Top Gear magazine spoke with the deputy chief engineer of the gen 5 Prius. Interesting to learn that the original plan was for it to become a "taxi-dedicated vehicle" until fate intervened and the now familiar "emotional" design emerged.
Personally, I think such a design would have been the better choice. The Prius is certainly a little pointless now, and the new model is far less ubiquitous than generations past. Something like the JPN Taxi would have been an interesting direction and would at least have given the car a distinct identity. Perhaps such a model may even have become the ride share vehicle of choice in the US. ...Or it would have flopped like the C-Max.
Of course, the most logical (and best) path of progression would have been for it go full XL1! But perhaps the taxi would have been the better of the two likely outcomes.
The Prius and Prius+ were the cars of choice for taxi drivers in the UK for the past 15 or so years. But the introduction of the Corolla estate decimated Prius sales to the point that they actually didn't initially offer the new Prius here.
Maybe but it also lost some appeal with those who purchased a Prius before. By going with a more slick design, it lost the practicality it once had. Plus it’s harder to see out if than the previous gen.
And now sales have shifted to the new Camry. Q1 sales for Prius are down 41% compared to last year while Camry sales are up.
I mean it was nice that the Prius became better looking, but it also sucks that it lost some of what made it special in the first place.
This comment actually made me think of what car’s are going to look like in the future because performance cars are not going to disappear, they are only going to look different.
Toyota made the right call not turning the Prius into a taxi. This generation is the best-looking Prius in years - it turns more heads than many sports cars.
I might be interested in buying one if they had really gone the direction of making it a taxi. The biggest problem with the current generation is its too hard to get in and out of for a lot of people.
Life_Menu_4094@reddit (OP)
Top Gear magazine spoke with the deputy chief engineer of the gen 5 Prius. Interesting to learn that the original plan was for it to become a "taxi-dedicated vehicle" until fate intervened and the now familiar "emotional" design emerged.
Personally, I think such a design would have been the better choice. The Prius is certainly a little pointless now, and the new model is far less ubiquitous than generations past. Something like the JPN Taxi would have been an interesting direction and would at least have given the car a distinct identity. Perhaps such a model may even have become the ride share vehicle of choice in the US. ...Or it would have flopped like the C-Max.
Something to ponder!
niftyjack@reddit
The JPN Taxi is a modified Toyota Sienta already
Life_Menu_4094@reddit (OP)
Of course, the most logical (and best) path of progression would have been for it go full XL1! But perhaps the taxi would have been the better of the two likely outcomes.
Santa_Ricotta69@reddit
I don't know why you're being downvoted, this is a cool idea. If Toyota did a smaller, more focused, and lower cost Prius, it would be neat
LastTimeOn_@reddit
The Prius c?
MrReadilyUnready@reddit
The Prius and Prius+ were the cars of choice for taxi drivers in the UK for the past 15 or so years. But the introduction of the Corolla estate decimated Prius sales to the point that they actually didn't initially offer the new Prius here.
MasterpieceStill9991@reddit
The Prius didn't become a taxi, it became a car people actually want to drive
DocPhilMcGraw@reddit
Maybe but it also lost some appeal with those who purchased a Prius before. By going with a more slick design, it lost the practicality it once had. Plus it’s harder to see out if than the previous gen.
And now sales have shifted to the new Camry. Q1 sales for Prius are down 41% compared to last year while Camry sales are up.
I mean it was nice that the Prius became better looking, but it also sucks that it lost some of what made it special in the first place.
jdaly693@reddit
I think they could easily adapt the gen 5 body into a new Prius V and use it as a taxi. I'd trade in my gen 5 for a gen 5 Prius V.
Jam_Bannock@reddit
I'd trade in my Prius V for a Gen 5 Prius V.
dL_EVO@reddit
It would be cool if Toyota could go even more crazy and bless us with a GR Prius with 300hp and AWD,
They seem like the saviors of sport compacts right now. GR Yaris, GR Corolla, Supra, a good looking Prius!
MR2 and a revival of the Celica nameplate already confirmed to be coming!
Keep it coming Toyota!
namesdevil3000@reddit
This will be a Toyota mini Golden age and I’m glad we get potentially one last hurrah of Toyota performance cars. This will be a joy to look back on
StinkySoggyUnderwear@reddit
This comment actually made me think of what car’s are going to look like in the future because performance cars are not going to disappear, they are only going to look different.
Hustletron@reddit
Are they saviors or are they simply not neglecting customers anymore?
Anf697@reddit
Toyota made the right call not turning the Prius into a taxi. This generation is the best-looking Prius in years - it turns more heads than many sports cars.
Fearless_Neat_6654@reddit
I'd think the Corolla hybrid would make a better taxi
More rear seat room, conventional door handles, lower price, etc
wedgecon@reddit
I might be interested in buying one if they had really gone the direction of making it a taxi. The biggest problem with the current generation is its too hard to get in and out of for a lot of people.
vargemp@reddit
Great shape for a taxi. For Gen6 I'd suggest going for 2 door coupe shape, maybe it'll be little easier for passengers to get in and sit in the back.
V8-Turbo-Hybrid@reddit
Toyota is now standard their hybrid in most their models, Prius is no supurised losing sales in recent.
After we've seen next Gen Corolla concept last year, we already know Prius its future fate.