2012 Toyota Prius c Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.comEdmunds.com Member, Administrator, Moderator Posts: 10,316
edited September 2014 in Toyota

image2012 Toyota Prius c Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds long-term update of the 2012 Toyota Prius C includes discussion of the Prius's oddly placed instrument panel.

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  • fordson1fordson1 Unconfirmed Posts: 1,512
    The immediate, proximate reason? Because they're in the middle of the dash instead. Reason they did it that way? Because it's cheaper when you make cars for several different countries that may have right or left hand drive to facilitate that variation. Philosophical/design considerations that allowed them to do it that way? Because this is a car in which its actual function as a motor vehicle is a secondary rather than primary consideration.
  • agentorangeagentorange Member Posts: 893
    Because they are digital and you carefully placed the tilt wheel to obscure them?
  • bc1960bc1960 Member Posts: 171
    Well, it's a Toyota hybrid, so they have to remind you of that by doing something weird with the instruments and controls. And since in this car the transmission is controlled by a floor-mounted lever like a normal car, instead of a joystick sprouting randomly from the dash, the instruments got the nod. Actually, recent Toyota small cars have generally been a lab experiment in how to arrange the interior. The Echo had a center instrument pod; the Yaris has it in front of the driver. The xA had a center instrument pod; the xD has it in front of the driver. The old xB had a center instrument pod; the new xB has it...in the center. OK, WTF?
  • stovt001_stovt001_ Member Posts: 799
    IPs in the center of the dash were billed as ergonomic and good for keeping your eyes on the road, but that's all nonsense. It was just a way to save a few bucks switching from LHD to RHD, and for some reason Toyota was able to sell it so well it stuck around as a hallmark for their "hip" or special vehicles.
  • bassrockerxbassrockerx Member Posts: 24
    this trend needs to stop soon! especially in toyota products that i would otherwise be interested in buying (scion xd) i'm glad mini is doing away with that giant flava flave speedo in the middle next generation!
  • ztanosztanos Member Posts: 1
    Because, if they are where your camera is pointing, you are looking down, which is unsafe. You have to remove your eyes from the lane of travel. Could the information screen be located a little more to the left? Absolutely, but it's better where it's at than where you are pointing.
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