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10 Things I’d Change About The 2010 Prius
August 12th, 2009 • Related • Filed Under
I’ve owned my 2010 G3 Prius for about two months now (I never owned a Gen I or Gen II model) and in my opinion this hybrid car has a lot more going for it than great gas mileage. At the same time, I’ve found a few things about the Prius that I think could use some improvements. Here is my top ten list of things that Toyota’s engineers should reconsider as they make tweaks to the 2011 or 2012 Toyota Prius.
- Split Rear Windows – The first thing I noticed when test driving the 3rd generation Prius was how poor the visibility was when looking in my rear view mirror. As part of the hatchback design, the back window area has two separate glass sections, with a fairly wide strip that is not glass running horizontally between them. For me, this creates an unwanted blind spot and it took some getting used to. Some owners like the split window, stating that when a higher profile vehicle (such as a truck or SUV) pulls up behind them at night, in blocks the glare for their headlights.
- EV Mode Button – I tried using EV about a dozen times during the first month I owned my Prius. Even when the hybrid battery was well charged and all the electric sucking devices were turned off or disconnected, I could only travel a 2-3 blocks at less than 15 mph before the engine kicked in. Essentially, it is useless. I know a plug-in Prius is coming, but on this model I’d get rid of the EV button.
- Coin Holder Compartment – When you lift the center armrest to access anything you might have in that storage area (for me, my Trident) there is a small black tray that could be used as a coin holder. Unfortunately, if you want to plug in your iPod or put something under that so-called coin tray, all the coins get spilled. This car could use another area to put your spare change. For now, I’m tossing in the cubby area below the shift lever on my center console. Putting stuff down there is very easy for others to see, even from outside the car…so it can become kind of messy if you’re not careful.
- Ground Clearance – Three days after I purchased my Prius I pulled into a parking lot and scraped the front edge of my new Prius on the curb/sidewalk. I was just sick as I backed up a few inches, scraping all the way, and proceeded to the front of the car to access the damage. Fortunately, none of the scratches were visible. You would think that would have been the last time that happened, but over the past 7 weeks it has occured 2-3 more times. Never have I owned a car that had such low clearance. I’m guessing it was all part of the design, to improve aerodynamics and reduce drag. To me, it’s still a drag. When we get 8 inches of snow this Winter, I’ll be plowing my way to the main road, hoping it has been plowed.
- Sunglasses Holder Compartment – Have you seen the sunglass holder on the 3rd Gen Prius? I own 4 pair of sunglasses, all of which I would consider normal size for a man. None will fit in the holder, or I should say, all will fit but I can’t close the hatch. Is this really for sunglasses, or am I supposed to put my false teeth in there? Come on Toyata, make that area a little bit larger please!
- Retracting/Sliding Arm Rest Lid Cover – I liked this at first, now…not so much. Basically, to access the storage area beneath the center console arm rest you first have to push a lever and slide the armrest back. This also gives you access to the 2nd cupholder. The bad news is that your armrest gets pushed into the leg area of the backseat. If someone is sitting back there (passenger #5), it ends up right between their knees. Even with only two kids in the back, it’s easy for someone to kick or bump this when moving around or getting out.
- Lumbar Support – I’m over 6 feet tall and there is plenty of headroom for me when driving. I’m not a big fan of the front seats, as they aren’t terribly comfortable after more than about an hour of driving. One thing that would really help would be a little lumbar support. Several of my previous rides had this, and even the manual ones with only a three lumbar settings where helpful. I imagine you can buy some kind of device that provides a little lumbar support, but it would be nice if Toyota added this to the next revision.
- Fog Lights – Search for a picture of the front of a 2010 model (or open this picture of my Prius). Do you see that gray, rectangular shaped piece of gray plastic (with a circle shape inside) where the fog lights should be? They are directly below the front turn signals. Let me tell you, these are not attractive fog lamp covers. I guess if you buy the Prius V package, there are integrated fog lamps rather than these cheap looking covers. I have a package III, so I need to either buy lamps, paint my covers black to look like the rest of the car, or learn to live with them.
