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Euro vs US Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by jiepsie, Apr 10, 2007.

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  1. jiepsie

    jiepsie New Member

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    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?
     
    #1 jiepsie, Apr 10, 2007
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    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
     
    #2 Tideland Prius, Apr 10, 2007
  3. KMO

    KMO Senior Member

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

    bulek Junior Member

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    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
     
    #4 bulek, Apr 10, 2007
  5. mywhitenoise

    mywhitenoise New Member

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    Drivers side is on the right on the EU :)
     
    #5 mywhitenoise, Apr 10, 2007
  6. bulek

    bulek Junior Member

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

    Piotr
     
    #6 bulek, Apr 10, 2007
  7. jiepsie

    jiepsie New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bulek @ Apr 11 2007, 12:22 AM) [snapback]421110[/snapback]</div>
    Phew, for a moment I thought I'd been driving from the passenger seat for a year now B)

    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.
     
    #7 jiepsie, Apr 10, 2007
  8. iaowings

    iaowings New Member

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    oops wrong topic
     
    #8 iaowings, Apr 10, 2007
  9. IsrAmeriPrius

    IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member

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

    David Beale Senior Member

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    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.
     
    #10 David Beale, Apr 10, 2007
  11. jiepsie

    jiepsie New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsrAmeriPrius @ Apr 11 2007, 12:32 AM) [snapback]421124[/snapback]</div>
    I've set mine to English because the menus are translated badly in Dutch. So I get the UK Jill giving instructions, and then the Duch one says the names of the exits (or the German one once I cross the border to Germany). I'm wondering what yours would do if you'd drive to Québec...
     
    #11 jiepsie, Apr 10, 2007
  12. Betelgeuse

    Betelgeuse Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KMO @ Apr 10 2007, 04:08 PM) [snapback]421044[/snapback]</div>
    Got a picture? Now you have me curious.
     
    #12 Betelgeuse, Apr 10, 2007
  13. IsrAmeriPrius

    IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KMO @ Apr 10 2007, 01:08 PM) [snapback]421044[/snapback]</div>
    If you are referring to the glass breakage sensor, that is a dealer installed genuine Toyota accessory in the United States.
     
    #13 IsrAmeriPrius, Apr 10, 2007
  14. jiepsie

    jiepsie New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Betelgeuse @ Apr 11 2007, 12:39 AM) [snapback]421132[/snapback]</div>
    I think this is what KMO is talking about:
    [​IMG]
    From this site
     
    #14 jiepsie, Apr 10, 2007
  15. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KMO @ Apr 10 2007, 02:08 PM) [snapback]421044[/snapback]</div>
    Yes it is. I would rather have it below the vent. It looks very cool. I guess Toyota didn't want to make it any more different than it is with the power button and the electronic shifter.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lowlander @ Apr 10 2007, 03:45 PM) [snapback]421140[/snapback]</div>
    I just realised that your hood release is not in the same position as ours. Obviously it's on the right side but what I meant was that yours is more or less at the edge of the lower dashboard while ours is silghtly inset.
     
    #15 Tideland Prius, Apr 10, 2007
  16. IsrAmeriPrius

    IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lowlander @ Apr 10 2007, 02:38 PM) [snapback]421130[/snapback]</div>
    When I demonstrated the car's French speaking ability to a friend, both the instructions and the road and exit names were spoken in the same French voice, pronunciation and vocabulary (i.e. rue was used in lieu of street, etc.). That was in California, not French speaking Canada.
     
    #16 IsrAmeriPrius, Apr 10, 2007
  17. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(David Beale @ Apr 10 2007, 03:35 PM) [snapback]421126[/snapback]</div>
    Yeah it does have the euro-tuned suspension.

    I'd like to but knowing Toyota Canada, it'll be expensive.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bulek @ Apr 10 2007, 02:47 PM) [snapback]421079[/snapback]</div>
    For 16" tyres, it's Michelin Pilot Primacy
    For 15" tyres, it's Goodyear Integrity

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsrAmeriPrius @ Apr 10 2007, 03:47 PM) [snapback]421142[/snapback]</div>
    Well he said when he crossed the border, it switched language automatically so he was wondering if it does the same if we cross into Québec.
     
    #17 Tideland Prius, Apr 10, 2007
  18. Acelin

    Acelin Junior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lowlander @ Apr 10 2007, 01:26 PM) [snapback]421004[/snapback]</div>
    20" rear wiper arm I believe. At least the one I purchased was listed as a JDM/Euro part.
     
    #18 Acelin, Apr 10, 2007
  19. jiepsie

    jiepsie New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsrAmeriPrius @ Apr 11 2007, 12:47 AM) [snapback]421142[/snapback]</div>
    That's a different approach to having multiple languages than over here. UK Jill never tries to say Dutch or German exit names (try to pronounce Scheveningen and you'll understand why). And I've never heard a street name either, not in any language, another difference. Any Euro Prii that say street names?
     
    #19 jiepsie, Apr 10, 2007
  20. IsrAmeriPrius

    IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Apr 10 2007, 02:50 PM) [snapback]421143[/snapback]</div>
    The language selector is on the same screen that contains the notorious "I Agree" button. I wonder if the Europeans need to agree to Toyota's legal disclaimer, like we must do, every time that they use the NAV system.
     
    #20 IsrAmeriPrius, Apr 10, 2007
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