Cargo capacity, compared to 2016?

you can see the outside, the doors are locked.

 

the hatch space is the same, you lose most of the under floor storage tray, and the spare tyre.

the base didn't get power seat, tech package.

gen 4 prime supposedly coming in 3 levels instead of 2.

 

For the PiP1 the space lost was spare tire port + about 1-ft3 of the 2-ft3 space below the false floor.

For Prime, we do not know numbers but I am guesstimating about 4-ft3 lost out of 17-ft3 in the rear hatch area (comparing to the no-spare 2 eco).

Notice that Toyota quotes 27-ft3 for the 2-eco but we do not know how they get that number (EPA cargo space is a complex spec). Instead I am trying to quote real ft3 number in the back hatch (the old fashioned cargo space definition). There is no false floor in the Gen4/Prime like we had in Gen2/3.

Here is how I guessimated:
Base case cube = 2.57 x 2.57 x 2.57 = 17ft3
Prime Estimate = 2.57 x 2.57 x 2.00 = 13.2 ft3

 

we are all awaiting the pricing, i hope you are incorrect about the base.

 

What would your guessimate for the gen 3 be? That would be a more realistic comparison for a current Prius owner considering the Prime. EPA, the 27-ft3 is five more than the gen 3.

 

We have most of the old figures from Toyota but I am too lazy to go back in time.

I think something like this:
Gen2 16-ft3 includes all (under floor/over tonneau) space
Gen3 17-ft3 (+1ft3 over Gen2 from the classic Toyota 2010 Prius Technology YouTube video)
Gen4 without spare 502-liter = 17.7-ft3...about 1.5-ft3 less with spare (no sub-floor in Gen4)
so I am guessing 13-ft3 for Prime...similar to Gen2 not counting the under floor space in Gen2

Gen3 switched over to EPA Cargo Space for specs ("la-la-land"). I used to go to Toyota Canada website for the "real" numbers, but Canada has starting using US numbers. So EU or Japan should give real numbers now.

By my thinking, the 2010 video was the last time we heard any real specifics from Toyota USA about true USA cargo space, and they did not quote the newer EPA cargo space figures at that time.

 

What do you have now? Are you thinking of switching from a Volt to PP? Whaaa? Just for better (non-released) mpgs in HV mode (obviously bad assumption here)?

 

The best way to measure seems to be the standard used for sedan trunks, which is used for the EPA. It simply sees how many standard sized boxes will fit in the trunk. I guess using a tape measure for wagons and SUVs was deemed easier or cheaper. But there are multiple standards there(the one for EPA isn't the most current), and even when the same standard is used, different technicians can still measure in different spots for different results.

Regardless of measurement, the gen 4 and Prime might end with less usable space for some people than the gen3, because the hatch went to more sedanish from kammback in profile.

 

Well without the subfloor Gen4 can potentially be more usable open space, but overall similar to Gen3.
But yes Gen4 with spare could be slight less vol in the back than Gen3.
Some liked the subfloor divider in Gen2/3. Prime could be a little less than PiP with of course double the battery size.

 

The divider/fake floor seems to be the norm in wagons and hatches that I have had. A Matrix, Prius, HHR, and Sonic have all had such to get the floor reasonably level. There is actually a sizable amount of space underneath in the Sonic. The HHR had the cleverest cover/fake floor. Flat on one side, the other had two recessed trays with small tie down hooks. It could also be installed halfway up the cargo walls to form a shelf with space underneath for shopping bags.
That's the tray side in the shelf position, and the following is of the flat side, showing how far up the seat backs it was.

 

21.6 square feet, 2015 was the same + 3 square feet or so using the subfloor.
2016 Prius Cargo space goes from 24.6 - 27.4 depending on your trim.

Supposedly it goes down to 20.4 (7 less than the 27.4).

So it is odd that it's less than the previous gen. It might be negligible, but I think it's a factor considering the shape of the back being the limiting factor now. If they add 1 cubic feet and make it just about the same as the previous gen, the folded seats might lay flat with the cargo space on an even level lol.

 

Yes but look at the Japan specs for Gen4 I believe it's 502 liters = 17.7-ft3 in back behind rear seat (no spare), and something like 457-liter with spare = 16.1-ft3 (both from my memory so caution advised).

The relatively new USA EPA spec (my guess) may include putting seats down and adding space under windows. That's why Gen2 to Gen3 went from 16 to 21 (spec change) and I am thinking the shrinking rear Gen4 windows adds 3-ft3 in EPA's new method. My assumption is every bone in EPA's body wants to shade specs to make hybrids and plug-ins sound better on paper.

 

I don't need any specs too see that cargo space has significantly gone down in the Prime compared to the regular Prius or gen. 1 Plug-in .,but that's not whole story .
The big problem is that the left over space is more user unfriendly than ever !
The cargo floor in Prius was allways quite high compared to other cars .
Stacking two suitcases on top of one another could be risky in a gen. 3 if not tied down properly while having to brake hard,but in the Prime this should be near to impossible .
Even putting in the suitcases upright could be a problem because lack of hight from the the floor to the roof and maybe the hatch will not close .
I am very surprised Toyota didn't try to keep as much cargo room as possible,knowing they had to put a bigger battery inside of the Prime .
All they had to do was divide it !

 

...but if you have EU specs for Gen4 cargo space, Prime, as well as Gen3 for that matter, it could help because here we've gone to a new cargo space spec system that is semi-useless.

 

Prime vs. gen 4 Prius merge :

Prime vs. gen 4. Prius :