1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Why no rear window wiper?

Discussion in 'Gen 5 Prius Technical Discussion' started by jyoungprius, Mar 9, 2023.

  1. jyoungprius

    jyoungprius Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2005
    70
    40
    0
    Location:
    Azle, TX
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    XLE
    Does anyone have any idea why Toyota decided the Gen 5 Prius no longer needs a rear window wiper?
     
  2. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,780
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    I've never had a serious need for a rear window wiper, except maybe a couple of times when I shouldn't have been on the road at all.

    And that is over 60 years of driving and probably a couple of million miles.

    Maybe they finally figured that out.
     
    TGrracie and TE37SL like this.
  3. MalachyNG

    MalachyNG Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2019
    296
    215
    0
    Location:
    Northern NY
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XLE
    My bet is it saves on costs and a little bit on efficiency. Neither the Gen4 L Eco or the Prius Prime had rear wipers ostensibly for efficiency reasons (well the Prime also has the goofy back window that looks like butt cheeks so that would have been an interesting wiper lol)
     
    mountaineer likes this.
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,463
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    The cynic in me says they deleted the rear wiper for the same reason they deleted the spare tire.

    Still, I'm with Sam: I rarely if ever use the rear wiper (on my 2010). I might be more inclined to use it if it swept more than a paper towel's worth of area...
     
    hill, TGrracie and Tideland Prius like this.
  5. Nntw

    Nntw Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2023
    396
    242
    0
    Location:
    Toronto
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius Prime
    Model:
    N/A
    I know I'd miss the wiper on my Rav4. And they seem to be more popular than some folks here realize... was absent on previous Ioniq5s- thought i read they were planning to put them on going forward, but haven't confirmed it.


    Review: Hyundai Ioniq5 offers technology way above its price, but misses one crucial feature for Canadian driving - The Globe and Mail
    "
    Hyundai Ioniq5 offers technology way above its price, but misses one crucial feature for Canadian driving"

    The lashing rain, however, had me reaching for the switch to turn on the rear wiper for the large rear glass, only to find there is no rear wiper. Hyundai Canada’s Director for Product and Corporate Strategy, who was shivering at the lunch stop in Julian, Calif., 4,000 feet up in the mountains, said that Canadian cars do get the rear wiper, and was then surprised when he checked to find it was recently cancelled. It would have been to save weight, not cost, he guessed.
    For the rest of the afternoon, even with the rear defogger on, the rear glass was obscured by rain and dirt with no way to clear it while driving. I can safely assume that Hyundai will see the error of its decision and install a wiper on the 2023 models because it’s very much needed.
     
    #5 Nntw, Mar 10, 2023
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2023
  6. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,590
    11,212
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Sedans with rear windows of nearly the same size and slope never had a wiper. Hatchbacks got one because it could get dirtier, but if the airflow over the roof and rear is better, that should be less of a concern.
     
  7. Nntw

    Nntw Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2023
    396
    242
    0
    Location:
    Toronto
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius Prime
    Model:
    N/A
    "if" being the operative word.

    I can agree with your comment about sedans not needing a wiper. The issue becomes less clear (get it?!) when you're dealing with a hatchback that's trying to look like a sedan.
     
  8. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,590
    11,212
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    How many owners of the L Eco, and even the L, found the lack of wiper to be a serious issue?
     
  9. Perpetual Waffle

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2022
    94
    116
    0
    Location:
    Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    XLE AWD-e
    Personally, one of my turn-offs with the L Eco when shopping for a Prius last year was lack of rear wiper. It’s handy in the snow. That said, I’ve got on just fine without one, too, so it’s not a deal-breaking feature.
     
  10. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,590
    11,212
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    I admit they are handy in the snow. Times I wished the Taurus, Sable, and Camry had one. Those were rare. Using the wiper to clean rear window was a more regular affair in the HHR, Sonic, and Outback. I used it on the 2005 Prius, but the need for it was closer to the sedans than the others. A wiper on the rear split would have seen more use.
     
  11. beamsley

    beamsley Member

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2022
    66
    100
    0
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Premium w/ Solar Cells
    Aside from the obvious cost savings from a production standpoint (fewer parts, electronics, and less design work), I think it has to do with aerodynamics and the slope of the rear window.

    With an object like a window wiper, there is some wind resistance that can create drag when air travels over the roof to the deck lid which reduces fuel efficiency. I can't speak to what extent, but it definitely would improve aerodynamics to not have a rear wiper.

    Continuing on with the aerodynamics, with the steep flatter angle of the rear window that aligns with angle of the roofline, the wind should be able to push any water and debris off the window as the car moves forward, similar to a sedan's rear window. This is different from a more vertical rear window like on a crossover or minivan. This shape creates a wind "vacuum" that pushes the dirt kicked up from the tires onto the rear window.
     
  12. Todd Bonzalez

    Todd Bonzalez Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2022
    250
    160
    1
    Location:
    Ireland
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Cost-cutting probably. I've heard or Porsche owners deleting theirs to improve aerodynamics...but I don't know how much of an effect a wiper arm has on the overall drag coefficient.

    I've owned loads of hatchbacks and wagons over the years and almost never used the rear wiper.

    If you want to see what's behind you, use your door mirrors :LOL:
     
  13. flarecde

    flarecde Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2023
    45
    68
    0
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    Limited AWD-e
    It was raining last night when I drive mine home - didn't really miss the rear wiper from the C. Might miss it if we get really sticky snow though.

    I did notice the front wiper has some weird articulating design. Not sure if that's common now or not. Hopefully it doesn't lead to more failures, I've had a wiper die on me in the rain before and it sucked.
     
  14. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,590
    11,212
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Rear wiper delete in the gen4;
    L Eco was for improve aero and weight reduction.
    L was for cost cutting.
    ;)

    The gen5 could be for either or all those reasons.
     
    Tideland Prius likes this.
  15. TE37SL

    TE37SL New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2023
    17
    15
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius
    Model:
    XLE
    I see it as a welcoming change, there isn't any rear window visibility necessity after 2019 when reverse camera is federally mandated, box trucks never have any rear windows and they are doing fine
     
    mountaineer likes this.
  16. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,767
    16,014
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Right. Because you never look out the rear view mirror even when going forward?
     
  17. MalachyNG

    MalachyNG Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2019
    296
    215
    0
    Location:
    Northern NY
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XLE
    what so I can get blinded by the lifted brodozer tailgating me with his aftermarket xenon headlights?
     
  18. TE37SL

    TE37SL New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2023
    17
    15
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius
    Model:
    XLE
    Sometimes, but I can get by with just side rear view mirrors, to see what's behind me by slightly changing the viewing angle
     
    Tideland Prius likes this.
  19. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,767
    16,014
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Fair. Wouldn’t the auto dimming mirror help?
     
    TE37SL likes this.
  20. TE37SL

    TE37SL New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2023
    17
    15
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius
    Model:
    XLE
    Better yet, digital rear view mirror, I have had them on Venza and despite the camera located inside and outside glass covered in gunk, image quality is surprisingly good enough.