1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Prius 2007: Is it 3rd gen or 2nd gen?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Eug, Jan 23, 2007.

  1. Eug

    Eug Swollen Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2004
    956
    211
    0
    Location:
    Earth (for now)
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Technology
    OK, I owned a first gen 2001, and I now have the 2nd gen 2004 (which I much prefer).

    However, it seems some people are referring to the next generation of the Prius as 4th generation, as if the current is 3rd generation. What gives?
     
    #1 Eug, Jan 23, 2007
  2. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2004
    14,487
    2,999
    0
    Location:
    Fort Lee, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Eug @ Jan 23 2007, 03:35 PM) [snapback]379671[/snapback]</div>
    2001 model is 1st gen in US but it is actually a 2nd gen. The first gen released in Japan on 1997 never made it to US.

    Dennis
     
    #2 usbseawolf2000, Jan 23, 2007
  3. Eug

    Eug Swollen Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2004
    956
    211
    0
    Location:
    Earth (for now)
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Technology
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(usbseawolf2000 @ Jan 23 2007, 03:44 PM) [snapback]379677[/snapback]</div>
    Ah I see.

    I tended to think of the early Japanese and North American ones as very similar, but I do remember some differences in the design.
     
    #3 Eug, Jan 23, 2007
  4. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    May 11, 2004
    14,816
    2,498
    66
    Location:
    Far-North Chicagoland
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Technically, a stickler would break it down this way:

    Gen 1: 1997 - 2000 : Japanese release only
    Gen 2: 2001 - 2003 : First American version
    Gen 3: 2004 - Now : Second American version

    If you are talking to the average American, they might not know about the Gen-1 Prius in Japan. Thus the confusion.
     
    #4 TonyPSchaefer, Jan 23, 2007
  5. mcbrunnhilde

    mcbrunnhilde Opera singin' Prius nut!

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2004
    612
    23
    0
    Location:
    San Diego, CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Well.........these are Toyota's own designations for the Prius model years:

    Japan-only Prius (1998-2000) - NWH10
    1st American Prius (2001-2003) - NWH11
    Hatchback Prius (2004-2007+?) - NWH20

    This is why many people consider the hatchback to be the 2nd generation Prius (going by standard designations for computer software--1.0, 1.1, 2.0).
     
    #5 mcbrunnhilde, Jan 23, 2007
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,959
    16,183
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Yeah.

    I consider this the second generation (I think you might be confused with 3rd generation hybrid system).

    The one that we got from 2001-2003 was merely an updated (midlife update) of the original 97 model. The US version got new wheels, rear spoiler, no bumper strips, more powerful engine and more powerful (and upgraded) battery.

    In Canada, we got cruise control and a CD player.
     
    #6 Tideland Prius, Jan 23, 2007
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)