What is that in the drive, a Prius v-5?

[xcel]

Hi All:

I created and just uploaded the review outline into the OP (original post) in case anyone cares to read the basis regarding the v’s reason for being. Its raw and needs editing that will be taken care of over the coming days as we put more time behind the wheel and upload more pics of what I am beginning to realize may currently be the best overall family capable vehicle available anywhere.

Wayne

[herm]

So what should Toyota do for the taxi fleet?

[xcel]

Hi Herm:

Sell them to Taxi Fleets like crazy!

When in CA, I saw a v Taxi at a Shell and snapped a pic.

My mom reminded me of some items we discovered last night when going over the car, I was wondering if the DRL's were automatic or manual. They are automatic if you switch them on via the light stalk and leave them on. They shut off with the car as lights are supposed to. Or you can leave them off and they will stay off for good. So its an Auto/manual solution and you have control.

Also, there is a hard plastic backing on the back of the seats so when they are folded down and used for cargo, the plastic takes the abuse with no chance of ripping any cloth (v2 and v3) or SoftTex (v5) leather like surfaces.

And she has never had NAVI in a vehicle in her life. We programmed some addresses including her home. When She pushed the button and it asked for a destination, she said, "home" and it took her there. Isn’t technology wonderful

Wayne

[Airbalancer]

do you have the comparison with the Elanta touring ?

[all_about_the_glide]

The coffee, espresso machines, grinders and coffee brewers we haul around fit (some brewers are too tall for the V but can ride on their backs as long as the water 's been drained), the question I have to answer is would a vehical with more cargo capacity save enough miles traveled to offset the the v's FE. Having our logos stickered to a Prius would be stellar for our brand (even if the canvas is small) but wont happen unless the petrol savings are there.

[xcel]

Hi All:

Some results although Google and Mapquest both say the WB I-94 to I-894 bypass ramp is closed. It was open so I had to create two maps up to the break and add them together.

Temps from 45 to 49 degrees, traffic was light to moderate through the construction zones, winds were out of the ENE at approximately 10 mph.

2012 Toyota Prius v5 Review


Same pump for the initial and final top off located at the Speedway in Gurnee, IL.


96.2 miles and 68.9 mpgUS displayed. 95.5 miles actual/1.460 gallons consumed = 65.41 mpgUS actual. The aFCD over reports by 5.3%

I do not like the large offset with the 17” wheels and tires shod on this v5 vs. the v3 driven in Half Moon Bay. 65.4 mpgUS for a family car is excellent but I simply do not like aFCD offsets. Especially ones that are over 5%!

I can say that the v-5's 17" wheel and tire combo would not be my first pick either as it felt like driving in wet cement when I was heading out towards Milwaukee into the frontal cross wind. It was one of the toughest battles I have had with a car and the EPA since the 48-State FE WR drive in fact.

Airbalancer, give me a moment to do a competitive comparison with the Elantra Touring.

Wayne

[xcel]

Hi AirBalancer:

2012 Prius v Competitive Comparison

Year	Make	Model	Price	Passenger Volume (cu. ft.)	Cargo Volume (cu. ft.)	Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined - mpgUS)
2012	Toyota	Prius v	$26,400 - $29,990	97.2	34.3	44/40/42
2012	Hyundai	Elantra Touring	$15,995 - $21,070	101.2	24.3	23/30/26

Fuel economy, resale and rear cargo cap are going to hurt the Elantra Touring in this comparison.

Wayne

[WriConsult]

As a Hyundai Touring owner (who hasn't driven the v yet, but has thoroughly examined its cargo capabilities) I'll respond to the comparison question too.

While the Prius V's cargo volume is certainly larger than the Hyundai's, there is something funny (as sometimes happens) with the EPA's measurements. I don't think the V is a LOT larger. No way is it 42% larger in back. Nuh-uh. 20% bigger, tops.

For one thing, the size of the cargo floor is almost the same. Both are 36" long* -- longer than almost all other "hatchbacks" on the market, and comparable to most small SUVs. For me, since I'm usually carrying lots of smaller bags NOT stacked to the ceiling (often next to a dog -- can't stack anything on top of him) rather than large tall boxes, this matters much more to me than does the 3-dimensional volume.

And I think where we see the biggest difference in 3-dimensional volume is that the v's hatch is much more vertical. The Touring's tailgate slopes forward nearly a foot from bottom to top (most of the slope being in the glass area), and that does cut into measured volume -- though I still can't see how you get to a 10cf difference.

* 36" is with the v's sliding rear seats all the way back, in their "normal" position. You can gain several more linear inches of cargo room -- along with a new cavernous opening behind the seats and below the level of the load floor -- if you slide them forward. Whether you can do this depends on rear passengers' presence and/or legroom, but it does add a TON of versatility. This is where the v really rules in the cargo department.

The Touring, of course, comes nowhere near the Prius v on mileage, and mileage is why we all drool over hybrids. But the Hyundai costs $10,000 less. (I paid $15,500 for mine, with the cheapest v I've seen so far a full 63% more expensive than that). It's like comparing apples and giraffes. If you have $25k or more to spend, by all means go for the Prius v. Like I said a couple pages back, it is a stupendous amount of hybrid for the money, and it's certainly a going to be a better value on TCO than the similarly sized CX-5, for example. If like me you have a lower budget, however, nothing with similar cargo space can touch the base Elantra Touring for value. I still think it's the most underrated car in America.

[WriConsult]

For comparison purposes, I just went out and took some measurements of my Touring. It would be interesting to compare some of these figures with the v:

Rear hatch opening
30.5" high at the center, 29" high near the corners.
38" wide at floor height, 41" wide at most heights below the cargo cover, tapering in to 36" a few inches below the top and to 33" wide near the corners.

Cargo floor
41" wide between the wheel wells (same as the hatch opening's max width), 54" maximum. Average width is about 44".
Rear seats up: 36" long measured at the center, 34" long measured at the sides.
Rear seats down: 60.5" to the front (top) of the rear seatbacks folded down.
To front seatbacks: 70" to the back of the driver's seatback in my normal driving position. I'm 5'7" with a 31" inseam. For 6-footers, subtract 3" or so from this figure.
Maximum: 74" to the back of the front seatbacks with the seats all the way forward, but still at a comfortable angle of recline.

Other interior cargo dimensions
Interior ceiling height: 34" just behind the rear seatbacks.
Cargo area length behind the top of the rear seatbacks: 26.5".

BOTTOM LINE
Essentially, the largest box that would fit through the opening is 33" wide x 29" high. Coincidentally, exactly the same as with the Prius v. However, when it comes to the length of this theoretical box the Touring's less-vertical hatch hurts it a lot. The Touring could only swallow a 60" long box of 33x29 dimensions with me driving, and probably about 56" with the seat slid further back for Wayne -- compared to 66" for the Prius v. Most of this difference is due to the angle of the Touring's hatch glass.

Again, up to the tops of the seatbacks the Touring can swallow nearly as much, and since I don't stack bags to the ceiling the Touring is nearly as capable for me. Unless you slide the v's rear seats forward, and this extra versatility is a huge plus for the v. I wish all wagons and hatches had sliding/reclining rear seats! So the magnitude of difference between the two really depends on what you're hauling in back, and/or who you're hauling in the back seat.

[Carcus]

I had a "V" taxi ride last month. Black with aftermarket leather... nice looking car and plenty of room.

Perfect for a taxi, I agree.