I have been having a problem with the sliding armrest. The armrest normally locks closed. Releasing the lock allows you to slide the cover back, exposing the beverage holder. Releasing the lock a second time allows you to lift the cover up along a hinge along the back edge allowing access to the center compartment. I have found that sometimes the cover latch disconnects, so that the lock never engages and you can swing the cover up even when it is in the forward position. I think this happened when I once reached to the right when I was in the driver seat (the car was parked of course when I did this) to try to get something that fell off the passenger seat between the seat and the door. My body pushed the armrest cover to the right which spread the left and right walls of the center console container slightly apart. The little tray inside the compartment would drop slightly keeping the two walls apart. The two locking pegs then would not reengage if you open the armrest cover and then close it. The solution is to lift up the little tray, and then the armrest cover will open and close normally.
I could have sworn the prius I test drove opened straight up from the closed position OR slid back and then opened straight up. The one I actually bought only does the slide back then hinge up. Lately I thought I was just imagining it. Thanks for clearing that up!
I found that the sliding back created a major problem if there were 3 passengers at the back seat and the console would hit the middle person's knee.
I think the whole design of that center console sliding cupholder thing is the cheapest thing on my car. I'm beginning to not like this one aspect of the car. Ha, after 2 months I finally have a complaint!
