Would Prius have been as successful if it stayed a Sedan?

That classic model of Prius was unusually large back then, delivering more interior space as a "compact" than my "midsize" car it replaced. It used higher quality material too. That was a hidden gem from Toyota for those who discovered it. I jumped on that opportunity to purchase.

When that next-gen model of Prius came along, it was the only midsized model of hatchback available it the United States. So, it had a monopoly on that particular market. People didn't want to admit it though, but then several automakers jumped on the opportunity. Claims of purchase only for the sake of "being green" was a blatant attempt by other to downplay Toyota's homerun.

By then, Toyota's effort to standardize the technology for spread across the fleet were well underway. At the same time, owners were confirming how well though out the design really was. That was key to Prius success, not necessarily the choice to make it a hatchback. In fact, the same thing is playing out now with bZ4X. Regardless of what is thought of for the initial packaging, that hardware within is getting a thorough shakeout prior to the next-gen.

Keep in mind, the game has changed. Hitting a homerun isn't necessary anymore. People get it. We need to end our dependency on oil and take serious measures to reduce both carbon & smog-related emissions. That means rolling out less exciting plug-in vehicles, configurations that don't prioritize what enthusiasts deem important. Hits that only advance players a single base can still win the game.

 

Those weren't just for show; that vent connected to the battery cooling ductwork.

And john1701a has it right that it had higher-quality touches, like really nice forged/machined wheels standard, than any of the later generations. I liked mine a lot.

It wasn't a "look at me, I'm driving a Prius" Prius. It was the "hey, nice little car, what is that? You're kidding, it's a Prius?" Prius.

 

The Prius changed the way I looked at vehicles.

After buying my first Prius economy, safety and utility have been the determining factors in my car purchases.

 

judging from the comments here over the years, it wouldn't have been as successful. gen 2 was really the perfect utilitarian vehicle

 

I certainly would not have bought a Prius in sedan format.

 

A missed opportunity, that Prius body-in-white could have morphed into a small station wagon, utility van, and pickup truck.

Well done if short lived, the Prius hatchback morphed into:

• Prius plug-in - the first became an orphan
• Prius C - extra efficient urban runabout
• Prius V - outstanding taxi and CSUV-like
• Prius Prime - a PHEV

Another missed opportunity, Toyota didn't gut the ICE parts and replace with batteries. They could have had a respectable BEV five years ago.

Bob Wilson

 

Wasn't the first Prius suppose to be a hatchback, but the higher ups vetoed the design team?

 

Imagine if they adapted the Prius drivetrain to run in all their vehicles back when they were the strongest car maker still standing when the economy tanked in 2008? Imagine if they grew their early partnership with Tesla to expand into whole body metal press and Lithium at the earliest stages? But instead they limped ahead in first place without being aggressive on any of that and only now when they're way behind, they're embracing all that and first place in car making couldn't' be any further away.

 

After the brilliant engineers who made the first Prius aged out of the company. The current ones are untrained and unskilled. Worse, Toyota management insisted on this path to destruction.

Bob Wilson

 

As always, executives enslaved to boosting their salary with quarterly profits for shareholders could care less about the long term future. They got paid and moved on.

Imagine what the world would be like if by law corporate executives were not allowed to earn more than double of their highest paid union worker? It'd be amazing!

 

A station wagon would have been fantastic.

In Australia we've suddenly seen an influx of Toyota Corolla Fielder hybrid station wagons. They're all used imports from Japan. Six months ago there were none, and now there are loads: I got one as a taxi the other day.

 

I think if it had stayed as a sedan it would have sold differently.

Like @john1701a says, the Gen II was unusual in being a mid-sized hatchback in the US. But in Europe, mid-sized sedans were (and are) vanishingly rare: just about everyone buying a mid-sized car gets a hatchback. The only cars that size that sell well as sedans are BMWs, Mercedes and Audis. I think the Prius would have really struggled to sell in Europe if it had remained a sedan.