- Storage Spaces – Most cars I’ve owned had more storage spaces that could be reached while in the front or back seat, compared to what this Prius has. Not a lot of places to put your CD cases (if you are old school and still listen to them) and the center compartment below the armrest doesn’t hold much, especially if you have your ipod and cell phone adaptors plugged in there. I have a couple of packs of gum and a pen, and it seems crowded.
- Improved Navigation Screen – I didn’t spend the extra money to get a navigation screen (I am really happy with the portable one I already own) but I hear that a lot of new owners are unhappy with the colors, functionality, software and resolution.
Even with these ten things I wish Toyota would change about the new, 3rd generation Toyota Prius…I still really like this car. Did I tell you it’s getting 50 miles per gallon? So, if you own one…what would you change?
Comment by Paolo on 14 August 2009:
Hi,
the lumbar support is standard in EU on all available trims (at least it is in Germany), it is electrically motorised.
Also the fog headlights are standard in Germany, and I agree that the plastic covers provided in the US look ugly.
I haven’t received my Prius yet, so I cannot really comment on the other items.
If EV mode is really (not) working as you describe, then it is really a bummer, but I would expect to use it more when entering a parking lot, a garage or while getting close to your road/parking area, than to drive “miles” with it. In Germany they advertise the EV mode as enabling you to drive up to 1.5km (about 1 mile) and/or (that is not clear) up to 45km/h (about 25mph) only in electric mode. Because Toyota wants to make sure the battery is never under stress, I think EV mode is really for very slow and very short trips.
Comment by Rick Johnson on 15 August 2009:
I agree with the improvements sggessted. I too have the Pkg III. I had a pkg II 2004 Prius and it had a lot more little nooks and crannies to put stuff. And the storage under the arm rest was much bigger. Another thing I was suprised to find out is that my 2010 has plastic wheel covers as opposed to alloy wheel on the Gen IIs,
I too have found the EV as almost useless. In morning it won’t work at all even if battery is fully charged. (I’ve heard the motor needs to warm up first. I have driven a mile in EV mode but its torture driving less than 25mph. 35 or even 30 would be more practical if possible. I just drove a couple hundred miles in the mountains with slow speeds and curvy roads and the seat did become very uncomfortable – I too with there was a lumbar support. I positive thing is the PWR mode. I was following a truck and trailer at about 30-40mph on a curvy road and when I finally found a spot where I could pass I punch the PWR mode and was amazed at the passing power. I too had a problem scraping the bottom of the front bumper on by 2004 so to compensate I found myself parking really short of where I should be and still have a problem judging where the front of the is in relation to a tree, wall or car in front of me. Actually if it wasn’t for the 50+ mpg and better power I think I would just as soon have a 2008 or 2009 Gen II.
Comment by Wes on 15 August 2009:
I am considering buying a 2010 Prius V. I realize that with the V package I will not have to worry about the fog light issue you mention, but the other points you raise have me worried. What are some of the things (aside from the gas mileage) that you really like about the car as compared to other cars you have owned?
Comment by Chris K. on 20 August 2009:
Me: package III + nav & solar, had it 2 days.
Split rear window – seems better than 2g (I didn’t own a 2g Prius but test drove many.) The rear window, when tinted (commonplace in 2g’s) was really hard to see out of (we ended up with a 1g ’cause of that issue alone!)
But the cross-bar does pose an additional minor hazard–by blocking head lights it can make it less obvious someone’s behind you. Ok, you say, flip the rear-view mirror to “day” mode. That’s fine, except when the curve of the street or a pothole makes their lights move up/down and flash you in the eyes. It’s not a huge deal, but it is an annoyance and takes a bit of getting used to paying attention in the rear-view mirror to look for other signs that a car is behind you than just the shine of the headlights.
Likes: HUGE leg room. I’m 6′4″ and I can easily set the seat and wheel up so that I can barely reach the pedals and wheel. Our 1g I have to scoot the seat back all the way. In the 3g, I roll probably 25% forward. (Otherwise it feels like I’m ‘cruisin’.
