How much of an improvement is the 3rd gen vs 2nd and 1st?

A freind of mine had a 2004 and recommended the Prius to me. When the cash for clunkers came around it was an ideal opportunity to buy a 2010 Prius.

From what I know about the 2004 and the 2010 here are some of my observations.

2010 Prius get better gas mileage. Has more leg room and more supportive seat. Ability to run electric only up to 25MPH, economy mode and power mode. These three modes were only available by modification to the older Prius.

No serpentine belt. Electric steering. Electric air conditioning so you get full air cond when the engine is not running.

More horsepower (1.9l engine vs 1.5l in older Prius).

Four wheel disc brakes. Older Prius had rear drum brakes.

There are more improvements but these are the easiest to remember.

 

Horsepower is a pretty big difference: 134hp for the Gen III, vs something like 110hp for Gen II. This means it can keep up with a majority of other midsized cars, rather than being significantly weaker than average.

The improved efficiency isn't just better mpg - the Gen III has a "fatter" sweet spot, which makes it easier to get good mpg without the need for special driving techniques. You will get even better mpg with those techniques, but from what I've read the difference is less pronounced, so you really don't have to drive any differently if you don't want to - the car will figure it out.

Those two things make the Gen III a more "normal" car than previous versions.

I also feel that the styling is a significant improvement, but you'll pay a fairly steep price premium for higher options (models III/IV/V).

 

I did not want to mount a trailer hitch on my Gen III, model III, so I mounted a trailer hitch on my 93 year old mother's 1999 Ford Taurus (which now has nearly 10,000 miles on it). I drove from Green Bay WI to Chicago IL this weekend to help my son with a project. I can tell you that the Gen III has phenomenally better seats. My butt hurt by the end of the 220 miles in either direction (not that seats get better whether heading north or south). My 2 cents.
Tony Renier

 

i would say...10-15% overall for tech upgrades, comfort, design, efficiency, etc. but also, keep in mind, that the price was relatively static. granted, most paid more, but in relation to features received, they got a better deal.

as far as what i would like to see in future releases. probably a more customizable options selection. that might not be doable on the level i want without custom ordering, but i would like the choice to custom order even if i had to wait 3 months for delivery

 

For me, the biggest improvements were the two which actually allowed me to buy a Prius: seat height adjustment and steering wheel reach adjustment. While I wish the steering wheel would extend a little bit more, it's tolerable now.

 

It's 10% better. 10% more HP, 10% better mileage.
About the same interior space, about the same exterior size. About the same flexibility re carrying ability (this is what sold me). The GIII has a few less storage options.

The GII has no problem keeping up with "normal" cars. In fact I usually leave them at lights. The GII has no problem climbing hills.

In spite of what the "car nuts" say, it's not "gutless". They're just upset they couldn't spin the tires. How juvenile!

 

My wife and I returned Sunday from a two day trip from the Chicago area to a park on the Mississippi River. 150 miles each way. My wife and I both have bad backs, but on this trip our backs weren't a bit sore. I think the seats on the III model are fine. I saw a lot of Priuses on the right hand lane.

 

2004 Prius = 118,185 miles 47.7 mpg average
2010 Prius = 19,070 miles 50.0 mpg average

Just by efficiency alone, the improvement is easy to see. The extra power is obviously nice. The moonroof is fantastic. Gotta love the electric-only increase from 42 to 46 MPH, especially since the new Eco-Meter indicates threshold. The traction-control was improved too.

In short, I'm quite happy with the upgrade.
.

 

Not just cosmetic.

Basically, if someone was of more modest height and weight, the 01 -09 Prius was built for them.

New Prius is designed for 6ft+ in the fronts.

More power, more solid, swoopier interior...

I cannot come up with a better 4 door hatchback under $25k on the market, suitable for a 6'2" driver that doesn't have VW reliability.

The best green hatchback IMO.

 

Too me it is better in almost every single way. The one thing I didn't like about it is the new center console that house's the shifter. I liked the older Prius better because it was wide open in that area and I didn't feel like my legs were cramped...

 

Yes, I preferred the shifter on the dash. It was easily reachable with hand from steering wheel. I think they put it in the center to be more mainstream, saying it is more ergonomic. But I think the dash location is actually more ergonomic.

 

i wondered about the center console change (still dont like the storage options on the 2010) but after a year (in a week!!) i have grown to very very much prefer the 2010 design, comfort and overall ergonomics more .

the info is better, easier to access and its simply a better car

 

Great post but how could you leave the much hated fuel bladder off of the list of gen II cons. That and the over aggressive traction control were the two main reasons I sold my 2006.

 

I drove a 2007 GenII Prius Touring for three years, loved the car, sold it to a relative before ordering the New Prius 5 with ATP and everything else.

The Gen III looks a little less like the rolling 'Cheese Wedge' shape of the Gen II. But I kinda take Pride in the sorta quirky appearance, so for me that meant nothing, and probably was a plus. I definitely preferrred the absence of the big intrusive center console (Bridge) that has been created in the Gen III Prius, and was not in the Gen II, another Plus for the Gen 2 Prius. The Gen III rides better, but only slightly, probably owing to its heavier weight. The Gen II gets higher mileage around town, but worse on the highway than the New Gen III. Because I drive more on open highways, the III is better there. The Prius V model with Advanced Technology Pkg had no Gen II equivalent option pkg, and the Dynamic Cruise Control and Lane Keep Assist is really worth having, though not needed, just more convenient. The interior soace is the same in my opinion though the Gen III console makes it feel less roomy than my comfortable old II felt. I could truly not decide which I liked more, but I must agree that the 2010 has an edge in appearance, though driving either model makes you look very very smart.

 

From user mileage reports at Fuel Economy

	Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
0	Model year	MPG (user count)	passenger	luggage
1	2002	44.1(26)	89 ft{3}	12 ft{3}
2	2008	46.4(116)	96 ft{3}	16 ft{3}
3	2010	48.5(80)	94 ft{3}	22 ft{3}

The last model year appears to show an abnormal, local peak.

Over time, Prius generations have increased owner usable space and also improved fuel efficiency about 5%.

Bob Wilson

 

great post rick, unfortunately, enough pros and cons to make it difficult to pull the trigger on trading in the II for a III.