2019 Toyota Prius V Reviews

If you need a family friendly vehicle that uses very little fuel, you might think that you have to buy a diesel seven-seat SUV, but that's not the case.

Bill McKinnon road tests and reviews the Toyota Prius i-Tech with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

The ‘v’ in the title of this Toyota Prius people mover stands for versatility, this being the first family oriented hybrid with seats for up to seven people.VALUEPriced from a pretty reasonable $35,990, plus on-road costs, Toyota’s Prius v is longer, wider and taller than the standard Prius. It has a longer wheelbase to take in three rows of seats, plus a small amount of cargo at the rear. This is made possible by installing the compact lithium-ion battery pack under the centre console between the front seats.Toyota Prius v has good quality materials and are matched by features including a 6.1-inch display-screen audio system, automatic air-conditioning, energy monitor, head-up display, keyless entry and ignition, daytime-sensing headlamps, electric power steering, cruise control and daytime running lights.The six-speaker audio includes steering wheel-mounted controls, AM/FM tuner and MP3-compatible single CD player. On top of this is USB / iPod connectivity and  Bluetooth compatibility with audio streaming. It also shows fuel consumption information instantaneously or in historical format.Prius v, like all new Toyota vehicles, is covered by the Toyota Service Advantage with a capped price of $130 for each of up to six scheduled logbook services in the first three years, or 60,000 km.TECHNOLOGYThe powertrain makes use of the latest generation of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive, which employs a 1.8-litre petrol engine and a powerful 60 kW electric motor for a combined system power output of up to 100 kW.Add to this lightweight construction and aerodynamic design, and it’s easy to see why Prius v has officially measured fuel consumption of 4.4 litres of petrol per 100 kilometres on the combined urban / highway cycle and put out carbon dioxide emissions of 101 grams per km. We got this as low as 4.2 litres on a mixed motorway/city run, but heavy-duty around town work had it running in the six to seven litre range – quite a climb.DESIGNThe vehicle is no rework of the flagship Prius hatchback. An extended roofline pays homage to the iconic Prius triangle silhouette but the ‘v’ has a unique profile that provides additional headroom and luggage space.The three rows of quite firm seats are stadium style, each row is higher than the one in front giving occupants a panoramic view of surroundings. Notably headroom is far from compromised.Legroom in the two rear rows ranges from reasonable to cramped depending on the height of the occupant in front, while access to the third row presents the usual case for contortions. In other words these seats are best left for the little-uns.Folded, the 50:50 rear seat backs more than doubles a flat cargo area of 485 litres accessed through a high-lift rear door with low loading lip. SAFETYOn the safety side, seven airbags, a reversing camera, stability and traction control, and anti-lock brakes with brake assist and electronic brake force distribution are standard.Although the ‘v’ is the largest of the Prius family, it still has a good coefficient of friction at Cd 0.29. This low aero drag assists in lowering fuel consumption and emissions.DRIVINGThe Prius v produces a benign drive, constantly giving the impression that there’s not much going on under the skin. That’s far from the truth. From the moment the power button on the dashboard is pressed, illuminating a ‘ready’ on the instrument panel, constantly monitored control systems keep the hybrid set-up giving of its best.The dash-mounted transmission lever, which looks more to a joystick than a traditional gearshift, is the link to an electronically controlled infinitely variable transmission that seamlessly juggles ratios for best performance, driveability and economy.Three switchable driving modes, selected by buttons on the centre console, act on the powertrain, with ‘EV’ mode producing ultra-quiet running on electric motor power alone for up to two kilometres. The result is zero fuel consumption and emissions.‘Eco’ mode optimises fuel economy by curtailing throttle response and limiting power consumption from the air-conditioning system, while ‘power’ mode boosts system performance, the latter accompanied by an angry growl from the powertrain when pushed.VERDICTPrius v has extended the Toyota hybrid’s appeal with room for seven adults and their belongings.

