There isn't a whole lot of love for the Toyota Prius in my profession. Most of my colleagues regard the Prius as the anti-car, the polar opposite of everything we love about machines that create motion and emotion from the remains of long-dead dinosaurs. They have a point; there isn't much that is passionate about the Prius. But I'll stop short of dislike, because the Prius is a really good idea -- and the new-for-2012 Prius V is an even better one.
Larger photos: Front - rear - all photos
First glance: What you see is what you get
In the case of the Prius V, the picture tells 95% of the story: The V is a Prius with a bigger back seat and a bigger trunk, and that about sums up my review. The Prius V gives you a lot more space in trade for slightly lower fuel consumption, but it still uses about half as much fuel as an SUV with the same carrying capacity.
The changes to the Prius V's body result in a weight gain of 230 lbs and a slightly lower coefficient of drag (0.29 compared to 0.25 for the regular Prius). The powertrain is unchanged -- same 1.8 liter Atkinson-cycle engine, same nickel-metal-hydride battery pack, and the same combined output of 134 horsepower. Toyota estimates that the Prius V's extra weight slows the 0-60 run by 0.6 seconds, to 10.4.
Prius V's dash differs radically from that of the regular Prius.
Photo © Aaron GoldIn the Driver's Seat: Change of scenery
Inside, the Prius V gets a unique dashboard which is less swoopy and more frumpy than the regular Prius. The digital gauge panel remains at the center, but the cheesy-looking LED power meter is missing, as is the sweeping center console that bisects the front seats of the regular Prius. I missed neither of them, but I was surprised to find that the climate controls aren't as intuitive as they are in other Toyotas -- you have to push the control dial left or right to switch between temperature, fan and vent-mode settings. But I did like the center console, with its roomy storage box and big cupholder at the front.
Compared to the regular Prius, the V's back seat offers an inch more headroom and a couple inches more leg and shoulder room. The seat slides fore-and-aft and has an adjustable backrest. The trunk measures up at 34.3 cubic feet, about 59% larger than the regular Prius and as generous as many small SUVs, while the tall roof and vertical hatch lid make for easy loading. Scooting the rear seats forward opens up an extra 6 cubic feet of space, and dropping the seatbacks yields 67.3 cubic feet. There's a windowshade-style cargo cover that can be stored beneath the floor, a nice touch. But I was dismayed to learn that the proximity key function -- which allows you to unlock the car by simply touching the door handle -- doesn't work on the trunk lid, not unless you buy the most-expensive model. Us blue-collar Joes and Janes have to dig the remote out of our pocket first. Come on, Toyota -- this is a car designed for heavy hauling. Must you be so stingy?
On the Road: Same as it ever was
Prius V has 34.3 cubic feet of cargo space, as much as most small SUVs.
Photo © Aaron GoldThe Prius V drives pretty much like any other Prius. The view out is nearly identical, and while the longer wheelbase smooths out the ride a bit, the turning circle, while slightly wider, is still tight enough for city maneuvering. The Prius V has Normal, Eco, and Power modes; the latter remaps the accelerator for better response, but I spent most of my week driving in either Eco or Normal modes and simply floored the accelerator pedal when I needed to move quickly. I hardly noticed the V's slightly-slower pace, and I had no problem merging onto the freeway or climbing hills.
And what about fuel economy? The EPA pins the Prius V at 44 MPG city, 40 highway, and 42 combined, which is significantly lower than the regular Prius at 51/48/50. But real-world driving told a different story. Despite driving most of my miles on the freeway -- the Prius V's weak spot -- I averaged 46.4 MPG, which compares favorably to the 48.9 MPG I saw in the regular Prius. In town, I was able to top 55 MPG. Granted, I drove solo most of the time, and I'm sure having passengers aboard would cost me a couple of MPG. Even so, anything over 45 in what is essentially a big wagon is pretty darn impressive in my book.
