Overview & Reviews

The Toyota Prius has long been America's most popular hybrid vehicle thanks to its high fuel economy, reasonably affordable pricing and practical nature. Now Toyota has expanded the Prius family with the Prius V wagon. Aimed at families, the Toyota Prius V is based on the regular Prius hatchback but offers considerably more cargo capacity.

Basically, the Toyota Prius V is a Prius with a longer, wider and taller body, paired with the same gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain as its smaller sibling. While the Prius V is slightly less fuel-efficient than the original and no more fun to drive, the added practicality is considerable. Hybrid shoppers looking for a vehicle that's as environmentally friendly as it is functional will likely be quite pleased with the Prius V.

Current Toyota Prius V
The Toyota Prius V is a four-door wagon that's offered in three different trim levels dubbed Two, Three and Five. All are powered by the same gasoline-electric hybrid system, which pairs a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with a pair of electric motors and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) for a total output of 134 horsepower and 153 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy is excellent for a vehicle this size, with an EPA-estimated 44 mpg city/40 mpg highway and 42 mpg combined.

Standard feature highlights for the Two trim level include 16-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry/ignition, automatic climate control, a fold-flat front passenger seat, sliding and reclining 60/40 split-folding rear seats, Bluetooth and a six-speaker sound system. The Three adds a rearview camera, a navigation system and Toyota's Entune smartphone integration system. The Five gets 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, upgraded upholstery and heated front seats. Optional for the Three and Five are a panoramic sunroof, while only the Five can be had with adaptive cruise control, an automated parking system, upgraded navigation, a premium sound system and a pre-collision safety system.

Behind the wheel, the Toyota Prius V drives much like the original, which is to say the ride quality is smooth, handling is predictable if unexciting and the steering has a light touch that makes for easy maneuvering at slow speeds. A Power mode makes for better acceleration in demanding situations like passing or climbing a hill, while an Eco mode helps maximize fuel economy, albeit with a noticeable drop in performance.

Inside, the Prius V's controls are large and easy to use. Sadly, taller drivers still have to contend with a steering wheel that's placed too far away. There's a telescoping column, but it doesn't extend nearly far enough. And as with the standard Prius, the Prius V's cabin design is plainer and less ambitious than you'll find in other wagons. Materials quality is spotty; some of the plastics are nicely grained, but others look cheap. Fortunately the Toyota Prius V excels as a wagon. The passenger-friendly rear seats slide fore and aft and recline for greater comfort. With the rear seats folded, the spacious 67-cubic-foot cargo hold (along with the fold-flat front passenger seat) provides SUV-like utility.

Used Toyota Prius V Models
Since its debut in 2012, the Toyota Prius V has remained essentially unchanged.

User Reviews:

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  Roomy, slightly under power - 2012 Toyota Prius v
  By jimmybirdie - November 17 - 8:21 pm

  I sold my 2008 Prius and bought this. I have the car for three days now. The Prius V is very spacious inside. It just feel more solid, and safer in this car compared the 2008 Prius. A lot of well designed storage for your keys, phone and other gadgets. The ride is also more quiet and less bumpy. It floats a little bit but that is expected. The V groans going up hill but I has expected this with a heavier, and larger profile vehicle and the same regular Prius Engine. I wish they have put in a 2.2 Engine instead of 1.8. I have the package 3 and the Bluetooth, Navigation and Entune are nice to have. I though they could have made the screen slightly larger. For the first 300 miles I got 45mpg.

• 

  Excellent!!! Love It!!! - 2012 Toyota Prius v
  By satishw - July 27 - 11:35 pm

  Smooth Drive, no noise, good mileage ( 45m/g on avg in winter )(50m/g on hot days). Lot of room inside, smooth transition between electric and gas engine. USB option, Aux option, bluetooth option, cd option. Huge trunk space. Basically I loved the car very much.

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  A Great Hybrid Wagon - 2012 Toyota Prius v
  By jeffthezombie - July 15 - 2:09 am

  I purchased a Prius V to replace a totaled Ford Escape hybrid. With the Escape hybrid line discontinued, the Prius V was my best choice for a hybrid with cargo room. Comparable in size to a Mazda 5 (but with no third row seat), the Prius V is more like an oversized Matrix than a traditional Prius. Its roomy and comfortable to ride in, but it lacks the power and handling of the old Ford Escape Hybrids. The fuel economy is fantastic for a car this size (I average about 40 mpg) and the whole package exudes a sense of cutting edge technology.

