I'm 6'2" and I've wanted to trade in my 2005 Prius II for the "roomier"generation III model for 2 years now. But everytime I take one for a test ride, the swept-down cockpit configuration bangs into the side of my right knee. I don't have this problenm in my old Prius. The new Prius v reconfigured this so my knee is free to roam and wander freely. But I dont need the extra cargo space and have become addicted to 50 MPG for the past 7 years. Does this seem to bother anyone else? It is a deal killer for me. Whit all the extra room why did they decide to make one feel like he is in the cockpit of a jet? Or video game. I hope when the new models come out Toyota takes care of us tall people again. In the meantime I am shopping for a Model II again with lower mileage.
I'm 6'3" (170lbs) and have plenty of legroom. I could see how someone with larger legs may be confined with the new console. Overall I like the interior much better than my 2005.
This was one of my gripes with the 3rd gen too. I'm shorter at 6'1", but am also 270 lbs. I have sufficient leg room in my Prius, but I don't like the console design. I do bang my knee occasionally. The 2nd gen Prius is more open and makes for a roomier cockpit. Why did they change it? Lol
I am 6'4" and 250 LBS. and I have plenty of room in my gen III . I would like a steering wheel that would telescope out further.
I agree ZNK... I'm the same height as you... I guess the Prius design team is made up of really short people? First thing I did with my Gen2 when I got it is take out the center console and it's way more comfortable on long road trips now! I dream of one day upgrading to a PriusV because it's the only new one that hasn't been ruined by a body cramping center console that too complicated to easily remove. I'm thinking that if I can eventually afford a PriusV I can also afford to strip the car of excess weight and make lots of other minor modifications that will hopefully add up to getting its MPG up near the 50mpg range. We'll see... Another option I thought about is you can buy an after market push-button gear shifter, which would allow you to remount the gear shifter on a Gen3 onto the dash somewhere, which will in turn allow you to remove the center console and then figure out how to patch the hole left behind in a professional way... Anyways, hope some of those ideas help and to all the people on here that like to talk about how they are really tall and the cramped design of the car doesn't bother them... Maybe some of you could shut up a little? I mean think about it? Are you helping address the original poster's concerns in a meaningful way?
6'3 250 lbs. My knee used to hit the center console until I moved the seat up a click and adjusted the steering wheel. Now it just leans up against it. Much more comfortable. However, reaching under it is a pain in the rear. I have to reach over and around to get to the storage. Bad design for big guys . Its not a big deal now that Ive been driving it for a while.
Eventually designed by Japanese people BTW - strange - I'm usually banging with the LEFT knee on the door handle. Considering to stick to it a piece of foam insulation tube which remained after grill blocking
6'1", 250 lbs. Ditto on the left knee, except mine hits the silver plastic piece towards the front. Was annoying at first, but I don't really notice it anymore. No problem with my right knee as there's enough clearance when operating the accelerator & brake.
And conversely you guys complaining about the center buttress it isn't going to magically change the Gen III design. Crying over spilled milk doesn't "un" spill it. The Gen III design is what it is. Just like my Lotus Elise you couldn't fit in..oh well it isn't a car for you no matter how bad y ou want it to be.
I think it is an awesome design, I’m 6’2” 200lbs and I love the unique divider, especially when you’re driving someone you don’t know too well and you don’t want to accidently touch them!
LOL... Happy New Year!!! Those who deny the validity of the center buttress and go to great lengths to modify or remove it are the true believers of the big boy's Prius gospel... Without my center buttress and a small pillow instead my Prius is more like a bench seat in a pickup truck and sliding the seats all the way forward and removing the headrest and reclining the seats all the way back the car is a giant bed, just add mattress! That is the proper way to worship a Prius...
How to Adjust Seating to the Proper Position While Driving 3rd Prius driver's seat slides about 11 inches fore and aft. Steering wheel telecopes one and a half inches (1 1/2). Hey, I'm not rocket scientist, but how is any steering that scopes and inch and change going to accomodate a seat (driver) that slides that far? Not just pointing out Prius, many cars have small telescope, lots of seat travel. I think 10 years ago many if not most of lower end cars didn't have telescopic. Hopefully in future they will realize they ought to at least double telescope range. For now, the shortest end up too close to steering wheel, tallest too far away, or tall people have to slide closer to reach the wheel, then knees bump the console. From link above. "... After adjusting the seat, including the height and the adjustments to the steering itself (below), we check the adjustment in the following manner: We place the wrist of our hand just over the topmost portion of the wheel. We should be able to place the wrist flat over the wheel and even bend it somewhat over the rim, while still keeping the shoulders (shoulder-blades) against the seat's back. This should be done with the arm straight but without putting in excessive effort. If our wrist only touches the face of the wheel (rather than be placed flat over it), or it we can only put the heel of the palm on the wheel, or if we need to lean our scapulae (shoulder-blades) forward -- we are too far back. This will make us lean forward somewhat when we steer..." ---------- If I slide forward to place wrist over top of wheel (bolded above), then legs are pretty cramped. But wow when using that rule, it's so much easier to steer. I prefer to scoot back and deal with the reach.
As soon as I bought my used 2010 I removed the buttress. After 2 weeks of uncomfortable driving with various steering wheel and seat positions, I just won't put up with the discomfort. NOW I just have to finish the project and make it look presentable. Posted are pictures of the current state of things. (I'm tall with long arms so reaching the shifter in its temporary shifter location is not an issue.)
