> Styling was not an important consideration when I chose the Prius. Gas mileage was much more important, along with price, quality, and comfort.
Yes, that may be. But imagine if there had been an alternative to the Prius - was priced the same, had the same gas mileage and equivalent specs, but it looked a lot more stylish/sporty/refined, etc...
EVERY person? No. But the VAST majority of people think a McLaren P1 looks extremely sexy and a Pontiac Aztec looks like a committee of idiots were in charge of the exterior design.
The Prius is known for many things: I don't know of anyone who would go out of their way to say it's a stylish or attractive looking car as one of it's top 20 attributes. I'm sure someone out there like that exists, but they are very clearly in the minority.
What "car people" see as a negative, some "eco people" see as a positive.
In Cambridge, MA, there's a significant part of the population for whom "I am making an overt statement about my care and concern for the environment" that will cause them to prefer the unstylish Prius/LEAF/Volt.
The one that gets the same gas mileage but has better styling would be the superior engineering achievement, so I'd choose that one. But now imagine a 3rd option that takes whatever advantages made that possible and puts them in the body with better aerodynamics: again I'd choose against style.
Car styling is always a matter of taste, but I bet virtually everyone will find at least a couple of cars on that list that they think are nice to look at.
The Prius's weird styling isn't so much to be efficient, but to look efficient. The latest generation makes that much more obvious. Those weird lines and mismatched rear panels aren't doing anything for aerodynamics, but they call out that this car is different.
I think you're overlooking something. The Gen 2 Prius is classified as a mid-size hatchback. I suspect that had something to do with Toyota's decision to go with the odd shape. The extra space wasn't important to me when I bought it, but it is now.
For example, I can put down the rear seats and place an assembled bicycle inside, without removing the front wheel or lowering the seat post. I couldn't even think about doing that with my last car, an Acura Integra.
> I think you're overlooking something. The Gen 2 Prius is classified as a mid-size hatchback
It's one of the oddest shaped hatchbacks in production, and frankly looks weird to even a hatchback lover like myself. Take a look at the front runners in the hatchback field, you'll notice big differences in aerodynamics, "sleekness", and styling. Ford Focus, VW Golf, etc... all far better looking cars than the weirdly lined Prius.
Yes, that may be. But imagine if there had been an alternative to the Prius - was priced the same, had the same gas mileage and equivalent specs, but it looked a lot more stylish/sporty/refined, etc...
Which do you buy now?