[jayeliot]

Went to a dealer to look at a 2005 Prius. Noticed that the sloping back window offers limited visibility. Also noticed wide support columns to support the hatchback. These columns seem to block side/rear visibility.

For those who own the Prius, what is your opinion regarding visibility ?

 

[Sanny]

For those who own the Prius, what is your opinion regarding visibility ?

I think Hep or Melgish misplaced a grandmother back there once. I recall a discussion on that. 8)

 

[Hep]

I love my car. But backing up scares me. :shock:

I tend to look for "pull through" parking spots where I can drive forward when leaving.

 

[KTPhil]

Visibility to left front in a twisty road is awful, too.

 

[bobc]

Yeah, I thought the same when I first got the car but no more.

The trick to knowing where the back and front of the car are is to get a couple highway cones and back up or pull forward until you think you're only 3" away. Then, get out and look. Do this a few times. Also, create a narrow 'alleyway' with the cones then back into it or pull forward into.

After a few times, you'll have the best feel for where the front, back and corners of the car are.

In the fire service, this is a common exercise for getting a feel as to where the front/back of the apparatus is. This saves $$$ from backing/running into anything. From this, I got so good that I could back one engine in the bay at 5mph with only 1-1/2" of clearance on each side of the vehicle.

 

[Thomme]

For those who own the Prius, what is your opinion regarding visibility ?

Yep. Monster blind spots in back. You do get used to it, tho.

 

[dgstan]

For those who own the Prius, what is your opinion regarding visibility ?

Yep. Monster blind spots in back. You do get used to it, tho.

The only problem I have is the rear passenger side. Once you get used to trusting your mirrors on that side, it's fine.

DGStan

 

[Rich D.]

I still back into my driveway and stop about one foot from my wife's car. I get out and see that I am 3 feet away.

 

[hyperion]

You questioned the rear visibility. Did you notice that the large dark area under the spoiler is actually dark tinted glass and there is a lot more rear visibility than you would imagine.

 

[evander]

The rear window visibility problem is the first thing I noticed driving away from the dealership. It does get easier, though I always use mirrors and double check as well.

 

[MGBGT]

You have to go with The Force, like, man, you know....

 

[richard schumacher]

Using the Car Guy's mirror adjustment method helps.

 

[dontcheff]

The visibility problem is the only problem I have with my Prius. I even took the parking radar and still crashed onces the rear bumper. Toyota had to order a new one from Belgium :-(

 

[ChasSuitt]

8) We just completed a Definsive Driving Course (AARP). One suggestion made regarded the adjustment of the outside rearview mirrors which improved our visibility somewhat.

Basically, the Instructor's suggestion readjusted the side mirrors so you angled them out a bit more, increasing visibility in the adjoining lane(s), thus relying more on the center interior rearview mirror. Due to the restricted rear view from the center mirror, I didn't quite follow his suggestion but did re-examine the side mirrors' positioning.

Seems driving the '04/'05 Prius is a bit like driving a van or some of the (yucch!) SUV's. I do "look" a lot more carefully, especially when backing.

 

[Diana_04Prius]

Visibility is one of my pet peeves also, as you mentioned the side pillars and the rear window but also the rear view mirror causes a big blind spot. I think the problems are on a lot of cars these days that have sloping roof lines.
You just have be aware of it and make sure you check the blind spots

 

[Sanny]

I guess I'm not tall enough to have the rear view mirror obstruct my view. That's not a problem at all for me. But I do lose things (cars, people, houses, small towns) in the back "hip" pillars. It's rather nice, though (in a strange sort of way) that the spoiler divide between the upper rear window and the lower rear window is JUST at the right height to block the headlights of idiots who are riding too close behind me.

I agree with the folks who say to adjust side mirrors the way CarTalk guys (Tom and Ray Magliozzi) say. Sounds pretty much like what AARP people suggested for ChasSuitt, too. Good kitty.

 

[EJ23]

parking

I have the hardest time parking my Prius. Maybe it has something to do with the visibility. I'll have to try the whole traffic cone exercise to make myself more aware of the size of the car. I don't have any other problems with visibility, however from time to time I follow the "force."

 

[CinciPrius]

Another thing that you can do to improve visibility on the side of the car is buy some of the small (2" diameter) convex *bubble* mirrors and put them on each outside mirror. I've had these on every car that I've ever owned and I'm addicted to them. They almost completely eliminate the blind spots.

I taught my daughter how to use them when parking and she passed Ohio's manuverability test on the first try.

 

[galaxee]

I quickly learned to compensate for lack of visibility through windows by using mirrors.

Unfortunately my Garfield window cling has to sit on the back seat now instead of sticking to my rear passenger window

 

[winslowbob]

Almost everyone driving a Prius has issues with rear visibility. It is a great car but.......I would rather back up a utility van, a pickup with a camper or the school bus I drove years ago, all with better visibility than the Prius. Not sure why the design is not tweaked to allow for better visibility. The camera appears to be compensation for poor design in this regard. I really like everything about this car, except.....