We turn the spotlight on the car world's newest and brightest stars as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. But there's only one question that really needs answering — would you buy one?What is it?This is Toyota's top of the range Prius — with all the bells and whistles. There are now about four variants of Prius kicking around the Toyota lot.How much?This one goes for $46,490What are competitors?Any number of medium size SUVs in particular the two wheel drive variants that are flooding onto the market. Possibly Honda's Odyssey, Kia Rondo though not on price.What's under the bonnet?Has a Hybrid Synergy Drive petrol 1.8 litre engine adapted from Corolla and an electric helper engine. Total output is 100kW and we couldn't ascertain torque. Transmission is a CVT through the front wheels. Battery is finally a lithium ion unit.How does it go?Slowly. Even in Sport mode. You have to exercise the right foot to get the Prius V up and running. Car has an annoying engine slur accompanying changes in "ratios". This dents fuel economy a tad. Handling is acceptable and ride quality is similar.Is it economical?We achieved 5.7-litres/100km with mostly highway driving—- a long way away from the 4.4-litres/100km claimed.Is it green?Doesn't make much carbon dioxide but vehicle manufacture wouldn't be too environmental, especially the battery.Is it safe?Yes, should rate five stars if crash tested. Has a useful pre-crash system like Mercedes-Benz that prepares the car for a collision if imminent. Has multiple air bags, stability control and strong chassis construction.Is it comfortable?Good in the front seats, pretty good in the middle row too which has individual  fore/aft adjustment. No power seat adjustment though. Rear pews are tight and difficult to access — for small kids only. Minimal luggage space with all seats up. Plenty of luxury kit to while away the time — premium audio, climate control though we couldn't find any rear set vents, good connectivity, comfy ride and seats. Plenty of steering wheel controls, radar cruise.What's it like to drive?Boring.Is it value for money?Not really when you can get into the lower spec' Prius V model for 11 grand less.Would we buy one?No we'd buy the new RAV4 every day.

One car passed me on the congested freeway this week and was distinguished not by its colour or brand, but its two occupants. Single-occupant vehicles dominant the sad and lonely road to work each morning.So why are we obsessed with SUVs and other multi-seat wagons? Perhaps it's all in the letter “v” - the one denoting Toyota's extended Prius that seats seven people and, says the company, stands for “versatility”.The hybrid wagon is indeed versatile and correctly claims to be fuel efficient, quiet (mostly), roomy and as good for the planet as it is for Toyota's bottom line. But will commuters become passengers?VALUENo contest here - this is very good value. The $35,990 single-spec Prius V gets a chocka-block list of goodies including head-up instrument display, sunshades on side windows, Bluetooth with a six-speaker iPod/USB audio, alloy wheels, climate air-conditioning and a reversing camera.Prius V does everything its $52,490 Tarago sister will do but uses about half as much fuel. Capped price servicing is $130 each for up to six services in the first three years or 60,000km.DESIGNIt's sold as a ground-up design but clearly hasn't stretched the designer's abilities, ending up just like a longer version of a standard Prius despite not sharing one body panel. Getting three seat rows in side is achieved by a 180mm longer wheelbase, 135mm longer body, an extra 100mm in height and 30mm in width.There's a decent boot even with three rows up. Toyota says actual cabin room is bigger than the 135mm body stretch implies, thanks to a new and relocated battery. Space-age dashboard design carries over, as does the Playstation gearshift toggle and - questioningly - the archaic foot-operated park brake. The cabin is muted in colour, sensible in design and very flexible, with a trio of flip-fold centre-row seats on runners plus rear seats that tuck into the cargo floor.TECHNOLOGYIf you understand hybrids - a petrol engine that automatically works with an electric motor - then this is a no brainer. It's all Prius with a 1.8-litre engine and two motors, though the new bits include the more compact and lighter (saves 7kg over the old metal-hydride sparker) lithium-ion batteries for the first time in a Toyota.The bonnet is aluminium while other pressed parts are a mix of steel strengths, LED running lights and the head-up display (HUD) is standard while the electric motor will automatically