When did Prius get the rear camera?
In the United States, the Prius began offering a rear-view camera around the 2010 model year, with adoption expanding to most trims by 2012–2013. National safety rules later required rear-view cameras on all new cars, effective May 2018. Timing varied by market and generation in other regions.
Timeline of the Prius rear-camera adoption
The following milestones highlight how the Prius incorporated rear visibility technology as the model evolved across generations and markets.
- 2010 model year: The third-generation Prius (NHW30) arrives in the U.S. with a rear-view camera available on higher trims and as part of navigation packages, marking the first broad introduction of the feature in the lineup.
- 2012 model year: Backup cameras become standard on most Prius trims sold in the United States, aligning with growing consumer expectations for rear visibility.
- 2018: The U.S. federal safety standard FMVSS 111 requires rear visibility systems on all new light vehicles, reinforcing the widespread use of rear cameras across Prius models and other cars.
Availability and timing can vary by region, trim level, and market. In Europe and Japan, implementations occurred on different cadences, often tied to local regulations and model revisions.
How it evolved by generation and market
First and second generations (1997–2009)
The earliest Prius models did not feature a rear-camera system as standard equipment. Any rear-vision capability in these generations depended on optional packages or regional specifications and was not a universal feature.
Third generation and beyond (2010–present)
The redesign introduced a more consistent approach to rear visibility. Beginning with the 2010 model year in the U.S., rear-view cameras appeared more regularly and, over the next few years, became standard on an increasing share of trims. By the early to mid-2010s, most markets had moved toward making rear cameras a common or standard feature on Prius variants, with global regulators pushing for universal rear-visibility solutions.
Regional differences and regulatory backdrop
In addition to model-year changes, regulatory environments influenced how quickly rear cameras were adopted. The United States took a landmark step with FMVSS 111, which ultimately required rear visibility systems on all new light vehicles by 2018, impacting Prius models sold thereafter. Other regions, including parts of Europe and Asia, followed different timelines based on local safety standards and market expectations.
Summary
The Prius began incorporating rear-view cameras with the third-generation redesign around 2010 in the United States, with broader adoption across trims by about 2012–2013. A federal rule mandating rear visibility for all new vehicles came into force in 2018, reinforcing the trend. Across global markets, the exact timing varied by region and model, but the shift toward standard rear cameras became well established within a few years of the 2010 redesign.
