1. The site is migrating to a new server this week, so there will likely be some downtime during that process. You can follow along here for updates.

Anyone tried their Habitent a '23 yet?

Discussion in 'Living Life in a Prius' started by Jim Stoll, Sep 15, 2023.

  1. Jim Stoll

    Jim Stoll Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2019
    38
    6
    0
    Location:
    VA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Wondering if my beloved Habitent (that I regularly use on my '08) will fit the '23 that I have coming in a few weeks?
     
    #1 Jim Stoll, Sep 15, 2023
  2. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    9,846
    4,000
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    The new Prius design is much lower profile and smaller in the back compared to standard Prius. So it will be too big, which is probably more manageable than too small... But camping in the back of the new one will definitely be more cramped than what you're used to.
     
    #2 PriusCamper, Sep 15, 2023
    Last edited: Sep 16, 2023
    Blizzard_Persona likes this.
  3. Blizzard_Persona

    Blizzard_Persona Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2014
    1,752
    921
    0
    Location:
    Pa.
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XSE
    This is true. It’s definitely smaller back there than my old GEN 4 non-prime Prius. Although the hatch flooring is pretty much totally flat compared to the last generation prime, which I think was raised more and not flat…

    Tomorrow I will fold down the backseats and lay out back there and I’ll let you know. I’m 5’8” but should give you an idea at least for car camping sans tent thingy. I’m also going to try to load my 29er EMTB back there and see if it fits, front tire off for sure. Will see.
     
    #3 Blizzard_Persona, Sep 15, 2023
    Jim Stoll and PriusCamper like this.
  4. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    9,846
    4,000
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I've heard that the front seats no longer recline flush with the back seats if you remove the headrest and slide the front seats all the way forward... Can you confirm? Camping in a Prius is way more comfortable with this method compared to sleeping on the harder and less level surfaces in the back... And please post pics if you can?
     
    #4 PriusCamper, Sep 16, 2023
  5. Jim Stoll

    Jim Stoll Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2019
    38
    6
    0
    Location:
    VA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I'm 5'9", and have no problem sleeping in the '08 with the passenger seat pushed forward (seatback upright) and with a perfectly-sized cooler between the back of the front seat and the front of the folded-down rear seat (rear seat headrest removed) to provide a little bit of extra flat space, which is where my pillow and head are situated. (I use a 4" blow-up air mattress beneath a 3" self-inflating ground pad, and sleep more comfortably on that in my own bed, Lol. :)

    The Habitent really opens up space in the rear (in my '08, I can actually stand up in the far rear to change clothes!).

    I'll be interested to see how the lower roof of the '23 affects things, particularly my ability to move from lying position with my head toward the front, to sitting up in the back - it may require a bit of sideways wriggling to get upright back in the open hatch area. Also wondering if I'll be able to use my current 7" of padding, or if I'll need to use thinner pads. (Will be interested in hearing what @Blizzard_Persona reports back on his lying-down test!)
     
    #5 Jim Stoll, Sep 16, 2023
  6. Blizzard_Persona

    Blizzard_Persona Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2014
    1,752
    921
    0
    Location:
    Pa.
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XSE
    Here you go fellas, as promised..

    As you can see in all these pictures it does lay very flat, pretty much perfectly flat back there. I did try taking off the rear headrests, but the difference was very minimal So I just put the rear passenger headrests back on and it seemed adequate that way.

    Busted out my old trusty cold-weather bag and climbed back there in multiple different positions. With a couple pillows on the front passenger seat. It’s very comfortable back there and more than adequate for me at 5’8”. I think someone over 6 foot would fit as long as you’re not fully stretched out, should be comfortable enough back there and if you’re over 6 foot, you can angle a little bit and probably be fine or put more pillows upfront and scootch forward a bit.

    As you can see in the last couple pictures, I found it most comfortable to be on the passenger 60 split side and I pushed the driver seat all the way forward and as vertical as it can go. This allowed me to sit and relax on the 40 split side in the rear with plenty of room and was easy to roll over and crawl into my bag. This also allows for storage in the hatch behind the rear seat and on the floor behind the driver seat, or even on the passenger seat if you’re all loaded up. Hope these pics help :)

    Edit: Bag is 34” x 86” -20 cold weather bag.

    IMG_6542.jpeg IMG_6543.jpeg IMG_6544.jpeg IMG_6545.jpeg IMG_6546.jpeg IMG_6547.jpeg
     
    #6 Blizzard_Persona, Sep 16, 2023
    bisco and Jim Stoll like this.
  7. Jim Stoll

    Jim Stoll Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2019
    38
    6
    0
    Location:
    VA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    @Blizzard_Persona - Thanks so much for the great photos! That's really reassuring to see that I'll be able to fit as before, at least length-wise, if not with quite as much space above me while I'm sleeping. (I also travel to the beach with 2 windsurf boards that I can fit inside my '08, and it looks like I'll probably still be able to do that, based on your photos, as well.)

    I've got the US LE model coming, which has the cargo area floor a few inches lower, so I'll be interested to see how flat that area is with respect to the folded-down rear seats, or if there will be a dip between the seatbacks and the cargo area floor. (If so, I'll likely have to build that area up a little where I sleep, so as not to be crippled by morning, Lol. :)

    I love the rubber mats you have in the back. The one I've got coming has the "All Weather Floor Liners / Cargo Liner" package, and I'm really hoping that includes the rubber liners for the backside of the rear seats, as I regularly roll bicycles in and out of my Prius, and would like to protect the back of the rear seats, as well as the floor of the cargo area.

    Thanks Again!!
     
    #7 Jim Stoll, Sep 16, 2023
  8. Blizzard_Persona

    Blizzard_Persona Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2014
    1,752
    921
    0
    Location:
    Pa.
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XSE
    You are Welcome.

    FYI, The $299 “All weather Floor Liners/Cargo Liner” option that I have does include the matching rubber seat back covers

    I will be attempting to slide my 29er E-Mtb (prob have to remove front tire) into the cargo area as well due to no available hitch yet for my hitch style bike rack.
     
    #8 Blizzard_Persona, Sep 16, 2023
    Jim Stoll likes this.
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)