counter any floating feeling in the body (read: car sickness). Regenerative braking is enhanced with electronics that smoothly sync it to the conventional brake system.SAFETYThe V is likely to get a five-star rating, offering seven airbags, electronic aids and ISO-fix child restraint points in the centre row. It also gets a reverse camera and whiplash-injury protection front seats and leg impact absorbing pads in the driver and front-passenger foot wells.The electronically-controlled brake system that integrates the conventional brakes with the regenerative brakes is probably worth a mention, but the space-saver spare - in a wheel well capable of taking a full-size spare - is not.DRIVINGThere's no mistaking this as a Prius, from the silent start-up to the late rumble as the engine steps into the leisurely acceleration and the lifeless low-speed steering feel. But it doesn't feel as big as, say, the Tarago, and actually can even feel nimble through the corners. As speed increases, steering feel returns so by 100km/h it's nicely - if not artificially - weighted.The ride swings from comfy to weird, as the unusual torque-sensing ride control widgets counteract the boat-like body sway and pitch. It does it by applying subtle power or brake inputs to the wheels; hence the driver can feel a gentle - if not strange - push-pull tugging on the chassis.Power delivery is soft and occasionally drove me mad so I switched in the “Power” mode. And it was so much better I kept it on, knowing fuel consumption may suffer but that my dignity wouldn't be questioned at the traffic lights.VERDICTA big green bus for big green families. Likeable but some rivals - the Citroen, for example - are more satisfying to drive.

Toyota has launched the third model in its expanded Prius petrol-electric hybrid range with the Prius V compact people mover joining the Prius C small hatch and the original Prius hatch.We must admit to having a change of perceptions about hybrids following the arrival of these new models as well as the Lexus GS450h and Honda hybrids we reported on recently.When the earliest hybrids arrived in Australia in the form of the Honda Insight (in Mar 2001) and the Toyota Prius (in October 2001) they were consistently criticised along three lines: their high price, their gawky looks and the discrepancy between their official fuel consumption figures and the ones that we were recording in real-life driving.VALUEA dozen years on and the price premium is still there although gradually reducing; the styling has become more mainstream as buyers no longer see the need to boast about their environmental credentials; and the actual fuel usage numbers now seem much closer to the theoretical ones than before.Just as the Toyota Prius C, launched earlier this year, was a breakthrough hybrid in terms of price, the all-new Prius V is the first seven-seat hybrid and arguably the most versatile, hence the ‘V’ in the name.Pricing of the Toyota Prius V is a very competitive $35,990, especially good value when compared with Toyota’s previous compact seven-seat people mover, the petrol-powered and only marginally larger Avensis Verso, originally sold for around $10,000 more than this hybrid.DESIGNAlthough there is a clear styling line between the three Prius models, the Prius V is larger in all dimensions than the standard Prius allowing three rows of seats in a two-three-two configuration. All but the driver’s seat can be folded to expand storage space from a very restrictive 180 litres with all seats in place, to 485 litres with the third row folded flat with up to 1020 litres with the centre and front passenger seats also folded.The optimised space in the Prius V is also helped significantly, firstly by the use, for the first time in a Toyota hybrid, of the more compact lithium-ion batteries, and secondly by their placement in a stacked formation underneath the centre console.Even though the interior space of the Prius v has been optimised it is still a relatively compact car and so, with all seven seats in place, seating has to be managed. As is generally the case in seven-seaters the rear pair is best left for children – not a problem for the little’uns as the further they can get away from the front seat adults the better they like it. Even then leg room is limited especially when the centre row seats are extended back. As a five-seater though, there are few problems with good headroom in all seats and good luggage space.Interestingly, Toyota anticipates around 30 per cent of Prius V sales being used as light delivery vehicles of the Volkswagen Caddy type but with the option of increasing seating