Nav system is very nice. I didn’t buy the Nav system intentionally, but we wanted the solar roof so it came along with.
I think folks are too picky. The display is clear (although having it slightly tilted towards the driver would be keen, I ain’t complainin’.) The voice is clear, has text-to-speech, is fairly accurate on the maps and alerts are appropriate. Graphics could be better but they are functional.
The backup camera display is huge and quite clear on the nav display, too.
Some minor annoyances, like setting “home” there’s no way to say “where I am now” (I thought I found that before, though.)
Oh and I can’t figure out how to set the date in the calendar display. Perhaps it picks up the date from the GPS network, but last night (Aug. 19) it showed Aug. 20.
Tons of little cubbies and other storage. Love the storage bin between the trunk and the spare tire. Like a secret compartment, but with a lot of space (would be perfect to store a laptop bag, I suspect.) Everyone’s preferences will be slightly different, so I can understand the complaints.
Also love the flip-down rear seat head rests. Awesome. (My 1g has the rear seat head rests removed. Not convenient to store those!)
Comment by Chris K. on 20 August 2009:
Oh and yeah, the “EV” mode is laughable. Why they bothered, I don’t know. I can “drive EV” in my 1g with some careful pedal work no problem, no button needed.
Comment by Steve Clamage on 20 August 2009:
I got lumbar support as a dealer add-on. They replaced the seat with one having adjustable lumbar support. They offered to replace both front seats, but it’s pretty expensive. I settled for just the driver’s seat.
Comment by Mike on 21 August 2009:
I have to agree with most of the comments thus far. I have had my 2010 PkgIII for two months now. My average mileage has been improving from 52.5mpg to 55.2mpg over the past couple thousand miles – probably my own learning curve. I did have a 2007 Civic Hybrid previously and the Prius is a HUGE improvement. That said, my gas station fill ups don’t jive with the gas economy claimed by the car’s computer. While it says I’m getting 55mpg or better, the gallons needed to fill the car reflect something closer to 50mph. While 50 is still terrific and reflective of Toyota’s MPG claims, 10% is a large margin for error.
I’m wondering why the Toyota engineers didn’t create an obvious storage space for a phone, specifically an iPhone? Since most drivers may want to look at it occasionally, storing it under the flying console or in the under-arm storage unit doesn’t allow visibility. I’ve taken to placing it in the space between the center cup holder and the arm rest. Has anyone found a good mounting device for an iPhone that would allow easy viewing? Now that Tom Tom has the navigation app for the iPhone, it would be handy to have the phone front and center on the console.
Comment by John on 4 September 2009:
I have a Prius V. I agree with comments, 2 EV Mode is useless so far. Who drives that slow and where?, 4, clearance is a problem, and 9, storage space is way less than in my 2008 Touring Prius. Also, I love the POWER feature. It really improves safety. Drove it PHX-SFO-PHX first week averaged >50 mpg. Navi is great. As is the integrated telephone. 17” wheels and tires should be standard. They are terrific to look at but even better to use. A great car so far… I loved my 2008 Prius Touring with 16″ wheels and tires. This is a stepped improvement. Thought it has less rear leg room. 6′2″ passengers use to love riding in the back seat. We will have to see what they think. Though the rear elbow room is an improvement over the 2008 model. Some trade-offs but overall, I’m very pleased especially when compared to our 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid. The Civic is OK. The Prius V is great.
Comment by Ted on 6 September 2009:
Until the plug-in comes out, things like EV Mode are just a gimmick. As said above, drive economically and one achieves the best efficiency – no different than a V8, except for the benefit of the regenerative brake. The only thing Toyota needs to do is hire some European design talent – iphone/ipod functionality, better graphics (although I commend the P3 dash and graphics over the crude 2004 graphics I now put up with), better trim and simply avoiding things like cheap wheel covers, etc. They better get on this, or soon they will be VW/Audi/Volvo/or North American cars which trump it. And get on with the plug-in please. A no brainer for anyone in an urban situation with access to a plug.
