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Gen 3 Prius not for tall people, 6ft+?!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Higgins909, Nov 8, 2018.

  1. Higgins909

    Higgins909 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2018
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    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I own a 2010 Trim Level 3, with 168k. About 5.5k of those are mine. I'm roughly 6' 2" with a slightly longer spine than legs. (was a inch or something) I cannot find a comfortable seating positing where I can reach the wheel. Looking at the driving area, I think a person that's 4ft tall could drive without issue. The steering wheel goes absurdly close to the dash and so does the seat. The seat also go about a foot back further then I use and I'm 6ft 2in. The seat has about 0 leg support and while raising the seat will slightly improve this, it will send my head into the roof. You might say to lower the seat to ride on more of a flat bottom, but then the steering wheel becomes (seat it few inches off lowest setting) too high and far even though I'm cramping up my legs so I can reach the steering wheel, that's also already too high to properly do hand over hand. I also find there are times when steering that the cruise control stick will hit my leg as well as my hands... Another problem with being tall is that the mirror is a HUGE blindspot. I question myself how I didn't see this when I first got the car...

    This car is hurting my knees and some hip area muscle and is incredibly difficult to go from gas to brake.

    Do any other tall people have such issue in these cars? ...I'm only 22...
     
  2. Pluggo

    Pluggo Senior Member

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    Location:
    Folsom, Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    I am not that tall, but I agree that the mirror is a crazy big blind spot and a hazzard. At a 4- way stop it completely hides the car to my right. You learn to lean from side to side.
     
  3. KennyGS

    KennyGS Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2014
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    Location:
    Keystone State
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I'm 6'1" and feel comfortable operating mine. I just spent a four hour round trip inside it yesterday without any issues. My tush was getting a little numb, and wish the seats were a little more plush.
     
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  4. Threej

    Threej Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2018
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    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Dude, this video is gonna change your life in 45 seconds.



    I'm 6'2", car fits perfect for me.
     
    #4 Threej, Nov 8, 2018
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2018
  5. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Good answer! Or, you could always read the manual. ;)
    Screen Shot 2018-11-08 at 7.20.12 AM.png
     
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  6. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    The rearview mirror may have two points of articulation, not sure about that model. Most mirror adjustments are done with just the lower joint, so some people haven't realized that there's a second joint above it.

    If it does have the double articulation feature, you can raise the mirror to be in line with the top of the windshield frame and still get the right alignment for full view out the back window. This significantly reduces the forward/rightward blind spot.

    Worst case you can take it to a glass shop and have the mirror (or a better one) re-mounted higher up on the glass.
     
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  7. JStrenk

    JStrenk Active Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Ravenna
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I'm 5'14" tall and really have no problems. Long rides (4hrs+) use to make my bum hurt but taking out my wallet and getting a cushion from Walmart made it great. Still can use some lumbar support though.

    Did adjust the steering wheel so no problems with that unless my kids borrow the car and change it.
    Did adjust the mirror, both joints so that it sits as high as possible and doesn't seem to block anything anymore. Not much view out the back anyway and depend upon my side mirrors anyway.

    Too bad the back up camera doesn't come on when changing lanes. That would be nice.
     
  8. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    We're talkin 6'-4" tall here, and 270 pounds! :eek: (think college football linebacker size.)

    When I was shopping Prius, I actually fit pretty good in a 2015 Gen3. Driving position was good. But that big center divider made it a bit tight for my right leg. Then when the new redesigned '16 came out, it has very good room. I fit in it very comfortably... after I'm in it. Plenty of headroom, leg room, and the peeling steering wheel is just right. :LOL:

    The problem is, actually getting in & out of that low-slung sucker. :ROFLMAO: You don't sit in it.... you fall into it.

     
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  9. magnumrtawd

    magnumrtawd Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2013
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    Location:
    Toledo,Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    2. Points
    1. I'm 6'2 300lbs I'm very comfy in it.2010 3. I also had a 2008. Those had shorter front doors I appreciate the bigger doors on the 2010.
    2.. I have found it's much easier to get in and out of if you first sit down on the seat then swing your legs in and the reverse when you get out.
     
