Gen II vs Gen III

It has more power when I need it and gets better mileage, with less effort than the gen II I was driving around.

It's damn cute.

 

I took a 2010 for a drive today and noticed how hard it ws to see the instument lights with my "shades" on. Can they be brightened up for daylight driving?

 

I have had all 3 generations (gen 1 now sold) and here is my list:

- mpg improvement for gen3 is 5-10 mpg over gen 2
- the center console has some advantages and disadvantages
- displays easier to see with polarized sunglasses
- I like all the new display info -- yes its a bit small, but I'd take it over gen 2 any day
- I like the EV, ECO, PWR modes
- storage isn't as good, but also it is different with the shelf under the bridge
- I like the climate controls better than gen 2
- a dozen little improvements such as when washing the windows on the highway the airflow/waterflow now doesn't go onto the side windows; cool blue Prius lights when door opened; fold down rear headrests; tire pressure monitors; etc.
- I got the GPS/Nav...maybe not as good as a 3rd party one but better than the original gen 2

But other than better mpg, there is no big got-to-have thing -- either you like the center console and shift arrangement or not. I found that once I got used to it (1 week), my gen 2 seemed a bit odd

3PriusMike

 

I've driven the gen 2 as a rental (twas the reason we decided to go Prius actually)., and now bought a gen 3.

1. the interior build of the gen 3 is much better than the gen 2. the gen 2 felt like a compact and kinda less "stable"; the gen 3 feels big and stable on the road.

2. i like the gen 2 mpg display, but am now getting used to it being far away in the gen 3. as a plus, you get to use the nav and mpg display at the same time (the rental didn't have a nav so not sure whether this is a valid point).

3. the eco, pwr, and ev modes are nice in the gen 3

4. the gen 3 looks better on the outside than the gen 2 (my opinion only)

5. the gen 3 obviously gets better mileage.

 

abq sfr, I had the exact same question as you a few weeks ago - after testing both the Gen III and the Gen II and I bought a SECOND Gen II (used with 8,000 miles) and I'm loving it! Let me tell you why;

I think the Gen II looks better than the Gen III. The Gen II is a cult car. The Gen III looks like every other Yaris, Corolla, etc out there. In 5 or 10 years, nobody will remember what the Gen III Prius looked like, but everyone will remember Gen II. The Gen III is just another conformist car.

I absolutely loathe the new interior. Toyota cut corners when it redesigned the Gen III. It is cheap and more plastic than before. The thin climate display is a step backward. The lack of a MFD is a big step backward. And that tiny consumption screen is a joke. Moving the sped/odo/display to the middle of the dashboard was a mistake. The big box console that comes down, that you pointed out, is also annoying and obtrusive. The glove box is not lined. The door handles are plastic and cheap (not steel like before). I could go on, but see where I'm going?

I also hate the fact that there are MAJOR BLIND SPOTS on the new Prius. The passenger windows slant upwards (for design sake), and create a minimal view. Similarly, the triangular window piece is also smaller, thus creating a greater blind area.

I highly recommend buying another Gen II prius. It's a great car and you won't have buyer's remorse. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Good luck!

 

I think the additional plastic is for eco reasons - it's ECO-plastic you know

 

For me, the big one was room and support for my legs when driving. The Gen 2 would not work for me. The Gen 3 does.

Other perceived benefits of some significance to me include:
- Better safety features
- A little more trunk space (Enough room to fit 2 folding bikes and a bit of luggage out of site under the tonneau cover)
- Quieter at highway speed
- Better traction control
- Better handling
- A bit more power
- A bit better fuel consumption
- Better able to accommodate 3 in the rear seat
- better rear seat head room
- Better air conditioning
- Its nice to have eco power and EV modes available
- Rear disc brakes
- Hi tech windows that should make it easier to heat and cool
- Should hold value a bit better as it will look like a current model for about 6 years
- May be easier to convert to plug in if desired in future

I have a slight preference for exterior appearance of the Gen 2 (simpler lines) but not by enough for it to be a factor for me.

Things I think that I would prefer in the Gen 2 are:
- The slightly lower and less angled window line would probably make it easier to position the car when parking.
- I prefer the gen 2 speedo with a greater apparent distance, placement in front of the driver and greater clarity
- More places to store stuff and reach from the drivers seat. I'm not a fan at all of the Gen 3 implimentation of the center console but this is a minor point for me compared to the Gen 3 advantages

 

We are a recent two Gen III household so my comments are certainly biased towards Gen III but I can say that we struggled with trading in our 2007 Gen II for the 2nd Gen III. As well, having loved both generations (we passed on Gen I though we did deposit $500 but canceled after 6 months of no delivery), I don't think shopping by either brochures do them justice nor does a couple of test drives. (we all know that Prius features tend to grow on you over time !)

