Sitting waaaaay back

I always hate making these type of posts because it sounds like I'm doubting you... Anyway, I'm also 6' 2" and have no problem with seat or feeling like I'm too large for seeing properly out window? I tend to have my seat pulled up more than you'd think for I'm always more uncomfortable if seat is pushed too far back. Maybe you could just remove the front seat and sit in the back seat...

 

Is it the roof-line that cuts your vision or the rear-view mirror? I am not nearly as tall, but I would really like to reposition the mirror as it is squarely in my view (turning right mostly).

 

No need to be doubting. Being 6'2" myself, and my dad <1" shorter (when we were both much younger), the difference in height was quite noticeable when sitting down. Sitting down, I was almost 3" taller than he was, but when he buys pants, they're 2" longer than what I buy.

I sit tall, but he needs lots more legroom than me.

 

I didn't read the other posts, but you did pump the seat height adjust handle all the way down right?

I'm 6'2", but a lot of that height is in my legs. I have a great view out the front windshield, I mean really good, and the rearview mirror doesn't block my line of sight at all. Granted, your Four has the fancy rearview mirror that hangs a little lower.

Do report about the seat height adjust. The front passenger seat does not go lower for your tall wife. You can help things by reclining the seatback a little more.

I don't think you'll do too well by sliding the seat all the way back. The steering wheel is biased to press in close to the dash, likely for many very short people in Japan. It needs to pull closer to drivers about an inch. All you can do is scoot up. I slide seat 2 forward from full back and of course, height adjust all way down. About 3 clicks back on seatback, and all is well.

 

You can get some good glimpses of 2nd gen Prius and Corolla seat frames here. I don't recommend altering OEM seats from my experience. If didn't work out in 2nd gen, finally sold off the car.

It is better to install an aftermarket seat and save your original seat for resale time.

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...eight-adjustable-drivers-seat-2009-prius.html

 

dupe post see below.

 

dupe post see below.

 

Just wanted to address your question more directly. I can guarantee there is no Toyota nor aftermarket, off the shelf solution to take your original seat and lower it further to the floor. The seat and belt is a critical safety item: It's what holds your body in place in an accident.

I can see where a 6'2" person with tall sitting height might struggle to be low enough for a good view out the front. The Prius windshield is very steeply angled back making forward vision an challenge for some. They could have made the seat lower more, but then it might not have gone high enough for the shortest drivers out there, so there's a trade off.

Your easiest solution might be to scoot the seat forward an extra notch or two, make sure your shoes aren't huge and bulky, then recline the seatback a little extra.

 

Is that the logic behind why the steering wheel's so close to the freakin' dash that it might as well be part of it, even "telescoped" all the way out? Jeepers. It needs to come out about a foot more than it does, or the dash needs to intrude about a foot farther into the cabin than it does. I'm 5-foot-7 but have longish legs, so I sit with the seat nearly all the way back. To say the steering wheel is at arm's length for me is kind of an understatement. I end up pressing on it rather than gripping it. I shouldn't have to give up leg room to be able to grip the wheel properly.

 

I will only agree that the 3rd gen liftback Prius steering is a little close to the dash telescoped out. I've some #'s to help.

If you think about it, the foot pedals, brake and gas set a datum point for 'driver ergo' (need better term) measurements. So, I choose the brake pedal. One can get a decent rough estimate how the Prius compares to other cars by measuring from the brake pedal straight to a chosen point on the steering wheel in similar adjustment. Our 3rd gen Prius stacks up like this.

brake pedal to steering wheel, fully scoped, tilt down

2010+ Prius : 25.25"

I'm forgetting the exact numbers of the Corolla, Civic, Camry, but I know for a fact they were all just over 26" and I specifically remember the Accord sedan was 26.5" as was a VW GTI.

So, the differences are not large, like a foot. And it indicates that small differences can make a big difference in feel in the driver's seat.

 

I will agree that the 3rd gen liftback Prius steering is a little close to the dash telescoped out. I've some #'s to help.

