We frequently encounter the following scenario, and I'd like to provide a clearer explanation of our approach for those interested in understanding it better.
Customer: "Is it possible to lift a Prius above 1.5 inches?"
Prius Offroad: "ABSOLUTELY!"
Customer: "Will you sell me one!?"
Prius Offroad: "Nope."
Customer: "Why not!?"
Prius Offroad: "Well, a few key reasons come to mind: liability, reliability, longevity, ride quality, handling, suspension performance, and most importantly, SAFETY. Your car was designed by a team of experts far smarter than I will ever pretend to be. Any deviation from this design compromises those factors to some degree.
As a BASE jumper and extreme sports enthusiast, I've assessed risk versus reward throughout my entire life to literally stay alive, and I've applied this mindset to designing and developing every component we offer at Prius Offroad. Is it worth risking any of those factors for an extra 0.5 inches of height? It may be to you, but it's not to me. My philosophy from day one has been: 'If I wouldn't feel comfortable putting my son in the car with a specific part installed, then why would I ever sell that part to a customer?' I'd rather sleep soundly knowing I'm not putting others lives in danger solely for the sake of profit or the bragging rights of having the tallest lifted Prius in the US. NEWS FLASH: No one cares!
That being said, there’s a right way and a wrong way to increase your suspension height without completely disregarding caution, and simply slapping on a taller lift spacer is the WRONG approach. After all, if you google "1.5" lift spacer" you will see a plethora of companies offering lifts for every make, model, car, truck and SUV under the sun. There is a very solid reason a large majority of companies chose that 1.5" height and stop there in regards to lift spacers...but before we get into that, let’s quickly review your car’s suspension.
To simplify, think of your legs as your body's suspension. When a linebacker prepares to dash off the line in football, what position are they in? A squatted position. This represents the middle of the suspension cycle. You can drop down to absorb bumps or rise for height depending on the force applied. Your car’s suspension works similarly. Optimal ride, handling, performance, longevity, and safety are typically achieved when the suspension is midway through its cycle (squatting).
Now, try standing with your legs fully extended and locked, then attempt to jump. You won’t get very far, will you? Now imagine riding in the back of a pickup truck on a bumpy dirt road while literally sitting on your heels. Not enjoyable, right? Eventually, you’d probably destroy your back. This is analogous to your car’s ball joints, tie rods, and CV axles. The more extended or compressed they are, the more stress and wear they endure.
Adding a strut spacer, strut extension, or spring doesn’t alter the total "travel" of your strut—the distance it can move up and down from full extension to full compression. Instead, it shifts the suspension cycle down by approximately the same amount as the spacer, adding height as well as limiting how far the wheel and tire can up in that cycle. If you were to add lift springs and oversized tires without a lift spacer your tires would slam into your fender wells while going over big bumps and during larger impacts. The lift spacer alleviates this problem by moving the "stroke" of the suspension cycle down and away from the fender well, and in turn stopping the tire before contact. However, since other steering, drivetrain, and suspension components remain in their original positions when using a lift spring or lift spacer, every related component experiences increased angles, reducing performance and longevity to some degree. You’re no longer in the squatted position but slightly higher in the cycle, meaning more room to compress but less to extend. Without lowering the entire subframe, you’re moving the "attack position" further from the ideal center and closer to full extension. However as you lower the subframe you also increase the distance between the subframe and the rest of your car - think of them as stilts for your Prius. All of this creates a very delicate environment to find the perfect balance in order to keep the complex systems of your vehicle operating in harmony with each other.
The PROPER way to increase your Prius's suspension height above 1.5 inches involves a combination of a strut spacer, a taller coil spring, and potentially a subframe spacer (when applicable). With these parts, you could theoretically achieve approximately 3 inches of lift while still maintaining some downward travel. However, this does increase the risk of premature wear or failure significantly compared to a 1.5-inch lift spacer alone, and it will also slightly worsen ride quality, comfort, and performance. It’s like trying to jump from an almost upright position or absorb bumps while crouching low in the back of a pickup truck—not as severe as locked legs, but still not ideal.
While we're unlikely to offer this height increase as a "package" we do offer the components separately for those individuals inclined to take full responsibility and liability into their own hands and choose to assemble it themselves by purchasing each part individually. Again, this isn't something we endorse, or sign off on, but for those willing to take the risks in pursuit of a little extra height, the decision is theirs. The most important thing to ask yourself is how high do I really need to go and at what cost will it come?