A little v makes all the difference for Toyota
Roominess, ample cargo capacity turn the hybrid into a true family hauler
What’s in a letter? Well, when it comes to the 2012 Toyota Prius, adding a V means quite a lot.
Opting for a Prius V gives you the same hybrid system that will save you fuel and help the environment, but the V means this model is much more versatile, offering much more room than its sibling.
The popular Prius liftback has a decent but not overwhelming 15.7 cubic feet of cargo room, while accommodating five passengers. The Prius V also seats five, but ups the ante in terms of what it can carry. With a full complement of passengers, it can hold up to 34.3 cubic feet of cargo, and up to 67.3 cubic feet if you fold the rear seats flat.
Indeed, I was able to easily slip four tires into the Prius V without so much as a fuss, something that would prove a little more difficult without the V model.
All that extra room comes with a bit of a premium over the regular Prius, the V having a starting price of $27,200 compared to $25,995.
The test vehicle was a notch up from the base model, with the luxury trim starting at $31,550. The Prius V price range tops out with the Touring and Technology package trim at $36,875.
Toyota says that the V model is a crossover, but I see it more as a wagon-like vehicle. Whatever you want to call it, the V definitively stands for versatility. Design
The Prius and Prius V might share a name, but they differ quite a bit in terms of design – mostly because of the V’s shape, but there are other differences.
For starters, you would expect the two vehicles would at least share the same front fascia design to make them instantly recognizable – but that is not the case.
Pretty much everything on the outside is different on the V – the grille shape, headlight design and placement and lower air dam design.
When looking at the models from the side, there is no mistaking the V’s body style. While the silhouettes of the front ends are similar, the elongated back end of the V makes it instantly recognizable.
The V’s back end is also a more traditional one that the normal Prius, with a large rear hatch to access the cargo space and large upright lights on either side. This should make the Prius V more acceptable to some who have questioned the design.
On the inside, the V has the same centre-mounted gauges as all Prius models – something I still have a hard time adjusting to. The natural reflex to look down instead of right for vital information is difficult to break.
It’s a comfortable and roomy cabin, made to feel larger thanks to the resin panoramic moonroof – one which unfortunately does not open but floods the cabin with natural light.
The centre stack on the Prius V is different than the Prius and it’s separated from the centre console, leaving storage room below it.
The bottom of the centre stack protrudes slightly before dropping off suddenly and I couldn’t help but think it resembles Jay Leno’s rather evident chin. Performance
Power for the Prius is provided by Toyota’s Hybrid Syn- ergy Drive in combination with a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine. The system provides a net horsepower of 134 and 105 foot-pounds of torque and is combined with a continuously variable transmission.
There are three engine settings, controlled via buttons on the centre console: EV, ECO or Power modes.
It’s a tried and tested system that Toyota has improved upon over the years and it’s a fairly competent one. I would like to see the system stay in EV mode a little longer, as I have experienced in other hybrid systems, but that really all depends on how hard you are on the accelerator.
Toyota says fuel economy should be 4.3 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 4.8 L/100 km on the highway. I averaged 5.2 L/100 km in a mix of both types of driving, numbers that are still quite excellent. Driving/utility
There are very few complaints when driving the Prius V. The transition from the battery to the gasoline engine is almost imperceptible, but keep in mind that acceleration under battery power is not the greatest. And if you push too hard, the gas engine kicks in prematurely, negating any possible fuel savings.
Once you have mastered how to balance the gas pedal just right, however, driving the Prius V is enjoyable – and you are doing your small part for Mother Nature.
With the extra room in the back and tons of cargo space, the Prius V also becomes a more useful vehicle than its counterparts. Now you can move the whole family, and then some, while not having to sacrifice your penchant for being green.