  10. kc5dlo

    kc5dlo Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2015
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    Location:
    DFW TX
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius
    Model:
    XLE
    6' 4" and 270 lbs. My 2014 model 3 is the most comfortable car i have owned. I do move my wallet on long trips. Rear view mirror was a problem when I first got it. It was very stiff but I moved it as far up as I could get it and it was fine. Recently had a run in with a moose that took out the windshield. I wish I had thought to ask that the mirror mount get installed much higher but did not think about it. It seems just a tad lower than before. You might try experimenting with diferent seat positions to find the right fit. Sometimes leaning the seat back a notch or two and actually scooting the seat forward is very comfortable.
     
  11. Higgins909

    Higgins909 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2018
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    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    The steering wheel has always been all the way down and out with this car, for me. A few days ago, I moved the seat back and up and somehow ended up with the lumbar support changing. (turns out it was only slightly off the lowest height setting) It still feels like I'm stretching out my arms to reach the steering wheel, but it's different. Not sure if it's for the better though. The mirror has 2 joints if I remember right. It is all the way up, but still blocks quite a bit of my view. I'm a skinnier guy, 150~ lbs. But tall, 6' 2".

    I heard about removing anything from the back pockets when driving. For a while I think I was riding on 1 cheek more than the other. I've been keeping my wallet in my front pocket for a few months now and don't notice it anymore. Since we're kind of talking about the steering wheel, does the steering wheel angle to the left? Like I'm flat in my seat and I look at the wheel and the column is angled towards the door, from the base. The right side of the wheel is a little bit closer then the left side. Just for clarification, I'm not talking about the wheel alignment. (I still need to get one) I was wondering if the column somehow got bent or if the seat is out a alignment with the steering wheel... If that's even possible.
     
  12. mczouav

    mczouav Member

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2017
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    I am 6ft3 or 191 cm tall. In my prius prime i find all the room i need. I previously had a small renault clio from 1992 and even in that baby i had leg room. While seated. I do not talk about extraction as the steering wheel is an issue in every car i get in/out of.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  13. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    At that age and experiencing discomfort, I'd visit the doctor to see if there's any underlying reason why it's happening.

    Seating and lumbar support was important so I went with package/trim 4. Trims 4 and 5, you can lower-raise driver seat, tilt forward-backward and adjust lumbar support. I'm the type that changes seat settings constantly according to clothing attire, hair-do, duration of drive, exposure to sun & etc. Not because of discomfort, I just like variety. Same as my office chair, never a one and done set it and forget it deal.

    If everything checks out fine at the docs office, just trade up to a 4 or 5 trim level.
     
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  14. Yaesu

    Yaesu Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2016
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    Location:
    Kentucky
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I am 6'4", 230, 71 years old. We have two 2010 Prius' and the low level one is very comfortable, for short (two hour) drives. For some reason the upper level Prius is not as comfortable though it has leather seats. I improved the comfort somewhat by moving that big lever on the left side of the seat. It moves the seat up and down. Now I have a less deadly blind spot with the windshield mirror.

    I use cruise control whenever the road, weather, and traffic conditions allow. Also, there is a bit of relief for my left leg if I move my left foot to the right a bit, where it can nestle in a depression. I am thankful that I don't have to deal with a clutch pedal or high/low beam floor switch.
     
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  15. aterfy27

    aterfy27 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2018
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    Location:
    Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I'm 6'4" and every bit of 350# and I'm quite comfortable.
    Personally, I expected to have to slide the seat ALL the way back. I find I'm actually more comfortable if I slide the seat 2-3 "notches" closer to the steering wheel rather than fully slid back. I also pull the wheel out all the way and slightly tilt the seat back. I've found that closer to the wheel with the seat reclined a bit is more comfortable than all the way back with a more vertical seatback. I have plenty of headroom this way, too. I do also use the lever to make the seat as low as possible.

    The mirror IS a bit of a blind spot for me too, though. Since it's got two points to move it at (on the window and on the mirror itself), I've found that I can move the mirror up a bit closer to the headliner a bit while still being able to see everything behind me and this helps minimize the blind spot.

    Also I'd recommend trying a front-pocket wallet or just taking it out of your rear pocket, if that's where you normally keep it. Wallet in rear pocket always gave me grief on long car trips.

    I agree that the seat could stand to use a bit more cushioning; it's something that I've intended to look in to, but overall I find it to be a quite comfortable car. Oddly enough, I actually kind of like how the 'flying buttress' makes the space feel a bit "cozy," personally
     
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