Easiest Way To Spot A Gen III?

The rear spoiler on the Gen III is always black, while on the Gen II it is the color of the car.

From the side, I find the Gen II's high point is further forward than the Gen III. It has more of a "forehead."

 

Hi HK,

I have the opposite thing happen to me. I can spot a Gen II instantly, but when I see a Gen III, it takes me a while to even realize its a Prius, as it has similar body lines to many other vehicles.

 

I had the same questions (and comments) as you, and I, too, started a thread on the subject: "Spotting" the GenIII: Differentiating the 2010 from the GenII .

One of the early posts in my thread quickly pointed out two earlier threads I had overlooked. Please read both to see if it helps you to figure out some more ways to quickly read the differences in the generations.

Here are the two earlier threads identified by Paradox, one of our moderators:

1. Telling the prior years apart
2. 2010 Gen 3 Prius versus the Gen 2 Prius - what the pictures tell us

 

For me, it's the "ridge" (for lack of a better word) that runs along the sides that gives it away. The II has smooth sides. The taillights and flat, black spoiler give it away from the back. I believe the II has a more curved spoiler.

 

The pronounced crease in the side of the car, going all the way back. Also, the curve in the taillights.

 

The Gen III is the one where we talk about the emergency brake, then talk about the parking brake.

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...-do-you-use-emergency-brake-when-parking.html

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...anyone-set-pkg-brake-every-time-you-park.html

 

Several things, but most noticeable (to me anyway):

*Blue badge under the Toyota logo
*The headlights' aggressive styling
*The "crease"/edge on the side of the car

***SIDE NOTE***

So while I was driving home today, I found myself behind a Gen I prius, back when it wasn't a hatchback! After following it for a few miles, a Gen II pulled in between us, so there we were, a Gen I, II, and my III all in a row Kinda cool!

 

Fun!
There are two other new 2010 prius in the parking lot where I work. One red one and one white one. I keep thinking it would be neato to park in line, red white and blue...

 

1. Front:

-- lightning bolt headlights

-- more angular bumper using Toyota's current "aero-corner" aerodynamic design element

-- blue Toyota logo emblem

2. Rear:

-- more angular tailights

-- more angular shape

-- black/dark spoiler

-- blue Toyota logo emblem

3. Sides:

-- raked body crease

-- wheels ... I recognize the 2010's 15" wheel (with and without its cover) and 17" wheel

4. Solar Roof:

-- if it has the black/dark solar sunroof, then it must be a 2010

5. Like donee said, the 2010 looks more like other cars. In fact, I think it looks like a Honda or like what I was expecting from Honda when we first heard that Honda was coming out with a new Insight that looks like the Gen II Prius.

 

The radio antenna on the Gen III is much shorter than the Gen II.

 

i was hoping someone would point this out. Easiest way to spot a gen 3 prius!

 

The changes may be subtle to some but not to me. The easiest way for me to spot a Gen3 is that I will actually like the looks of it.

 

1. Number of spokes on the wheels. Gen III has 5 (unless the owner removed the wheel covers) and I think Gen II had 6.

2. From the side, the brake lights have a pointy arrow look on Gen III.

3. From the front, Gen III front lights have a more vertical look.

4. The blue Toyota badge is Gen III-only I believe.

 

Yep, definitely the easiest from any direction and from a distance and with cars in between.

Also not mentioned yet in this thread, is the round gas cap hatch on the 2010 versus the earlier square ones.

 

Front: pretty obvious once you see the front

Back: "Prius" is written on the left side of the license plate, and it no longer has "Toyota" written on it

 

old thread but I just noticed a VERY easy way to tell the difference....i think?

2010= round gas hatch
not 2010= square gas hatch

 

The quick way for me when they go whizzing by is:

- If seeing from front: new stylized headlights or blue logo badge
- If seeing from side: new rear brake light that forms a pointy traingle
- If seeing from the rear: spoiler's all black or blue logo badge


but to me, they look quite different overall. I much prefer the Gen 3 look.

 

These are NOT very easy ways to tell a Gen III from Gen II. The gas hatch? The antenna? Are you kidding? Let's be real here. If you can't simply tell the difference between the body styling, but can tell the difference between the antennas, I don't know what's wrong with you.

Easiest way for me - body styling. Shape. The simple stuff. The Gen III sits lower but has a wide square nice person when viewed from behind.

I like the look of the Gen III better from the side, but the Gen II from behind and front; the headlights of the Gen II are actually more 'Lamborghini' like.

 

I like having more cues to distinguish models in those many situations when only a small portion of the car is visible.