one-by-one, all seven seats being of the bucket variety. Concave door trim and a wide rear hatch opening also adds to interior space.TECHNOLOGYStandard safety equipment in the new Prius hybrid includes seven airbags, stability and traction control, ABS brakes with brake assist and reversing camera. Other features include climate-control air conditioning, USB and Auxiliary sockets, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming and a 6.1-inch touch screen multimedia monitor.While Prius V does have the instrument panel in the centre of the dashboard the problem of the driver having to move his eyes away from the straight-ahead position is offset by having an adjustable head-up display that projects various functions onto the bottom of the windscreen. These can include vehicle speed, air conditioning temperature, fuel consumption and other features through Toyota’s Touch Tracer system.ENGINEPower for the Prius V comes from the combination of a 1.8-litre 73 kW/142 Nm Atkinson Cycle petrol engine and a 60 kW/207 Nm 650-volt electric motor. Combined power is up 100 kW. (The petrol and electric motors don’t generate their maximum power at the same time, so it’s not correct to simply add 73 kW to 60 kW.) The official emission figure of the Prius V is 101 grams per kilometre.DRIVINGThe biggest Prius has the solid, refined feel that we’ve come to expect from Toyota and it cruised effortlessly enough on the open road, although the route chosen did avoid any serious hills and we only had two occupants. We’ll be able to give it a more rigorous workout when we do our usual weekly test.As fuel prices rise, more and more buyers are factoring in fuel economy to their criteria. So increasingly, when we’re testing new cars, our attention is drawn to the ‘L/100km’ numbers on the instrument panel rather than the ‘km/h’ or ‘rpm’ figures. It certainly was so in our 200-kilometre test drive of the Prius V from the centre of Sydney, through the suburbs and down towards the Southern Highlands, then back to Sydney Airport.We got some real surprises with actual figures that were only marginally above the 4.4 litres per 100 kilometres of the official Australian standard test and achieved without any serious attempt at economy driving although the fact that we stopped at traffic lights about 30 times before leaving the city prevented us from gaining much momentum and using battery power frequently. But that will be a fact of life for the majority of Prius v buyers, especially those with commercial usage.This also helps explains why both the city cycle official test and our actual test showed up as lower in both cases than the highway cycle figures, the opposite of what would normally happen. On the outward leg of our 200 km round trip we recorded 5.1 L/100 km while on the return stage, predominantly on motorway running we dropped down to 4.7 litres despite the fact that we were cruising at freeway speeds of around 110 km/h.VERDICTAlthough Toyota Australia doesn’t see the Prius V as competing against the standard Prius, now priced at $33,990, we’re not so sure. For just $2000 more there are significant advantages in interior space, two extra seats with versatile seating arrangements, functionality and higher driving position, many of the attractions that are fuelling the current boom in SUV sales.

Don't try to tell Toyota this is a people mover. It might have a third row of seats and it might seat seven people, but the marketing people rejected that description from the get go  because nobody wants to drive a mum bus do they?Of course that does not stop us calling Toyota's new seven-seat hybrid Prius V a people mover, albeit a fairly compact one. It's priced from $35,990 with a more expensive and better equipped model due later in the year.PRIUS WHO?These days there's three Priuses: Prius, Prius C and now Prius V. We're told there won't be anymore but it still leaves the door open for something a bit sportier and more dynamic. Just about everyone knows what a Prius is, now in its third generation here.Prius is Toyota's answer to the looming fuel and climate change crisis. It's a hybrid car with petrol and electric motors that still takes petrol but is far more economical than a standard car.The Prius C (for city, compact and clever), launched a few weeks ago, is a smaller, cheaper hatch powered by the original 1.5-litre powertrain. Launched this week the new Prius V (for versatility) is the largest of the three with a third row of seats and seating for seven people. It's powered by essentially the same 1.8-litre hybrid powertrain and CVT transmission as the Prius  but with a few differences.SO WHAT'S