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  Like a crossover wagon with great fuel economy - 2014 Toyota Prius v
  By Bill S - June 2 - 5:53 am

  Its no hot rod but the Prius V is a great alternative to the crossover vehicle class if you want to get the best combination of versatility, cargo space and great fuel economy. I really like how this vehicle looks and performs. The seats are very comfortable on long trips, with ample height and leg room both front and rear. Outside visibility is excellent, and the rear view camera is also a plus. The ride is smooth as glass and quiet, even at 80 mph on the highway. I am getting between 44 - 46 mpg around town and 41 on the highways in my locale, which is hilly. Interior is nothing fancy but of good quality and well put together. Climate controls and the entune audio and navigation system have a bit of a learning curve but seem intuitive enough once you figure them out. This car is well engineered. Very glad I bought it.

• 

  The perfect car for high gas prices - 2012 Toyota Prius v
  By chet11 - May 25 - 12:49 am

  I like everything about our Prius V! It is fun to drive and the MPG is averaging 43. Plenty of room in the back for two adults and when you put the seats down...the room is wonderful.

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  I-Phone / Entunes Update - 2012 Toyota Prius v
  By 123224 - May 14 - 11:27 am

  Could never get my I-phone to connect with Entunes. Found out that you have to "hard-wire"your I-Phone to your car using your USB cord. Now works like a charm. YAY!

• 

  LIKE THIS CAR ALOT - 2016 Toyota Prius v
  By Leslie - May 1 - 7:02 am

  Of course my preference would have been the Audi but that was 80K. This is my third Prius. Got the V as it is a bit larger than the regular Prius - I see it is referred to as a wagon but I would have never thought to call it that. There is a definite interior redesign - the central console is going which is kind of nice actually and the interior panels are redesigned. Seems much more higher end - whereas the others were not - but also test drove the Lexus Sedan - the i - and I just am a good fit with Prius - I like the way they handle and particularly like the interior of this new one - in fact better than the Lexus I test drove - very space ship looking. The V is much larger inside and I like that but as a family of one, I really didnt need it but it will be a nice plus to have. The pick up is much better in this one and the redesign on the hatchback - for my test - has a much much better rear view mirror. Really love this car but its day one. Lets see how the next six months go.

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  Great hybrid - 2012 Toyota Prius v
  By tobdog - April 20 - 1:41 pm

  First time hybrid owner. Traded a v6 turbo Audi so of course a bit slower but expected. Fun to drive with hybrid feature and great electronics. Kids love the computer display and system. Couple of drawbacks include lack of leather as an option on the v five. Interior is a bit "plastic". Other concern is we are only averaging about 31 mpg after first 60 miles. Hope it improves.

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  A great alternative to compact SUV - 2012 Toyota Prius v
  By umichioe - December 4 - 8:02 am

  I just bought a Prius v Five and it is a great car. We have 2 kids and their stuff to carry. It has the size of a SUV (like CR-V) but the fuel economy beats any SUV by a wide margin. We got 40 mpg in mostly city without any hypermiling. My wife do a lot of city driving, so hybrid is great. I tested both the regular Prius and v. The v is more comfortable to drive too. It is very quiet and has good ride. But you need to expect it to be slow and there will be some adjustment on driving style. In city, the power is fine as the electric motor has power instantly. But you really need to step a lot of gas to merge to busy highway and pass others.

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  Good, not great; I can live with it for next 5 years - 2012 Toyota Prius v
  By lucky57 - November 25 - 4:48 am

  Traded a 2006 Prius after 150,000mi. The V , level 3 drives like any Prius. Already gone 8,000 miles. Gets you there but not exciting. Handling safe but uninspired. A 21st century minivan/wagon. Quieter and much more comfortable than my old one. Improved driver seat. Surprising hauling capacity and greatly improved rear visibility. MPG is 44 no matter how driven. The extra length make it harder to park in tight spots. It is almost as long as my other car, a Camry. Feels safer than old Prius, airbags everywhere. The extra size makes a great difference in long drive comfort. Some tech issues with nav/entune. Gas prices need to stay high to justify the price and bland driving experience.