Vehicle capacity weight has gone down quite significantly in comparison to the liftback ! Prius : 825 lb. (375 Kg) Prime : 670 lb. (305 kg) That not very much for a midsized vehicle !
Car and truck carrying capacity ratings have always been a little odd. I've definitely put 1,300 pounds of people and cargo into my 2004 with no issues at all, and I've seen people put double the cargo-bed capacity in a light pickup truck with no ill effects. 670 pounds is 4 medium-sized people and no luggage. I'd bet you could put 4 200 pound people and an additional 150 pounds of luggage in the back and not notice a big change. It's not like the frame or suspension is just going to bend or break. The big loads on a car are from corning or going over bumps at high speed. I suppose if you over load it *and* hit a big bump at high speed that problems could result, but for normal driving, it shouldn't be a problem.
They already "saved" 68kg by removing a 5th seat. (I got the number from the owner's manual. It states that the cargo capacity is based on an average weight of 68kg per person. That's approximately 150lbs). If you want to look at it "glass half full", it's the "same" as liftback because if it could carry 5 people, there's your 70kg difference. If you look at it "glass half-empty", that's a 148kg swing (70kg lower plus weight savings of 68kg by removing the 5th seat) I recall an article (online newspaper?) that stated that carrying capacity is low in new vehicles and the example they used was a Dodge Grand Caravan. It has seats for 7 but cannot carrying 7 large adults because it would exceed the carrying capacity listed in the driver's door jamb. If we were to use Toyota's numbers of 68kg/150lbs per person, that leaves 33kg/72 lbs left for luggage - or about 2 carry-ons.
Car weight limits are a big, fat problem "Six 200-pounders would overload the seven-passenger Dodge Grand Caravan minivan." The heavy reality of car weight limits "The truth is that many new family sedans, SUVs, compacts, and subcompact models are at or near their maximum load capacity when loaded up with four average-sized American males and their luggage, gear, or other cargo."
Yep that sounds like the article. You're good at finding stuff lol. 850 lbs for a Fusion/6/Accord eh? Only 25 lbs more than a Prius. Something isn't right. They must be just using a standard. (i.e. quote this number if you're in the midsize category. Add/subtract pounds based on engine size or whatever else to fine tune). That or they're building the cars to that standard to keep costs and weight down (like the Prius Prime). Looks like the Prime as a vacation car has two options (I'm generalizing here...) 1. Two people on a road trip with luggage (and weight to spare for other things) 2. Four people and a weekend trip with luggage. (at limit)
i must say, i have never given any thought to gvw if it's just people and luggage. it's like elevators, do you count the people before getting on?
How the Toyota's line up 930 lb. (420 kg) 2016 Avalon & HV 915 lb. (415 kg) 2017 Corolla iM 905 lb. (410 kg) 2017 Camry & HV 900 lb. (410 kg) 2017 Rav4 & HV 900 lb. (410 kg) 2008 Solara Coupe 895 lb. (405 kg) 2015 Venza 885 lb. (400 kg) 2017 Prius v 880 lb. (395 kg) 2014 Rav4 EV 865 lb. (390 kg) 2017 Corolla 850 lb. (385 kg) 2014 Matrix 845 lb. (380 kg) 2017 Yaris 845 lb. (380 kg) 2016 Prius c 825 lb. (375 kg) 2017 Prius 825 lb. (370 kg) 2015 Prius PHV 775 lb. (352 kg) 1999 Tercel 775 lb. (351 kg) 2005 Echo 754 lb. (342 kg) 2008 Solara Convertible 725 lb. (329 kg) 2005 Celica 725 lb. (329 kg) 1998 Supra 690 lb. (315 kg) 2017 Mirai 670 lb. (305 kg) 2017 Prius Prime 665 lb. (300 kg) 2013 iQ EV 660 lb. (295 kg) 2015 iQ 425 lb. (193 kg) 2005 MR2 Spyder 2017 "86" & 2016 FR-S See Vehicle Placard 2016 Highlander 1385 lb. (625 kg) With a seating capacity of 7 occupants 1455 lb. (660 kg) With a seating capacity of 8 occupants 2017 Land Cruiser 1320 lb. (600 kg) 2016 Highlander HV 1305 lb. (595 kg) With a seating capacity of 7 occupants 1385 lb. (625 kg) With a seating capacity of 8 occupants 2014 FJ Cruiser 1130 lb. (510 kg) 2016 4Runner 1165 lb. (525 kg) Without rear differential lock system 835 lb. (375 kg) With rear differential lock system Luggage compartment load capacity 970 lb. (445 kg) With 5 occupants 670 lb. (309 kg) With 7 occupants 2017 Sienna GSL30L-PFZDHA 1380 lb. (625 kg) GSL30L-PRZEHA 1355 lb. (615 kg) GSL30L-PRZQHA 1290 lb. (585 kg) GSL30L-PRZSHA 1265 lb. (575 kg) GSL30L-PFZEHA 1235 lb. (560 kg) GSL35L-PFZEHA 1210 lb. (545 kg) GSL30L-PFZQHA 1145 lb. (520 kg) GSL35L-PFZQHA 1100 lb. (500 kg)
I bring a scale when shopping for garden or building materails. If they are wet they weigh much more than the bag says. Even so 9 bags of compost (40 lb) 3 per seat and 2 bales of peat moss (3cuft) in the trunk/hatch looks very heavy but easily fits in the Chevy weighing less than 3 adults.
So.... how much lower is the weight capacity if you added the solar roof option? (You have the roof and the small NiMH battery with this option). Perhaps those in Europe can shed some light when they get a hold of their owners (operating) manual.
I have a 13' Plug-In Advanced and I swear to everyone that "Everything fits in a Prius". I love my car and today she lived up to my statement. I went to Home Depot and loaded 60 4"×8"×12" solid blocks at 26 pounds a piece AND 20 bags of 2'cf mulch at 30 pounds each. The car held up and it was low although tires didn't rub. As I had hit a stop light on a hill, I didn't chance it and threw on power mode to start the short climb. I was surprised that it did what its supposed too. I don't think I'll load another 2,160 pounds of cargo and it didn't include my weight lol. Love my Prius.
Apparently 3,000 pounds is adequate to drive a VW Jetta's rear shocks through the body and pop the tires .... So wherever the line is, 2,160 pounds might be approaching it. I read a lot of posts where people put large overloads on a car and report that it hauled the load ok. I don't read nearly as many where they say they checked its behavior in an unplanned stop.
325 kg. Sorry for the late reply... p.s. the data is coming from the certification sheet which is an official document provided by the Transport Minister to each car owner, The certification sheet sais that the vehicle empty mass is equal to 1530 kg, and the to-not-exceed mass is equal to 1855 kg. The fuel mass for the 40 l tank is equal to (0,68*40)=27,2 kg. Hence, in my car I can load roughly 300 kg in total (passengers + cargo).