By far, the most appreciated feature of the Gen III (V) is the dynamic radar controlled cruise control. I can't tell you how stress reducing this driver's aide is in practice. It has really helped me to recapture driving for pleasure in urban traffic. Maybe the most under appreciated upgrade for long day time drives during summer, is the heat reducing glass in Gen III. It noticeably reduces the heat felt directly on the skin / legs at the peak of the afternoon sun (much more than the glass in Gen II).

Since we bought the 2007 Prius Touring package 6 in late 2006, we had over 2-1/2 years with this great car. Transitioning to the Gen III took a few weeks but its ability to easily get +45 miles (using ECO mode) without trying to hypermile is very freeing compared to the Gen II (where +40 comes with discipline). e.g., some have been very critical about how distracted Prius drivers can be by watching the energy display(s) to maximize their mileage to the overall detriment of payint full attention to the road and safer (more proactive / defensive) driving.

If you want a built-in navigation system versus adding your own (portable or 3rd party built-in) we have not noticed any major problems with the DVD Nav systems from Gen II to Gen III. It is convenient to be able to supplement the Nav with XM Traffic if we choose to continue our XM subscriptions. We found that in San Francisco, that the "real-time" XM traffic updates may go unnoticed if the incidents reports miles earlier actually clear up by the time you reach where the incident was. Of course, where there was no XM traffic coverage, we were disappointed with the service / combo.

Personally, we think the integrated SKS open sensors / close buttons on the Gen III are much more stylish than Gen II. I always wondered what we would do when the rubber cover on the Gen II SKS button cracked or came off but now that will not happen. Though the Gen III hatch SKS does have a rubber button button it is completely hidden from view under the spoiler rather than being exposed on the back hatch panel.

For myself, I would not have purchased the first Gen III if the driver's seat did not have a vertical adjustment. I am a stout 5 foot 10 inches but I never felt comfortable in the Gen II and always felt my head was too close to the headliner or my eyes positioned awkwardly high when viewing normally through the windshield. Though the Gen III seat only adjusts a few inches (in total) up or down, it's just enough to give me a better perspective through the windshield. As well, the steering wheel in the Gen III tilts up/down and adjusts front/back vs. only on one axis for the Gen II steering wheel.

For my wife, though colors change over the years, we really like the metallic Blue of Gen III over the Blue of the 2007 Gen II. If I were so inclined, I might like the special blizzard pearl white color option on the Gen III over any normal (or super) white.

I agree that the interior construction in the Gen III is a bit cheaper and the apparent lack of comparable storage is annoying. I think the cock pit "styling" of the Gen III being better or worse is a matter of personal taste / preference. I'd say the leather surfaces in the Gen III are a just a touch more inferior to those in the Gen II. Most noticeable is the leather wrapped steering wheel which I loved in the Gen II but have covered with a cloth fuzz cover in the Gen III. My wife does not notice any difference in the leather steering wheel but it's night and day for me (Gen II soft, nicely textured and tacky, Gen III rough and dry).

Though we use it very sparingly, I'm not sure there is any practical way to duplicate the responsive feel of the Gen III's Power mode in the Gen II ! I don't know how any Gen I/II owner won't admit that the Power mode would not be welcomed and very reassuring under the right circumstances (e.g., steep freeway on ramp from a dead start or left turn with fast on-coming traffic). For those used to the "pep" of normal vehicles, I would say the Gen III Power mode is close to a safety (& reassurance) feature as far as new (transitioning) hybrid owners are concerned.

Would also agree that the Gen III displays are harder to read (and off center w.r.t. the driver's seat) on the dash that's over 2 feet from view. Nonetheless, the new Gen III HSI display is more useful and modern than the Navigation screen based energy display of the Gen II.

One thing we haven't gotten used to at all in the Gen III compared to the Gen II is the ability to judge the where the front of the car ends so as to not run into things when parking very tightly. I think I like the driver's foot rest better on the Gen II.

Lastly, whatever my bias, I don't think you can go wrong with two of either Generation, especially if you take pleasure in not paying a premium for the latest Gen III models.

 

If one is about 5'2" to 5'9" tall, you may never experience a problem with the Gen2 Prius driver seating as you may find the seat bottom big enough, long enough for your thighs, the seat travel is enough for your legs, and you can see the high traffic lights when stopped.

