hybrid drive train; this also explains the somewhat numb feeling to the steering.

Sorry about your comfort issues, but bashing Toyota won’t get them resolved. You attract more bees with honey than vinegar.

 

I... think the seats are just fine.

 

Yes I've written and called Toyota Motor Sales in Torrance regarding steering wheel, armrests.

Are you sure about the steering linkage problem limiting telescopic range in Prius? How do you know this?

I don't think Toyota ought to have made the 3rd Gen Prius driver's seat slide back as far as it does because in my opinion the wheel does not pull close enough to accomodate the driver slid fully back.

Robust article on topic many don't pay attention to:

How to Adjust Seating to the Proper Position While Driving


"6 Adjust the steering distance. Where adjustable, this should be adjusted with the steering wheel height, to as parallel to the back as possible. While gripping the wheel properly, our elbows should be bent at about 120 degrees. There should be a minimal clearance of 10" (and preferably 30cm) between the center of the steering hub and the base of the breastbone (sternum). It should also not be further away that 45cm (17.7")..."

I knew about the limited wheel scope before purchase, but it's bothering me more than I had anticipated.

I agree 10 to 12" from chest is too close. 15" would be great to me, but that would mean it would need to scope 2" more. I'm not sliding 2" forward, my legs get cramped in sliding 1" forward.

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Much more better ... at 5'11" there's a good chance you fall under the bell curve of who the Prius liftback was really designed. At 6'2", longs legs, I'm outside the curve apparently thanks to a steering linkage problem.

I've said it before: two huge automotive references Consumer Reports and Edmunds reported lousy steering wheel adjustability years ago. and yes, I've written to TMS.

iClaudius ...
Could you offer more substance and analysis than blanket statements? Haven't seen a professional reviewer state the 3rd gen seats are bad.

Not planning to take the cover off the steering column, but couldn't they have increased the track-like device the column slides on to make wheel scope an inch or so further?

btw, 1 1/2" telescope is par for the course in Civics, Accords, Camry and the like, they tend to be mounted closer.

Seems they could find a way to make them adjust further.

I measured a GTI one time and it scoped and inch further, something like 2 1/2". That's German engineering for ya.

 

I can’t be completely sure of this, but it is an educated guess. When more of the steering mechanicals can project farther into the engine compartment, the more room you have to install a longer shaft to attach the wheel to, thus the farther it can telescope. You could telescope several short sections into each other to give you more range, but it becomes more and more complex to do, and thus more expensive. I think the key was when, I think you mentioned, that the Nissan Leaf steering wheel doesn’t telescope at all. Again the hybrid drive train takes up all the room in the engine compartment that would be used for other things in a non-hybrid. Again I could be wrong, and if someone knows more, I will defer to them, but that is my educated guess. If you knew a good mechanic/machinist perhaps there would be a way to attach an extension to the shaft that the steering wheel connects to, in order to get it closer to where you want it, just a thought.

 

The tilt and telescope steering wheel mechanism can be seen through adjustment lever port. In photo where adjustment bar curves to left, behind it can barely see a thin 'stopper bar'. By feel there seems to a couple inches room behind the stopper bar. Look closely to see the horizontal and vertical slots for tilt and telescopic adj. If the column could slide in further (longer 'slider', stopper bar back further, then it would extend further). I'd like that.



Called Toyota Corporate reporting the 17" distance between steering wheel and my chest. The rep was sharp and suggested moving the seatback forward, but I explained it's not an option because it makes too little angle between seatback / bottom cushion, feels bad, hurts back.

* Toyota dealer (Piercey) cannot modify the steering wheel adjustment range.

She noted the case would be put in system for future design consideration to increasing steering wheel adjustment range (tilt/telescope), but they don't recommend any modifications to my car's steering wheel for safety reasons.

for iClaudius - I can get a good seat to feel bad by sliding it too far forward.

If I scoot forward so the steering wheel is 15" from my chest (holding tape one hand, camera in other, looks off, but it's 15")



My right knee is then hitting the center floating bridge console, there is no thigh support and bottom side bolster are jutting into legs. If center console wasn't there, right leg would have no support anyway. Get proper thigh support by having the seat slid back in the right place. But, with .....



..... seat right where I want it (1 notch forward from full back), wheel 17" from chest. Too far away. 2" more reach is a lot.

Toyota is making the car artificially feel smaller than it is due to you know what. Said it too many times. Perhaps I shouldn't be driving this car as it doesn't seem to be made for me.

Prius is made in Japan where average male height is 5' 7". Human height - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

and I'm 7" taller than that.

 

Cycle: based on your pics, maybe our arms are similar length, but you have longer legs. My R knee doesn't come up that close to the park button.

 

Which was my point.

It sounds like your arms are short for your height, this can happen. At least you told them about it, now they can look into improving the car for the next generation. I'm sorry the car doesn't quite work for your dimensions. I have a similar problem, just in the other direction. My legs are very short compared to the length of my back. In order for my legs to reach the pedals comfortably; I need the steering wheel telescoped all the way in. fortunately for me the wheel makes it and I am comfortable. Most peoples’ bodies follow certain ratios, you and I have ratios that are different from normal, and yours were different enough that you fell of the curve. I wish you the best of luck in finding a solution.

I wonder if the pedal positions could be brought farther forward, then you could bring the seat a little closer to the steering wheel.

 

Thank you. My legs are long and so are my arms.

I would need pedals closer to the floor (not possible) so could scoot closer to steering wheel and have that bit more legroom. I'm shelving the athletic shoes for daily driving and going back to Skechers Diameter models with minimalist soles. I'm fightin' for centimeters

I moved the seat 1 notch forward, so 2 notches total forward from full back, lowered height down almost all the way (maybe 2 pumps up), and it's a bit easier to reach the wheel, but the wheel point towards my upper chest / neck, so I'd sure hope I don't catch an airbag in the neck or chin, heaven forbid. Owner's manual says to make steering wheel point towards chest, not neck or face.