I've always dug the "last 30 minutes" efficiency bar graph display in our 2004 Toyota Prius. However, for the third generation (2010 --), Toyota switched to a smaller, less colorful dash-mounted display (after the jump).
The idea behind the new display, of course, is to keep your eyes pointed closer to the road ahead, rather than on the navigation screen, as you're playing the fuel economy/recharge-the-battery-pack game. I'm sure Toyota's legal team prefers the new display.
But I prefer the old display. And I find that when I drive a third-gen Prius, I'm less interested in playing the game. And if you're driving a hybrid, you need to play the game -- that's what you do to make up for the lack of involvement.
So which is it going to be for you -- the cool-looking bar-graph display of old or the new, ergonomic, lawyer-friendly, eyes-closer-to-the-road display?
Erin Riches, Senior Editor
ocramidajzj says:
01:12 PM, 10/14/10
Yeah, I don't think (at least from what I've seen of current gen Hybrids) that there would be anything that could counteract the lack of driver involvement. Plus it's yet another diversion from people actually paying attention to driving!
Sorry another rant. I was stuck behind a red Prius today who was slowing traffic because they didn't want to trigger the gas engine and loose the game! Kill me now.
benson2175 says:
01:18 PM, 10/14/10
Ugh; what a busy driver center, how are you supposed to not get distracted while driving. No wonder these people drive like such morons. Give me some nice big gauges, one for the tach, one for the speedo and some nice ancillary oil pressure, fuel, and temp gauges. Also I won't be needing the electric motor, battery, CPUs, and fancy pants CVT planetary gear whatever ma bob.
eriches says:
01:36 PM, 10/14/10
@ benson2175: For the new display, keep in mind that the circular "buttons" for climate, trip and audio are not there are all the time. This photo was originally taken by Scott Jacobs to demonstrate the 3rd-gen car's "touch tracer" controls -- you get a visual cue in the IP when you use the steering wheel buttons.
nmcheese says:
02:20 PM, 10/14/10
The newer bar graph has all the same information - just in a compressed format. The only issue I take with the newer Prius display is the pop-over graphics for the -/+ and trip/disp buttons - kinda annoying.
However, on the flip side, the current generation Prius drives more linearly than the older ones. It is quiet and smooth enough to mitigate the hybrid-ness. Still not a driver's car, but a fine place to slowly go from A to B.
aerodax says:
02:57 PM, 10/14/10
I don't need involvement while I'm transporting my 7 month old around. I need to focus and avoid "playing the game", retards in bro trucks, soccer moms in full sized suvs on the phone, teenagers texting, and old people being old. The 3rd gen Prius is perfect for this because it's dead silent, rides smooth, has a large backseat for a smaller car and it's very safe. I've driven the 2nd gen and it's crap in comparison.
Once again, when you have children you don't need 5000 HP and massive skidpad numbers. You need to keep them safe and preferably asleep while in transit.
aznraptor says:
05:51 PM, 10/14/10
is THAT why all the prius drivers are so annoyingly slow?
was on the freeway the other day and saw a prius trying to merge on to the freeway, it was so slow merging that it made a large 18 wheeler brake and slow down to not hit it.