CleanMPG Previews the 2012 Prius v

More than a Prius and set to bolster a whole new family.

No way sheets will fit in back hatch opening; at least I'd be really surprised.

Hi Ophblanace:

It is bigger but in a good sport of way. The rear hatch “space” can now handle taller items, the vehicle feels bigger even though it is essentially the same platform, it is quieter, better riding and imho, even handling albeit it looks a bit top heavy by comparison to the third gen. The displays are much easier to understand at a glance, they are higher res, and easier to manipulate with the single control toggle and turn knob.

One other thing I mentioned in the previous write-up that I did not in this one given this was already getting to be overly large, the base Display Audi0 6.1 sounds better than the POS JBL and base system in all the past Prius’. Move up to the GreenEdge and it is another step up. The 2 and 3 screen Resolutions are a bit skimpy but the v 5 with the high end 7” LCD is sharp.

Mendel, Toyota is trying to save $’s with a common base dash for all markets (L & R) and it is not a good thing either imho. If you have seen the latest Yaris generation write-ups I have posted, Toyota moved the instrument cluster back to the front of the driver regardless if they are UK (right) or US (left).

Dan, if Toyota prices this right, it could really be a hit. If they reach, it will be an also ran which harms us all given the FE capabilities of everything else I my competitive comparison table.

Rich, while at the Long Lead last month, someone asked if a 4x8 sheet would fit and IIRC, it was about 1 to 2" to thin for the v to carry it on the floor.

Herm, it took me hours to find/choose the two Prius and Prius v pics with similar color and lighting (and I have the complete Press packs for both vehicles!), to crop them in, stack them and even attempt to match the angle at which they were sitting for the addition. If you look closely at the v, you may notice something missing in the rear quarter which tells you what I had to do to “fix” that pic

Wayne

I highly doubt you'd be able to get 48" wide sheet goods in. Almost ALL midsized wagons (Legacy, Passat, Volvo V70, etc., which tend to be about the same size in cf as the Prius V) are a couple inches shy.

You'd think that, largely not also being in the business of selling pickups, midsized wagon makers would figure out how to design a hatch opening that allows for that magic 48" number. Maybe it's because they're mostly foreign-based and their home markets don't have the same dimensions in building supplies (and/or the same DIY ethic)?

I hope this leads to more (inexpensive) wagon options in the US. Not everyone can afford a Volvo, Audi, or Prius.

Hatchbacks are too small, America! Wagons!

I haven't sat in a Gen II so I didn't know the layout. I've been in other cars that obscured the display with the wheel turned.

To follow up on my earlier post: I checked yesterday and I don't have to move my head to look at the central display. I have to move my head to look at the right side mirror (because I wear spectacles) and look around for traffic when performing maneuvers.

Just like the monochrome display, I think the central driver display is a non-issue in use. However, I have a II and I appreciate anything that lowers manufacturing cost.

However, for vehicles with a built-in GPS or other fancy electronic systems, it makes more sense to have the driver controls directly ahead of the driver just so that the display for the other electronics can be higher.

Yes, I put the SG in front of me but that's just because I hadn't mounted it properly: it was wrapped around the steering wheel. In fact, it's still not in the car at the moment because I still need to mount it properly.

I want to know if you can order the 3rd row seats from some other country and install them in a US-Spec Prius V.

Hi Nevyn:

The third row of the alpha and + would not fit as those vehicles use the smaller Li-Ion in order to squeeze a third row in. If you want to know how much room you would have, stick a third row in a Prius. It just “aint” going to work out to well.

Wayne

Hi All:

A Prius v is supposed to arrive this Friday for a week and while I am very much looking forward to that drive, I did place almost 400 miles on a brand new v-3 this past weekend.


While I was in Yakima, WA for the Want 86_mpg From Your Prius Hybrid? We Have an “Answer” For That! event, the Prius v-3 allowed a 90.2 mpg RT segment on a 26-mile loop around Yakima and Union Gap, WA. Not bad for a Prius with a 42 mpgUS combined rating.

Of the entire Prius family, it is my favorite given its Prius like fuel economy with larger rear cargo capacity, more rear seat room and a more comfortable seating position. When driven like everybody else however, its EPA vs. the Prius hatch stands out. When driving a v from a local CarMax, my mom drove to a local movie theater simulating her drive from her home to the same movie theater. The brand new v-3 allowed 46.7 mpg (45.9 actual) whereas her 10 Prius allowed 60.0 mpg (54.0 mpg actual) which matches up to the EPA detriment (42 vs. 50 mpg combined) to within 1%.

Wayne

Hi All:

I was in my parents v last night and while navigating to a number of Menard's between Milwaukee and the WI/IL border last night, 3 times the v-3 with its SW NAVI could not resolve the address' input whereas Google Maps on the Motorola RAZR MAXX nailed it every time. Not a deal breaker but these Menard's were not that new and to see the Denso unit fail again and again was disappointing.

Wayne