Call me crazy, but unlike automotive reviewers and most people, I don't think the new Gen 5 Prius looks "cool" or "sexy" or "beautiful." I honestly think its evolution this time around is the same as any other previous gen Prius, it's just that every other car has gotten uglier in comparison. Fire away.
Yeah it’s definitely a safe design. Not a lot of risks seem to be taken, just kinda looks like a composite of other “new” vehicle designs you see.
It does seem like they revised several things that looked obtrusively weird in Gen 4. So that would be more of an actual change to the Prius than just all other cars getting uglier.
TBH, I prefer the look of Prius PHV 2016->2022. It looks more mature, no chrome, nice segmented lights, carbon boot, steel made release for doors, HUD etc.
Nope. Gotta go with crazy on this one. I have my quibbles here and there with the design(mostly that the colors from the standard Toyota palette don't do the new design justice), but in my eyes the gen5 is an absolutely massive improvement over the gen4(Prime included) and better looking than most other vehicles currently on sale.
It's gone back to the look of the gen 2 and 3. Something cleaner than the gen4. That general shape has just become more mainstream among cars in the US, so it no longer stands out like the older models did. The new one is more wedge shape, with less clear angle change between hood and windscreen from the side, which I don't care for. Of the gen4, the Prime was the better looking one, and it had a weird nice person curved back window. Has there been any word on what materials the new Prius uses. I figure aluminum hood and hatch, cause that is how it has been since the beginning, but maybe the new one is using more carbon fiber. Don't understand the auto world's fascination with chrome. I want to paint over it on the Subaru, but don't look forward to the sanding.
I wouldn't say it looks 'sexy'..but it definitely does look 'clean'..and that is a huge step up from the Gen4. It is like they just forgot about the Gen4 and decided to refine the Gen3...
To elaborate on my OP, I agree wholeheartedly that it looks way better than Gen 4 but retains the wedge shape of Gen 2/3 and smoothness of Gen 2 -- but that's exactly my point. This is nothing new in Prius design, other than the fact it's 2 inches lower. Did people really forget what the Gen 2 and 3 Prius looked like? If they called those ugly but they're calling this beautiful than what has changed since then? The answer is people's standards and everything else around us. In other words, new cars today are downright ugly. So ugly, in fact, that people think this car isn't ugly.
What room do us crazies meet in Had a 2016 IV model and I sort of dug it, though even that one I felt it was low and I sat down low in the seat. I found rising the seat made it feel better but then the ergos were not in sync with the rest of the car design of how one should sit in the seat. Lordy, I don’t even what to feel what it will be like to seat in the 2023 models.
let's look at side by side pics. i don't think it looks anything like gen 2 or 3. but there is a similarity with most any car trying to achieve a low cd these days
I do like the redesign, but the front end looks similar to a Hyundai. When I saw it behind me at a light, I thought it was the new Prius, but it was only a Hyundai.
Up to 2022, the Prime and the Prius had a distinctive look quite impossible to get confused. I to do like the redesign of the Prius but the Hyundai elantra 2023 and the Ioniq 6 will confuse many of us.The gen 5 will eventually loose it's distinctive looks as the competition grows.
You guys are cracking me up. In a good way. Love reading these posts. No one seems to be talking about the lack of traditional door handle for rear doors. I see everything that is wrong with this since I’m someone who uses them frequently. Latch up near window looks so awkward. I’m already dreading the day I see that they’ve gone back to traditional door handle and I’m stuck with awkwardness for 10 + yrs. Or maybe it’s here to stay.
The gen 2 and 3 weren't ugly. Just in comparison to the other cars on American roads. People tend to give the different a more negative label. My 2013 Sonic had such handles. I never had an issue with them, but can see the problem with small children. Then again, this is a relatively low car, and handle height difference compared to a Rav4 may not be far off.
I’m picturing the black getting stained and altered over time due to a combination of sun damage and oil from hands. Small children was my first thought but I don’t have any. : )
Hadn't thought of that. Didn't notice any such issue. Nor on other door handles using unpainted plastic, or the plastic trim on the door pillar, which would show the greasy finger prints from door closing.
The door pillar is where I’ve seen this Issue the most. Probably because I’m always driving my car until it gets really old.
If happened with my past cars, it wasn't something noteworthy to me. The only one was with the 2005 Prius. I had the loose plastic pillar trim issue. In that case, the staining was from the different lot of plastic for the replacement, or whatever product the tech applied during installation. If it does become an issue, wrapping the parts with vinyl is a solution.
i like the gen 3 hamdles, and don't see a need for change except for changes sake, which is most carmakers mo.