Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Toyota Prius Interior & Passenger Comfort Issues
Hi: If the back row seats of the Prius are lowered, could I fit 2 labrador dogs in the back? Do the seats drop totally flat on the floor? Does the tail gate open to let them out or only the back window open? Appreciate it. Lawrence
0
Comments
I mention this as a warning, if a light is left on overnight and drains the 12V battery you can't open the hatch until you "boost" the car from the front underhood fuse box.
Oh, and everybody wants a SUV, but they don't all want to pay the cost.
The center armrest is so hard, it starts to make your arm sore within a short period of time due to almost no padding.
Has anyone come up with good solutions such as aftermarket seat cushions and console armrest padding?
These cushion "look" like they might do the job, but I haven't heard from anyone who has actually used them.
Have you found anything that works to make the drivers seat comfortable?
Has anyone had the center console cover/armrest reupholstered with additional padding?
I don't know what they were thinking when they only put about 1/16th inch of padding under the fabric.
The hard plastic underneath the fabric will make your arm sore in no time.
room 2 inches i,m 6-2 any experiance with sun roof etc?
I don't own a Prius (am just thinking about buying one someday), but I have that seat cushion you pictured for my Accord.
The Accord seat is rather hard also and I have lower back issues at times.
The cushion is nice for me, but I have an electric seat and can lower it to compensate for the extra height it puts onto the seat.
I have the cushion set about 3 inches away from the back of the seat so my tailbone has no pressure on it.
Hope this helps.
My only complaint is the console and door armrests are too low. I'm probably going to make my own pads for them.
I change it to inside and I will be driving along and suddenly I will smell the road exhaust o the truck just ahead! I change it back to inside and a little while later I smell the skunk that was killed along the country road near my subdivision! - It changed yet again! ARRG!
Does anyone have a way to stop this darn thing from doing this? I now miss the old manual inside/outside air lever from my 1990 Corolla.
The "traction battery" is used by the system constantly while on the highway. It is charged and discharged cyclically as needed to operate the vehicle. When on the highway or at any other time, the engine charges the battery. Braking "regeneration" can occur at any speed, but it's primary function is not to charge the battery or keep the battery charged, it is to recover energy that would normally be lost. This energy is stored in the battery, but it's not the main source of battery charging.
Hockum! I guess the days of the New York Times being a reputable newspaper are numbered!
"Hybrid-Related Component Coverage: Hybrid-related components, including the HV battery, battery control module, hybrid control module and inverter with converter, are covered for 8 years/100,000 miles. The HV battery may have longer coverage under emissions warranty. Refer to applicable Owner’s Warranty Information booklet for details." - I doubt that Toyota would provide this long of a warranty if they believed that battery failure was a problem.
Back on TOPIC - Does anyone have any suggestions or comments on the actual topic of this post? I would really like some input.
Thank you! :confuse:
Consumer Reports (www.consumerreports.org/) says the average life expectancy of a new vehicle these days is around 8 years or 150,000 miles. Of course, some well-built vehicles can go 15 years and 300,000, if properly maintained.
Since Prius owners have reported that they have supposed 150,000 miles and consumer reports gives it excellent reliability ratings I would believe the battery thing to be a moot point.
Sorry to hear about new vehicles. I'm still driving a 1987 Corolla daily. Turned 20 this past April.
Some climate control systems only allow recirculating the air for a limited time if you are on any other vent position besides defrost-only. Try running recirculate on defrost-only mode and see if it remains on. If so, experiment again by trying recirculate on floor, upper vent, or any combination mode and see if it flips back to fresh-air mode after a certain amount of time. That would explain it. My vehicle does this (though it's not a hybrid and is not a toyota). Let us know what you find out.
Maybe you could put some padding under this cover?
As for me, so far, the arm rests are at the right heigth and are comfy enough for my elbows.
Likewise, the seat cushion is not a problem for me.
P.S. I also recommend an old twin fitted sheet for coverage and protection from dirty dogs with both Rr seats down. It fits really well. Try it.
But I'd never transport a dog that wasn't in a crate. Better for the dog, better for the car interior.
I'm glad to read your post. Sorry for your problem. I've been covering my car with 2 tarps keeping snow and ice off. I'm glad I did not do what you did though it sounds simpler. Good luck!
Thanks again about what you did. If I'd seen it in Walmart, I probably would have picked it up.
What I DON'T like is the creaking/groaning of the fresh air/recirc flap whenever it moves from one to the other position.
I am afraid to take it to my dealer due to the "over their heads" experience I had with the headlight bulb.
Arlington, TX.
for a "normal" sunroof. There are aerodynamic beads running the length of the roof that may interfere with any addition.
After a warmup or cool down period the system will test the interior air temp continually and adjust the heat or cooling to maintain the temp set by the operator.
But this issue for me is not actually a fault, but a design "feature". The issue is a basic flaw of all highly automated systems, fine most of the time, but sometimes it will make choices the user does not agree with. Unfortunately in this case I do not believe there is any way to go 100% manual. After over a year I have not found an answer to this one.
Perhaps Toyota will come up with a sensor that recognizes malodorous air and takes care of it automatically.
I know that Mercedes-Benz has a "pollution" sensor on their climate control, but there is still a problem with the gym sock odor due to the heater/ac case being
designed to allow condensation water to sit and "brew".
100% manual defeats the design feature of the Automatic Climate Control.
100% recirc is not allowed since too much recirc air causes drowsiness.
A crate on the other hand would not,not without folding the larger of the back seat sections.
I have been searching and searching for a new car based on a new career in sales where I will spend a lot of time on the road. I posted a question in a different section about cars with comfortable driver's seats, but I would like to hear about the Prius from Prius owners.
I will be driving between 30-40k/year and I'm fairly tall (6'3''). I test drove a Prius today and loved the car, but didn't have that "ahhhh" feeling in the driver's seat (BUT, it is hard to judge a car based on a "drive around the block" test drive).
I'm concerned because the Edmund's review of the Prius stated it has an "awkward driving position" but maybe this has nothing to do with the actual seat. Anyone care to share their satisfaction with the comfort level of the Prius?
Thanks!
It creates a arms extended driving position for most tall drivers. This is probably the main reason the reviews mention a seating problem,. The seat itself isn't too bad, though it's pretty firm and short cushioned. And it does not have an angle adjustment.
Definitely a try before you buy situation.