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2010 Gen 3 Prius versus the Gen 2 Prius - what the pictures tell us

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Danny, Oct 16, 2008.

  1. Danny

    Danny Admin/Founder
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    Jalopnik did a quick comparison of the current Prius vs the 2010 Prius using the photos posted on PriusChat yesterday.

    It's a pretty interesting read, and I'll try to put together my own comparison to touch on some of the changes that they didn't address yet.

    [​IMG]
    At The Front


    [​IMG]
    One: The most obvious change from generation to generation is at the front, and the first sign that this is something new comes from the headlights. The previous generation said "aerodynamic" while the new, feathered lights say "sporty" more than anything.
    Two: The new grille is also far more aggressive, shifting the logo into the middle with a pointed, almost F1-esque nose crease.
    Three: Like the 2009 Toyota Matrix, the new Prius' nose features a lower front airdam with a dual-foglight package.
    Four: Compared to the previous generation, the cab appears slightly further forward. It is hard to say if this is just an illusion created by the lower placement of the mirror and angle of the beltline or an actual change. Either way, the effect is to create a more forward leaning stance.
    Five: The little crease at the edge of the bumper could be an aerodynamic touch or purely aesthetic.

    Mid Section

    [​IMG]
    One: The line running along the center of the doors in the previous generation has been moved down further along the wheel wells, which makes the new Prius look tall-and-squat as opposed to long-and-lean. This appears to be an answer to the charge that the previous generation looked like a wedge or a jellybean.
    Two: As mentioned, the beltline is raked towards the A-pillar, giving it a runner's stance.
    Three: The rocker panels are now larger and more enhanced, appearing to flare a bit at the rear wheel well.
    Four: The blacked-out B-pillar look has been transferred from generation to generation and the overall shape of the greenhouse hasn't been significantly altered.
    Five: The slab-slided Prius is no more. The doors angle further in towards the greenhouse with a line that carries from the front quarter panel back toward the shoulders.
    Rear

    [​IMG]
    One: We're waiting for a better picture of the rear, but in the meantime it appears the larger presence of the rocker panels has created a line that moves around the rear of the car that's picked up the sheet metal. The purpose of the black wings along the edge of the previous model was primarily aerodynamic and it looks better with body-matching paint.
    Two: Though there is a new look for the shoulders, with new definition, the car retains a similar, if slightly less angled, C-Pillar.
    Three: More fanny? Hard to say, but it looks like there is more junk in that trunk.
    Four: Wheel design for the Prius has always been of the "appliance" variety. These sporty, flared five-spokes clearly point to a new direction.
    Five: The gas tank now appears to be on the other side — just kidding. These are opposite sides of the car.

    2010 Toyota Prius: 2010 Toyota Prius Versus Old Toyota Prius - Jalopnik

    I also wanted to take a moment to thank Jalopnik for their snide-free coverage of the Prius so far. They are known to be a bit satirical over there :) Ray and the guys at Jalopnik are welcome here anytime.
     
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  2. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Side by side comparison I posted in the other thread.

    [​IMG]
     
  3. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    Yeah, I like it.
    I'm in no hurry to part with dear Priapus, mind you, but my wife's about due for a new car. . .
     
  4. ctbering

    ctbering Rambling Man

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    I must be having one of those 'special' moments.
    Are Prius lovers suppose to be excited with the 2010 Prius or a 2010 plug-in version? I am well-read yet can also be confused (possibly from the presidential debates). Is the 2010 Prius consumer going to get a Prius that gets 60 mpg's with better acceleration on electric mode sustaining (up to what MPH?) OR are we really better off waiting for the plug-in?
    My biggest frustration with my 2008 Prius is nursing electric power during acceleration period before ICE kicks in. Does anyone know exactly how the 'driver' will experience the difference between generation 2 and generation 3 Prius acceleration-wise and MPG-wise?
    Kudos to Prius Chat on the recent 2010 photos.
     
  5. gmalis1

    gmalis1 New Member

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    What did we all expect? A Prius that looks like a Ferrari?

    Of course not...after all, the Gen2 Prius is butt ugly, IMHO, but hey...we bought it for the MPG's and the environmental impact.

    After it became popular with the Hollywood types, then everyone wanted to jump on the bandwagon and own one.

    I couldn't care less how it looks...I'm looking for a plug in Prius that get's SENSATIONAL mileage, more than the exceptional mileage I get now with my 2005 Prius.

    My wife and daughter laughed at me when I bought mine...how could I buy such an ugly car? When gas spiked over $4 per gallon, they all bemoaned to me that their next car would be a Prius.

    How minds have changed. [​IMG]
     
  6. paprius4030

    paprius4030 My first Prius

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    Do we know any of the fact's and figures? Like what's the mpg's for the 2010?
     