DIFFERENT?Apart from the fact it seats seven, the big difference is that this time around they've opted for a lithium-ion battery. Mounted vertically beneath the centre console between the front seats, it's 50 per cent smaller and 7kg lighter but has the same capacity.The batteries in Prius and Prius C are of the older nickel metal-hydride variety.The goal with the larger V was to reduce the car's overall weight, in order to provide a satisfactory level of performance. The lithium-ion battery, resin fuel tank, aluminium bonnet and aluminium bumper reinforcements have helped bring down the weight to 1565kg  135kg heavier than the Prius. The V also has lower gearing to compensate for the extra weight, which is reflected in slightly higher fuel consumption figures.FUEL CONSUMPTIONPrius sets the pace with 3.9 litres/100km which is one of the lowest fuel use figures around. Prius C also uses 3.9 litres/100km. Prius V, in comparison, is rated at 4.4 litres/100km, which is still excellent for a car this size.During a run down from Sydney to Thirlmere on the NSW south coast, we got figures of 5.3 and 4.1 litres/100km over the course of about 200km. However, hybrids which reclaim energy from braking tend to excel in urban environments where the car is continually stopping and starting.Incidentally the Prius takes premium 95RON unleaded, not standard petrol. With a higher fuel consumption than its siblings, it will be interesting to see whether the Prius V scores a five-star rating from the Government's Green Vehicle Guide. At the moment the reigning champion for low fuel consumption in this country is Ford's diesel Fiesta Econetic hatch which uses just 3.6 litres/100km.THE THIRD ROWIt's a 135mm longer than a Prius and has an 80mm longer wheelbase. The third row of seats fold into the floor when not in use providing a reasonable amount of luggage space. But there's not much room left over when the seats are in use.In terms of size and legroom, think small children only. We note the lack of airconditioning vents in the rear of the car, both for second and third row occupants. A central outlet in the dash is supposed to carry air all the way down to the back. Anyone who has ever spent any period of time in a third row of seats will attest to the fact that air and plenty of it is essential  otherwise you could have some carsick passengers.HOW'S IT GO?The system has a combined output of 100kW, but its difficult to put a figure on the combined torque output of the petrol and electric motors, rated at 142 and 207Nm respectively. There weren't too many hills on our drive route.We spent most of our time on the Hume Highway dodging speed, red light and so called safety cameras of which there an abundance.Unfortunately the V is not equipped with GPS and even the more expensive model with satellite navigation will not provide speed camera warnings when it arrives. The car goes well enough with two adults aboard, but we worry about the level of performance with all the seats occupied?PORPOISE FREEThe Prius V introduces a new anti-bounce technology that will gradually roll out to other models. It's called pitch and bounce control and is supposed to stop the car porpoising on undulating roads. This is where some cars have a tendency to rock from front to back in a wave like motion. Not a good look for those sitting in the rear.SAFETYIt gets seven airbags and a full complement of electronic wizardry including a reversing camera, hill-start assist, stability and traction control, and anti-skid brakes with brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution.It hasn't been tested yet, but Toyota has engineered the car to score a full five stars for safety. Time will tell. The spare by the way is a space saver.GOODIESHeads up display is standard which projects a holographic image of the car's speed and other information into the lower area of the windscreen. You also get climate air, six-speaker audio, Bluetooth and a USB input for iPods and other music players.Standard features include daytime runners, fog lights, 16-inch alloys, cruise control, auto lights, smart entry/push button start, rear side sunshades and driver's seat lumbar adjustment.VERDICTIf you want something to get from A to B, that doesn't use much fuel and like the utility of a wagon or need the extra seats, then the Prius V could fit the bill. There's a lot of technology thrown in to justify the price, but more demanding drivers may be turned off by the performance (or perceived lack of it). We'd certainly recommend taking it for a good test drive before making any hasty decisions, especially loaded up with a few kids in the back.