But, many over 6' tall will find the seat travel sorely lacking in the Gen2 car, they cannot see the high traffic light when stopped, and there is no way to get lower in the car, except for overly- reclining the seatback, the seat bottom is often too narrow and very short for long legs.

The Gen2 seat dimensions may likely have been copied from a Toyota Echo, yet the Gen2 costs twice the price, and the cabin room was available for giving generous front seating with little penalty in removing some overly-generous rear seat legroom of the Gen2.

A Gen3 driver's seat rockets straight past the Corolla lineup and on par with Toyota's most popular car, the Camry.

For one over 6' tall, they can finally, finally, get lower in the car, freeing up space for long legs without tilting the steering wheel too high. The seat bottom is wider, longer for long legs, and sliding the seat back farther makes sense given the telescoping steering wheel. For a tall person, the Gen3 driver seating feels spacious, not cramped like the Gen2.

Also, the Gen3 seat bottom and seat back offers finer adjustment as the 'notches' seem closer together.

Gen3 driver's seat is built for a much wider range of heights under 5' tall to well over 6' tall.

Plus, the Gen3 has a more solid feeling chassis. The engine whines much less when going up steep hills. The Gen3 spends more time running on battery alone in normal mode. To me it looks bolder, and sportier. There is also a little more headroom in the rear seat and a wider cargo space.

 

For me it was the MPG as the first factor to even get me near the car. I have never been a fan of the look of the gen2's & when I drove a 2009 I did not like the handling or noise of the car. I remember thinking if Honda would have come out with the 2010 version of the Insight to compete with the gen2 Prius I think Honda would have won that battle. After I drove the 2010 I actually like the handling of the car ... still a little loud at high speeds but i thought the noise i heard most of all was the car ripping through the air so i was cool with that. I love the ev/eco/pwr buttons I love to drive around in ev thru parking lots. Hip room was a little snug but I think that's more me than the car I like this car but still miss the 08 Sonata I got rid of for it. The Sonata was such smooth ride... which surprised me.

 

Well, you've left it too late to get a GII (which you said you didn't want two of anyway), unless you'd settle for a used one, or want to buy in Canada (still lots in stock up here).

Now that winter's here for a few weeks (we're hoping we'll go back to fall in a few days - today we're getting another 5 cm of snow ), reports are the cold weather performance of the GIII is much improved over the GII. Both traction control and heating performance.

 

Your situation is legitamately difficult. It looks like people here are biased towards the Gen III (obviously), but they also make great arguments in favor of the Gen II.

By the way, the claim that the Gen II exterior looks ugly is not credible. It's all about your color choice. I agree that the light blue, silver, and tope colors are boring and ugly, especially for me (Male 22 y/o). So, I got mine in Magnetic Gray (I also got lucky with a darker paint mix), and the Touring Edition with 16" 7-spoke rims. I think that THIS combo on my Gen II looks better than 99% of the Priuses I see on the road - including Gen III cars!

Good luck with the decision.

 

up to 6 grand off a 09, there a couple in town

 

Yup, and that brings the price to -almost- as low as Americans payed for GII Prius (full price, no discount down there).

Here in Edmonton it's only 4 grand off. Too much money in this town!

 

These discussions always fascinate me. The Gen III is superior to the Gen II in every possible mechanical way, including: no gas tank bladder, reliable limited-slip traction, no thermos, better acceleration, better mileage, more rear-passenger headroom, better aerodynamics, mileage displays near your driving line-of-sight, better, more stable handling, improved engine phases, better front seats, etc, etc, etc. It's really a new platform based on lessons learned over the years.

After many discussions, there are apparently only four downsides that I've seen:

1. The "bridge" between front seats, which some people just dislike on taste, and some people dislike because they store stuff on the passenger floor and can't reach it. Personally, I like it and find that it gives me other options, such as putting a note on the bridge, for quick reading, etc.

2. Lack of in-cabin storage options.

3. The display is either seen as dim or poorly placed. If you think it's dim: a) are you wearing polarized sunglasses, and b) have you turned the display dimmer know up to the click "full-brightness" stop? In terms of placement, having a display that is near your driving line of sight is far superior to something that's basically where a radio should go.

4. Option packages have been rejiggered such that you have to get stuff you don't want in order to get stuff you want.

Seems to me that the Gen III is better fulfilling its role as a reliable, high-tech, hybrid vehicle, which is its reason for existence. Personally, I can't see any real deal-breakers here. Certainly nothing worth giving up all of the core platform improvements for.