Prius V: 3rd Generation

While the Prius V looks very similar in size to the current Prius, it is actually larger. The Prius V has a three inch longer wheelbase, is six inches longer overall, 3 inches taller and one inch wider. This all adds up to 58% more cargo space for the car which equals or exceeds 80% of CUV’s and small SUV’s in the market. The extended wheelbase has a noticeable effect on rear seat room. Rear seats can move forward and backward to alter legroom and or cargo area. With the driver's seat adjusted for a 6’4” person, there is still plenty of room behind the driver's seat for that same 6’4” person to ride comfortably. The Prius V weighs in at 236 pounds more than the current Prius and has a drag coefficient of .29 versus .25 from the standard Prius.

With additional width and height of the Prius V it makes a difference in how airy the cabin feels. There is plenty of headroom for front and back seat passengers and the additional shoulder room is welcomed. Three adults should be able to fit comfortably in the back seat.

A few other things of note in the interior. The Prius V carries the first sunroof offered in the line. It is made of a resin that is 40% lighter than conventional glass and reflects 99% of all UV rays to keep the interior cooler and materials from fading. The seat material used is a synthetic leather like surface that has a good feel to it yet is 50% lighter than conventional leather. Toyota has also worked with JBL Audio on the sound system. Not only are the related amps and speakers lighter than normal, they also draw less power. At 100dB, a conventional system might draw 7.6 amps of power, the JBL Green Edge system only draws 3.9 amps. If you crank up the volume to 105dB that difference grows to 11.7 amps for the conventional system versus 4.8 for the JBL system. JBL claim that the 120 watt system available in the Prius V is equal to a 600 watt conventional system.

Also debuting on the Prius V is Toyota’s new telematics system called Entune. It works with iPhones and Android devices to provide connectivity for the system. There are apps built into the Entune system, Bing for searching the navigation and other apps, but not the internet, Pandora, Open Table, iHeart Radio and others. Entune requires that you download the corresponding applications onto your smartphone and then syncs them together to work seamlessly.

If you like and enjoy the current Prius then you will like the Prius V as well. If you are a fan of the Prius, but you don’t want a traditional crossover or small SUV then this might be your answer. The Prius V is rated by the EPA at 44 city, 40 highway and 42 combined. The Prius V is also classified by the EPA as a midsize wagon. In our 40 mile loop of two lane back roads we saw 41 mpg, and we weren’t taking it easy.

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