Comment by Ted on 6 September 2009:
Here’s one iphone handsfree/music hookup. I know the position of the power jack on my 2004 won’t allow for this – have they changed it on the P3?
http://www.belkin.com/pressroom/releases/uploads/06_01_09TuneBaseDirect_TBFM.html
Comment by Joanne on 11 October 2009:
I just sold my 2005 Prius and bought a 2010. I really love both vehicles but one thing that was very annoying in my 2005 was the glare from the lights on the dash direclty transferred on the windshield. I had to keep on adjusting the glow strength when driving from day and night. It still is bothersome on the 2010, but not quite so bad.
Comment by Francisco on 11 December 2009:
My very only problem: that beeping sound when R (reverse) is engaged. It’s audible only inside the car, not outside, and it’s annoying. If the car is moving backwards, why the alarm sound? I really don’t understand the logic behind this.
Other than that… the split rear window can be annoying but then, whatever isn’t clearly visible there can be seen in the external rearview mirrors. As for storage… I find it OK, as I seldom store too many things in the car.
Then, that beep…
Comment by Ginger Jensen on 26 December 2009:
I thoroughly agree with the comments re: clearance, especially in the front. The hood drops off so fast that I can only see as far as the windshield wipers…many curbs are taller than the front clearance. It would help to at least have some sort of rubber bumper up there. I, too, have some unfortunate scratches…on my dark blue 2010 Prius they are obvious. When releasing the cruise control by tapping the brake there is often a ‘bump’ which I have never experienced with my old Cadillac or my GMC SUV. But I love my Prius.
Comment by ChangoBong on 23 March 2010:
I Love the 2010 prius I’m Driving. So far about 10 months and 13,000 miles in to it these are my opinions:
The ground clearance is an Issue. It scrapes on something at least once a day and I’m a very cautious driver in the the city.
It requires great caution to keep from running pedestrians down. Between the low engine noise in parking lots and the huge blind spots created by the gargantuan review mirror … and the right post between the door window and front window … the humans in my neighborhood are running the gauntlet with me around. If you are less than 6 foot maybe it would be no issue but for the big people be careful.
The car rips. It’s fun to drive … I recommend it.
Comment by Heijx on 7 April 2010:
I drive an Aspiration spec (2nd level out of 4) European Prius and I can relate to some of the points in the top ten. Like Paolo mentions, electric lumbar support and fog lights are standard in Europe, so is headup display. This feature is great in that you can also select to have it show both speed and “econobar” so you can view the consumption history on the main screen. Ground clearance of the airdam is indeed miserable and rear visibility is like that of a Lamborghini I suppose (Non-existing). However all the other features of this car (consumption, interior space, luggage space, silence, luxury, did I mention consumption?) are greatly outweighing the shortcomings.
And since I drive mine in corporate lease for 3 years, I already have set my sights on the 2013 Prius Wagon which should solve the rear visibility issue while adding even more boot space.
Comment by Bill G on 12 April 2010:
I just returned from a California vacation, with a week of a rented 2010 Prius. The most annoying problem was the speedometer glare at night. Directly in my line of sight for the road. After a few hours at night of driving on two lane California highways trying to see through the speedometer glare really tired out my eyes. In other Prius forums I see this problem goes back to 2007, at minimum. How come Toyota did not fix this! I now see mention of a dimming knob, of course that was not obvious when in the vehicle nor should it be necessary. Every other car I’ve ever driven has had a legible speedometer that did not interfere with night driving. The only thing I can think of is Toyota thinks it’s being clever and offering a poor man’s head’s up display.
Comment by Francisco on 26 April 2010:
Finally, when the recall came, I took my Prius to get fixed and I took care of the bleeping reverse beep. Now it only beeps once when I set the gear stick in R and that’s it. It’s sheer bliss…
Comment by Donna Sue on 19 June 2010:
LOVE my new Prius III. But that open cubby is driving me crazy. Can’t someone design an organizer for down there to hold notepad, pencils, phone, etc. I’m only 3 weeks in, but I have to come up with something more effective than things just sliding around in that open space. EV mode? I can’t get it to work, but I am loving the 50 mpg!