  7. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    We need to talk.

    Attempting to nurse the electric power from a dead-stop is not an efficient way to drive the Prius. For the last four years we have debated this topic back and forth. In the end, the realization kicked in that the Prius engine coupled with the CVT will run at the most efficient gear ratio for the requirement at hand. Oh sure, you will see an instant MPG of 9. Or maybe worse. But you should exercise brisk (though not stomping) acceleration from a dead-stop. Depending on the terrine, you can start letting up on the pedal while still maintaining acceleration. Ideally, you are timing the stoplights when you can and eliminating dead-stops altogether.

    As for personal experience, I'm hoping for exactly the same thing I experience now. That is, a flawlessly fluid transmission and smooth transitions from ICE to stealth and back when needed. But what I'm really hoping for is extended EV range (darrell's not going to like that I call it that).
     
  8. nerfer

    nerfer A young senior member

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    In other words, accelerate normally for best fuel economy. It's the braking where you need to be extra gentle.

    (Attempting to use only electric power while accelerating is using battery power that comes from the generator that comes from the engine or from the brakes that cames from previous acceleration from the engine...not as efficient as using the engine directly).

    Okay, back to the thread....

    As mentioned in the previous post about the new pictures, it appears the raked-back headlights have been replaced with something a bit tamer in the final (lower-res) pictures, so this point may not be entirely correct.
     
  9. DeadPhish

    DeadPhish Senior Member

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    From what Toyota leaked to Edmunds and others last spring I think that we can expect about a 10-15% increase in fuel economy along with a jump in power as well, maybe to 150 hp combined.

    In my case at ~ 2.1 gpc ( 48 mpg ) lifetime I'd expect to use ~1.8 gpc ( 53-56 mpg ) on average. Those that now regularly use 1.8 gpc could realistically expect to use ~ 1.6 gpc on average.
     
  10. samiam

    samiam Antipodean Prius Poster

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    So the new design looks slightly raked forward.
    Are we expecting the increased fuel efficiency as a result of it always going downhill?
     
  11. TJandGENESIS

    TJandGENESIS Are We Having Fun Yet?

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    Hmm...I wonder if it will grow on me.
     
  12. PriusSport

    PriusSport senior member

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    The front end looks a bit longer and sleeker, a small styling improvement. The dashboard is not as good to me as the present model. I prefer the camera higher on the dash so you can see it without taking your eyes off the road. I also prefer the gear shifter out of harms way on the dash--it's hardly used anyways. The present dash, in terms of visibility of indicators and all the right push buttons on the steering wheel, is hard to beat.

    The real differences are yet to be seen--probably in the battery system which may still be under development. There will have to be a significant improvement there, since the cosmetics aren't very different.
     
  13. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    Do not like the grill with the great whacking Circle-T badge hanging luridly out
    front like a codpiece or bad boob job. What is is with Toyota, the badge has
    been growing steadily over the years. It is now grossly oversized. The
    necessary ridge in the hood looks too contrived -- sort of 50's-ish.

    Do like the mirrors a la Mini. But I suspect that rules out a folding option. And
    why not put side marker/turn sigs out there. For heavens sake, even the lowly
    Bug has them, as does the Scion.

    The HybridSD badge probably has the fake-o alignment holes again/still.

    And why no shot from the back? I wonder what's going on back there.
     
  14. lovemygreys

    lovemygreys New Member

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    Nice to see all the difference pointed out in detail. I woudln't have noticed some of them. It's nice, though I agree with others that I don't like the center console on the interior. Of course, we don't have our 2009 Prius yet, so the 2010 is irrelevant to our life! We'll be driving our 09 for many years to come.
     
  15. nerfer

    nerfer A young senior member

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    I disagree. I think this is a big improvement in styling. What's wrong with showing off the Toyota badge a bit, so people can actually see it at highway distances? Of course, I was never really a fan of the current style, so any change is likely to be an improvement, as long as it doesn't affect the aerodynamics. I would hate to lose the folding mirror though, much easier and cheaper to straighten one back out than it is to buy a new one.
     
  16. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    There are a few things i've noticed which others have not said.

    the small bumps under the front headlights are power washers. Every lexus model (or i assume) has them.

    there are two low beams... that tells me they are LED projectors (they do look similar to the 600hl lights) while there is still a high beam towards the center, possibly blinkers by the lower fogs and possibly above the LED projectors?
     
  17. Rokeby

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  18. Ron Dupuy

    Ron Dupuy New Member

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    I love my 05, I like the style changes on the 10, but, at 6'4", I worry about lost head room. I'm anxious to see the specs.
     
  19. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    The tweeter by the small triangle window is gone. In fact, I don't see any speaker in the interior shots.
     
  20. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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