Review: 2012 Toyota Prius v

Roominess, power, affordability and fuel-efficiency. These competing factors weigh heavily in the product development of any new car, but they're most obvious when a car seeks to tackle one or more of the extremes. 

 

The Toyota Prius hybrid has been a consistently strong seller for hitting most of those marks. Gas mileage is outstanding at an EPA-estimated 50 miles per gallon, even while the five-door hatchback is usefully spacious and attainably priced – if not exactly a bargain – from $24,000. 

 

Other mileage-minded cars have tried various other takes on that formula, though none has hit enough of all four categories to even approach the Prius's success. 

 

With two new models, Toyota is offering consumers additional balances to choose among. The Prius c will trade interior volume for a lower price when it goes on sale next month. And the Prius v, which appeared in dealerships late last year, gave up a bit of mileage, a bit of value and a bit of performance to offer extra interior volume.

 

(The Prius v is not to be confused with the Prius Five, which is the top-level trim of the regular Prius hatchback. The high-end Prius v trim, reviewed here, is also called the Five.)

 

To create the v, Toyota made the standard Prius longer, wider and taller, and sacrificed some of its distinctively aerodynamic shape for a higher roof over the cargo hold. The same powertrain – a 98-horsepower four-cylinder gas engine aided by an electric motor – is rated for 42 miles per gallon in mixed driving instead of 50, and Toyota charges about $1,500 extra for the added space. 

 

And while the formula crafted for the Prius v won't work for everyone, it's easy to see the appeal of a roomy family car with outstanding fuel economy. 

 

That the Prius v isn't a performance machine should come as no surprise. Even the standard Prius – which is more than 200 pounds lighter and more aerodynamic – isn't known for its zip, though it's on par with a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic and has no trouble cruising at speed. 

 

When you put your foot down, the Prius v isn't much slower, fortunately. When you need to get moving in a hurry, for merging or passing, the powertrain's combined 134 horsepower should be sufficient for anyone accustomed to all but some of the newest economy cars. But the car isn't designed for someone who likes or needs full power regularly – the gas engine roars and fuel economy plummets.

 

In general, both hybrids and heavy vehicles with small engines return impressive mileage when they're driven gently, but fuel economy can plummet to the same level as a more powerful model when they're not. For this reason and for the unpleasant engine racket under hard acceleration, be aware of your demands on a car before choosing the Prius v. 

 

Buttons on the center console allow the driver to choose among Eco, Power and EV modes – the latter relies more heavily on the electric motor, good for gentle city driving; the former two make more self-explanatory adjustments to the throttle and powertrain programming. 

 

Like nearly all current cars, the Prius v has no trouble cruising at any legal sustained speed; where cars generally differ is in how quickly they get moving. However, in a brief drive, this reviewer did regularly believe the car was cruising at a faster speed than it in fact was. A weeklong test is scheduled for next month to see how quickly one adjusts to the Prius v's power, and to provide real-world fuel consumption data. 

 

Just going by the EPA estimates, though, the Prius v is unmatched by anything that comes close to its practicality. The new Camry Hybrid midsize sedan offers similar passenger space and fuel economy estimates – and more power – but the v offers the cargo space and flexibility of a good compact crossover SUV rather than a simple sedan. EPA ratings for a four-cylinder two-wheel-drive SUV rarely top 25 miles per gallon in mixed driving; even the Ford Escape Hybrid, rated at 32 miles per gallon, is 10 mpg behind the Prius v. 

 

If you find the Prius v's power sufficient, there's a lot to like in the Prius v – even setting aside its gas mileage. Passenger and cargo room are on par with the roomiest compact SUVs, and the ride is smooth and acceptably quiet at cruise. 

 

It's not a particularly agile car, and the tires are designed to favor low rolling resistance over squeal-preventing grip, but it's on par with similarly sized compact SUVs and avoids feeling bulky. The steering isn't ideal, but feels more natural than in some conventional cars. As in other hybrids, energy from braking is used to help charge the battery, and the system gives the brakes a grabby feel compared to most cars. 

 

As in the standard Prius model (read review), the Prius v has an odd dash design with a few unnecessarily confusing controls, including its electric shifter and the digital speedometer mounted over the center of the dash rather than behind the steering wheel. It also doesn't match the Hyundai Sonata and some other hybrids for its fuel economy displays – a disappointment in a vehicle designed for people who want top-notch mileage. 

 

The tested top-of-the-line Prius v Five includes “SofTex” seat trim, a convincing false leather. Front and rear seats are mounted high and comfortable, and the rear seat can adjust fore-aft and recline. The front seats are heated, but unlike in most well-equipped cars (including the Five model of the regular Prius hatchback) they aren't power-adjustable.

 

There's a higher-than-expected rear cargo floor for a wagon, making room for the Prius v's batteries. An underfloor cubby includes a bit of hidden storage and includes a place for the retractable cargo cover, a design that other cars could stand to adopt. 

 

Despite the high cargo floor, there's 35 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat – two thirds more than in the Prius hatchback – and 67 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The seat drops easily flat, but there's a ledge between the cargo floor and the top of the folded seatbacks. The Prius v's roof stays high all the way to the back of the car, which also means it can handle bulky cargo better than the Prius hatchback. 

 

There's also plenty of cabin storage, including an open space between the seats, where the dash would meet the center console in most cars. The console also includes a deep bin, and the dash includes two glove boxes.

 

At a sticker price of $30,750 as tested, or even in a $27,000 base model, the Prius v is like other hybrids in commanding a significant purchase price premium. A comparably equipped two-wheel-drive four-cylinder SUV would likely run about $4,000 less. 

 

However, the price difference is less and the fuel economy difference is greater between the Prius v and a Toyota RAV4, compared to the differences between a Prius hatchback and another compact economy car. If you need this much space, it would be easier to recoup the extra cost of the hybrid. (Note, though, that you're also sacrificing acceleration performance compared to most SUVs.)

 

It also bears emphasizing, as more and more cars advertised 40-mpg ratings, that the Prius v is rated for 42 miles per gallon in overall driving, not merely on the highway. The best standard gasoline economy cars are rated for mileage in the low 30s, and don't have nearly this car's interior space. 

 

If you're looking for a roomy, fuel-efficient family vehicle to carry passengers and cargo, the Prius v avoids most major compromises. If you can fit comfortably into a Prius hatchback, the v gives you little reason to pay extra for reduced fuel economy. But if you need more space than that best-seller offers, the v comes the closest to the hatchback's same successful merits. 

 

 

Vehicle tested: 2012 Toyota Prius v

Vehicle base price (MSRP): $26,400

Version tested: Five 

Version base price (MSRP): $29,990

Vehicle price as tested (MSRP): $30,750

Estimated transaction price as tested*:  $29,803

Test vehicle provided by: Ourisman Toyota of Chantilly, Va.

 

Length: 181.7 inches 

Width: 69.9 inches 

Height: 62.0 inches

Wheelbase: 109.4 inches

Weight: 3,247 pounds 

Cargo volume behind rear seat: 34.3 cubic feet

Cargo volume with rear seat folded: 67.3 cubic feet

Turning circle: 38.0 feet 

Engine: 1.8-liter gasoline engine + electric motor, with 134 net horsepower

Transmission: continuously variable automatic 

EPA city mileage: 44 miles per gallon 

EPA highway mileage: 40 miles per gallon 

EPA combined mileage: 42 miles per gallon

Assembly location: Japan

For more information: Toyota website

 

*Estimated transaction prices are based on data fromTruecar.com and dealer quotes.