Euro vs US Prius

[jiepsie]

I've learned many small and large differences between the US version and our Euro Prius. This thread is an attempt to collect them all in one place, just out of curiosity.

The obvious ones:
- 16" Touring wheels as standard since 2004
- No bladder (not obvious, but well documented here)
- Rear disc brakes
- Turn signal lamps in the front fenders

Not so obvious:
- No thermos
- Euro tuned suspension
- No thumb wheel for instrument panel brightness (silly push button instead)
- Multiple Jills in the nav system, one for each language (UK English, German, Dutch, ....)
- Cannot navigate by saying an address
- Height adjustable driver seat
- Metric speedometer, cannot change to miles (continental Europe), or I have not figured out how yet.
- 15,000 km / 9,000+ miles service interval (first oil change at over 9,000 miles!)

There are probably more differences. Can anyone name more? Explain them, at least the ones that don't seem to make sense?

[Tideland Prius]

I thought it was 10,000miles/16,000kms.

- no side reflectors in the headlight and taillight compound
- rear foglights
- Different POWER button position (for RHD models compared to Japan)

also, depending on the country, you may have no SKS (UK), no cruise control (Italy), no anti-theft (France) etc etc.

- They have an alcantara option
- EV Drive mode button

[KMO]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Apr 10 2007, 09:33 PM) [snapback]421008[/snapback]</div>

- Different POWER button position (for RHD models compared to Japan)
[/b]

It's the same as Japan, surely. Far right silver panel, under the vent. (Much more elegant than the LHD position)

Also, the UK adds a more complete alarm system with microwave motion sensor, and double-locking.

Some European countries don't have the electric interior and wing mirror heaters.

European versions don't have the fancy double pivoted passenger-side wiper, just a basic one that doesn't reach the corner well.

[bulek]

I'm not sure if it is for whole EU but I got Michelin Primacy tires by default while I heard Goodyear is a standard for US. I am also not sure if EU models do have tire pressure monitors built-in.

- Piotr

[mywhitenoise]

Drivers side is on the right on the EU

[bulek]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mywhitenoise @ Apr 10 2007, 11:55 PM) [snapback]421086[/snapback]</div>

Drivers side is on the right on the EU
[/b]

This is definitely not true for countries where we drive on the right side... it's true only for countries that drive only on the wrong side

Piotr

[jiepsie]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bulek @ Apr 11 2007, 12:22 AM) [snapback]421110[/snapback]</div>

This is definitely not true for countries where we drive on the right side... it's true only for countries that drive only on the wrong side

Piotr
[/b]

Phew, for a moment I thought I'd been driving from the passenger seat for a year now

Another suspected difference: I think the US versions have a charcoal canister system to capture polluting vapors, the EU cars probably not. Not sure of that one though.

[iaowings]

oops wrong topic

[IsrAmeriPrius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lowlander @ Apr 10 2007, 12:26 PM) [snapback]421004[/snapback]</div>

- Multiple Jills in the nav system, one for each language (UK English, German, Dutch, ....)[/b]

Mine speaks American English and French, although my mastery of the latter is not good enough to tell if it is the continental or Québécois variety.

[David Beale]

Some of the differences are to increase the "home content" for import duty reasons. Tires are often used for this. I had a Subaru that also changed the spark plugs to Champion for this reason. Weird, huh?

I suspect the US Touring model has the "European suspension". I wouldn't think it would be a different third style. I wonder if Canada will ever get the Touring. Would be nice.