Prius Prime - cargo in back

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by john1701a, Jun 18, 2019.

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  1. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    Comments from non-Prius Prime owners over the years of insufficient space for carrying cargo in back has turned into rhetoric. Their claims of the floor being too high are without merit. And now that we know Toyota has remained true with their affordable & robust approach for the battery-pack with the 2020 mid-cycle upgrade, it's time to bring that misleading to an end.

    Yesterday, I got to indulge at the hardware store, replacing the pressure-washer that kicked the bucket with a nicer one. Even with the rubber floormat, which consumes a 1/2-inch of cargo height, that seemingly large box was swallowed up by the car... without even having to lower the seats.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Notice how you get the impression of the hatch not being able to shut? In reality, the glass is raised quite a bit... something most people never notice... since all they bother to look at is what's down, not up.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    After closing the hatch, it's quite obvious there isn't actually any problem. The large box fits just fine. In fact, there is even some space still above it.

    [​IMG]

    Looking at the view you get while driving, it's easy to see claims of those we've heard far too much of really don't have credibility. Over and over again, owners are finding the practical nature of the hatch area. Cargo fits just fine. And if you lower the seats, an enormous amount of capacity is revealed.

    I created this thread for others to share their own real-world experiences. I know we have posts elsewhere with random photos, but it can be handy to refresh & consolidate... especially now that 2020 deliveries have begun. Feel free to join in with your photos.
     
    #1 john1701a, Jun 18, 2019
    Last edited: Jun 18, 2019
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  2. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    Good illustration!

    Yeah, in my experience at least, the reduction in cargo-carrying capacity is unfortunate, but not a super huge concern.
     
    #2 mr88cet, Jun 18, 2019
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  3. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    That was dumb luck. I just loaded the box in back and drove away. It didn't strike me until pulling into the driveway at home that a few photos in the morning could be quite informative. My wife and I pile stuff in our Primes all the time without giving it any thought. That's the beauty of being a hatchback. Most of the time, there's reason to even lower the seats... as was with this.

    btw, I'm really excited about the cargo itself. My old pressure-washer was nice, but this one is clearly better. So when it died, the excuse to replace with an upgrade was welcomed. :)
     
    #3 john1701a, Jun 18, 2019
  4. jb in NE

    jb in NE Senior Member

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    I'm not sure why. Non Prius owners aren't on this forum, and the Prius owners that are have likely seen the post for "how much stuff have you put in your Prime."

    All the stuff I've loaded into my Prime's cargo area | PriusChat

    Before I bought my Prime, I loaded up my VW wagon with all the stuff I typically carried (the biggest being the recycling bins). I loaded all that into the Prime, it fit, so I was satisfied the car meets my needs.

    Since I picked up my car in January 2019, I don't think I've had the back seats up for more than a few days. I leave them down and treat the car like a little pickup truck.
     
    #4 jb in NE, Jun 18, 2019
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  5. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    You missed the "Prime" typo correction and there are a few who just plain don't care. Some people like to complain rather than try to understand the careful study Toyota does to provide balance. This upgrade rolling out right now is an excellent time to refresh information as well... hence new photos with enough detail to get in front of any potential wave of new rhetoric.

    And yes, there are indeed non-Prius owners on this forum. They are welcome to participate too. That's the best way to ensure we haven't overlooked anything. Feedback from all perspectives is appreciated... as long as it is objective. When they choose to disregard the data provided, threads like this emerge to deal with that.
     
    #5 john1701a, Jun 18, 2019
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  6. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    I know I'm not going to be popular for saying this...but I just don't like how the floor of the trunk area isn't flush with the liftgate. Yes..I know why. However, to me it just looks odd...like the design of the Prime was shoehorned into the existing Prius design. Hopefully the 'next generation' of Prime will package the battery better? (y)

    With that being said...there still is a lot of room for cargo! This is why I like the liftback design in general vs. the typical sedan, etc...
     
    #6 farmecologist, Jun 18, 2019
  7. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    Take off the engineer glasses. Try a pair for marketers. It's an interesting perspective.

    Prius was extremely popular based upon the "wedge" shape. So what if a bunch of the publicity was a looked upon as negative. The resulting sales were the success everyone had hoped for.

    I heard countless claims of that shape being the sole reason for purchase, so owners could smugly show off their green superiority over everyone else. It was obviously nonsense. Back then, Prius was the only midsize hatchback available and it delivered absolutely outstanding efficiency at a time when gas was very expensive. Nonetheless, that rhetoric sent a powerful message. So, why not use the newer rhetoric to reveal there is no merit to the claims. That's a classic backfire, drawing attention to what was hoped to be a negative but turns out to actually be a positive.