This whole issue was one of the biggest reasons why I didn't buy the 2011 Prius in Jan 11. It was only til I finally scooted the seat up a notch and stopped driving so much with bulky running style shoes that I came to grips the Prius should work.

Not to be a jerk, but, you may want to use this search in Google -

correct driver's seat adjustment or proper driver's seat adjustment.

Look through some articles from professional drivers. You may just want to double check that things are set up reasonably.

If you think about it, the foot pedals, brake and gas set a datum point for 'driver ergo' (need better term) measurements. So, I choose the brake pedal. One can get a decent rough estimate how the Prius compares to other cars by measuring from the brake pedal straight to a chosen point on the steering wheel in similar adjustment. Our 3rd gen Prius stacks up like this.

brake pedal to steering wheel, fully scoped, tilt down

2010+ Prius : 25.25"

Measure for yourself, for kicks. Brake pedal at rest straight to the bottom front face of steering wheel, look in from the side. You should see 25 1/4" unless our tape measures don't match.

I'm forgetting the exact numbers of the Corolla, Civic, Camry, but I know for a fact they were all just over 26" and I specifically remember the Accord sedan was 26.5" as was a VW GTI.

So, the differences are not large, nothing like a foot. And it indicates that small differences can make a big difference in feel in the driver's seat.

 

Interesting measurements. Thanks for the info. Glad you agree that the wheel is too close to the dash.

I agree with you: A little more distance in the telescoping would mean a lot. I know this would make for a somewhat freakish-looking steering-wheel stem (or whatever it's called), but it's necessary in this case. The ergonomics of the Prius are just not that great.

 

I did a poll last year with wishes for interior improvment and there were a lot of responses to have the wheel 'a little' closer. That was fairly common in replies.

The steeing column actually has the typical 1.5" of telescope in and out that seems quite common in Japanese cars even compact and midsize like Camry and Venza, Accord, etc...

so the thinking is the column is not quite mounted in the best location to benefit longer legged drivers.

FYI, the 2nd generation Prius brake to wheel measurement was / is 24.75", hence the 3rd gen only picked up 1/2" closer scoped out, and goes 1" closer to the dash than the 2nd gen! that's what I measured and anyone is welcome to refute that. And to think many customers wailed for 'telescoping steering' wheel which I usually interpreted as they want it to pull much closer to them. Well, we got about 1/2" this time around, that's it....

but then there's the one's who will come on here (I've seen it) and will tell about their poor dear mother who is 4 ft 7 in tall and must scoot the seat all the way to the dash, but she can't have the steering wheel in her lap. I kid you not, whether the story true or not, I've seen this replied to me here.

I sometimes think there's little 'gremlins' that creep into the interior design team at Toyota a spoil a few things or so....

but then I realize they are putting massive effort into the driver train, and this time around that effort was the achieve the coveted 50 MPG average. They did a nice improvement overall, but oh how we'd like it to be even better. I'm sure they'll keep coming out with next generation 'regular' Prius, and the quirks of this or prior Prius' will give all the more reason to trade in and get the next best one....

and that bodes well for Toyota, sigh.

One more thing... that same measurement on the Prius v is a full inch longer ...

Prius v - 26.25" ... and I can tell sitting in that car.

 

Ah, interesting that that was a common theme in the replies to your poll. Thanks for letting me know I'm not alone!

Yeah, makes sense that the engineers might have been paying more attention to the drivetrain than to the ergonomics. And you would hope Toyota would refine it in future generations of the Prius.

I'll have to do that measurement myself and report back.

 

See the above edit about the comparison to the 2nd gen's same measurements subtle, but indicative.

I do not know, I might seem over the top about these things, but one thing might be true, modifications to one's steering wheel might be just about impossible. I hear some are putting in Japanese Domestic Market steering wheels, but those might have the same dimensions.

 

Ah, interesting! Thanks. Yeah, only half an inch closer clearly didn't cut it.

 

I'm 6'2" as well. Since the wheel doesn't telescope enough for me I was forced to crank the seat down all the way, put a slight tilt toward the rear, and slide the seat closer to the dash.
It's not the way I normally set up my vehicles, but I have still found it to be comfortable even on long trips.


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