It's all too easy to poke fun at the Prius. And I should know. Having emptied the bile ducts over the years, however, it's probably only fair to dip one's lid in the direction of one of the most successful visual marketing exercises since the Coke bottle and Levis' 501s.The Prius is every bit as synonymous with hybrid cars as those other symbols are with soft drink and jeans. Except the Prius isn't cool. Oh, no. Never that.Nor is it especially practical, not in the way of the bigger, newer and actually very good Camry Hybrid, which now not only has boot space but can tow too. But then the Camry looks like a Camry, as opposed to an instantly recognisable advertisement for the eco virtue of those within.Which is where the Prius V comes in. The V denotes not "five", but stands for "versatile". Substantially bigger than the familar Prius, it seats seven. At least it has seven seats, enough to shift half the kid's footy or netball teams without making an outsize carbon footprint.VALUEAny form of seven-seater looks good at $35,990, the sticker price of the entry level V. It looks all the better for being only a grand over the standard Prius, though the top spec i-tech Prius is still wildly overpriced at $46K. Expect the V i-Tech to go over that when it arrives by year's end, replete with leather, sun roof, sat-nav and such like. The package at hand lacks for little, with fruit including display-screen, auto air-con, 16-inch alloys, head-up display, keyless entry and ignition and the now unavoidable daytime running lights.In a market otherwise almost burdened by choice, people movers are the only thing not found in abundance. This, of course, is the only hybrid. The V looks handsome against such rivals as there are, though Kia's hard-breathing Rondo starts under $30K as do a few SUVs with a third row of seats.Getting rid of it might prove difficult. As a number of private and fleet owners have found to their considerable cost, the used Prius market belongs to the buyer.TECHNOLOGYYou don't need me to expound yet again the almost miraculous fuel saving of the petrol/electric hybrid powertrain. Suffice, that under optimum conditions the combined 1.8-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine and 60kW electric motor are capable of returning 4.4 litres of premium unleaded fuel per 100km. Only after a freeway stretch on our introductory drive did consumption rise, and then to a hardly outrageous 5.7.As with the Prius, there are three drive modes: EV allows for deathly-quiet running on electric motor power alone for up to 2km; Eco dampens throttle response and limits power consumption from the air-con; Power does what it suggests without scandalising Bob Brown. Unlike the Prius, the V model debuts a space-saving lithium-ion battery pack, which resides under the centre console between the two front pews. It's this which has made the third row of seating feasible.DESIGNEven without the aid of new battery gubbins, the Prius has been expanded damn cleverly. The V is substantially longer, wider, higher and heavier while remaining recogniseably of the now three model line up (including the tiny $24K Prius C).The seven-seat format consists of three independent sliding, reclining and split-folding second-row seats and a 50:50 split-folding third tier. Each row is elevated above that in front. With seven up there's 80 litres of cargo space, thrid row flat there's 485  or four full size golf bags. Don't know about full size adults in the back row, though. Despite claims to the contrary, it's kids only.SAFETYThough not yet crash tested, it's difficult to see the V failing to realise the number of ANCAP stars its model name implies.Kit includes seven airbags, reversing camera, hill-start assist, stability and traction control, and anti-skid brakes with brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution. It's all there.DRIVINGWell, you can't have everything. At least you can't have your Prius with anything other than an utterly anodyne drive. You'll get a more involving experience on XBox. And comparable steering feel.Even with two on board, the V starts to labour on longer hills. When carrying seven, well ... be good to stay out of the overtaking lane, won't you?  All of which is, of course, quite beside the point. No one's asking this to take corner quickly or even half capably, which is just as well.The V will, however, do precisely what it says on the tin, and that's move five and two half people prodigious distances between visits to the bowser. Clincially capable then.VERDICTIf the small and medium Prius strike you as a bit pointless, here's one that makes sense in practice as well as on paper.Toyota Prius VPrice: 35,990Warranty: 3 years/100,000kmResale: 52 per centService interval: 6 months/10,000kmSafety raing: UntestedEngine: 1.8-litre 4-cyl petrol/electric hybrid, 100kW Transmission: continuously variable auto Fuel economy: 4.4L/100km, 101g/km CO2 Dimensions: 4.6m (L), 1.8m (W), 1.6m (H) Weight: 1505kg Spare: Temporary