    In this case, that "shoehorn" is an undeniable reminder to everyone that something is different about this Prius. With millions of them on the road and most consumers oblivious to what makes each model different, the standout battery speaks for itself.

    Think about how easy it is for a salesperson (a vital link in the chain to mainstream acceptance) to use the attention the battery-pack gets to highlight the value it returns. A simple "25 miles of EV from the outlet you already have in your garage" is an easy message of purpose to convey. That's effective marketing.
     
    #7 john1701a, Jun 18, 2019
  8. E-GINO

    E-GINO Active Member

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    I've been owning a Prius PHV (EU name of the Prime) since Oct 2017, after 8 years with a Gen 3 Prius in which I loaded every sort of cargo. To my surprise, despite the donut spare tyre that I've placed horizontally on the left side, I've been still able to put the following items in the luggage van
    - on Sundays, my 100 years old Mom weelchair (remowing quick release wheels and footboards, but I used to do the same with the Gen 3)
    - on Saturdays, the weekly shopping (six 1,5 l water bottles pack, 4 big grocery bags, and other amenities like toilet paper etc).
    - when I leave for a two weeks business trip: a large computer suitcase and a big trolley (30 x 21 x 10 inches) which BTW was not fitting in the Gen 3 without lovering the couch. So the the recipe to make the most of the Prime cargo areas is not being afraid of filling it up, thanks God there is a backup camera e side mirrors. But... here, to put it all the real flaw is the lack of steel rings for a cargo net. This, I really do not understand.
     
    #8 E-GINO, Jun 18, 2019
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  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    sorry john,

    i'm not buying it. you stuck a box in the trunk and it fit. does that mean prime dimensions are the same as a lift back? no.

    and what does 'toyota has remained true with their affordable and robust approach for the battery pack with the 2020 mid cycle upgrade' mean? (n)
     
    #9 bisco, Jun 18, 2019
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  10. jb in NE

    jb in NE Senior Member

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    In my experience having owned vehicles of all shapes and sizes - I pack to the limit of the vehicle size. When we camp out of the Outback wagon, we pack bigger chairs, firewood, a skillet, etc. When I camp out of the MX-5 it's just the backpacking gear. The Prime is in the middle and plenty roomy for me. We did make a Costco run in the MX-5 last week and my wife had the big pack of TP in her lap on the way home, and food on the floor in front of her.
     
    #10 jb in NE, Jun 18, 2019
  11. jb in NE

    jb in NE Senior Member

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    This is marketing speak for "they didn't change anything."
     
    #11 jb in NE, Jun 18, 2019
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  12. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    See? I knew my view wouldn't be popular. :D

    I get it...and agree. However, the battery packaging of the Prime ( i.e. - the 'raised floor' ) *does* make it look shoehorned in. It kind of looks like someone threw a mattress or something on the trunk floor.

    I'm hoping this gets fixed in the 'next generation' of the Prime.
     
    #12 farmecologist, Jun 18, 2019
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  13. jb in NE

    jb in NE Senior Member

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    This is exactly how the Prime was built.
     
    #13 jb in NE, Jun 18, 2019
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    me too, it's practically perfect otherwise.
     
    #14 bisco, Jun 18, 2019
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  15. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    You really going to drink the koolaid, sacrifice long term for short?

    It's not worth it.
     
    #15 john1701a, Jun 18, 2019
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    um, that would be 'not' drinking the kool aid :cool:
     
    #16 bisco, Jun 18, 2019
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  17. jb in NE

    jb in NE Senior Member

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    I'm not following you at all. Clarify?
     
    #17 jb in NE, Jun 18, 2019
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    clarify johnspeak? know your audience :cool:
     
    #18 bisco, Jun 18, 2019
  19. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    That’s certainly a reasonable complaint, especially considering that there is an empty area way down below where the regular Prius has a spare tire. It would’ve been nice if they had changed the shape of that part so that they could’ve put the battery into it, thus lowering the trunk floor.

    Still, for me at least, it’s fine as it is. Changing the shape of that depression to accommodate the battery, perhaps, could have had structural effects; hard to say...
     
    #19 mr88cet, Jun 18, 2019
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  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    no question the hatch is fine for many, as witnessed here over and over.

    what we don't know is how many it is not fine for, or what putting a random box in the back and closing the hatch actually means.
     
    #20 bisco, Jun 18, 2019
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