First Test Drive: 2012 Toyota Prius v

The Diesel Driver took the new lower-case Prius v for a drive and reports on how it performed.

"Toyota hopes that the Prius family of vehicles will eventually be its top-selling model line and promises to offer different prii for different needs. The first new Prius will be the Prius v (the “v” is lower case by design). The v offers 50% more cargo space than the current Prius liftback and, according to Toyota, has more room than 80% of small SUVs.

"The roof is higher by 3.3”; the rear doors are longer. Think of it as a station wagon meets SUV meets minivan...

"I had the chance to drive the Prius v three and the Prius v five (both in pre-production form) for several hours in Westchester County on a combination of winding country roads and major highways."


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Gambit - 6/16/2011 10:01:36 AM

+3 Boost

Basically it's a first gen Odyssey with a hybrid system, then

Joe_Limon - 6/16/2011 10:12:41 AM

0 Boost

Is this the replacement prius or is it a new model? 40mpg sounds like a step back if it's a replacement, but it sounds competitive if it's competing against small suv's.

800over - 6/16/2011 12:23:04 PM

+6 Boost

It's a new model. This and the current Prius will be sold side by side. (along with another smaller model soon)

Fijian - 6/16/2011 3:21:24 PM

0 Boost

The Volt leap frogged this technology Mr Eldard.Can it run with no fuel? Yeah right.When the current Prius comes out with a similar model to the Volt you will be all over it together with Sportbik80.Autospies needs some smarter people.

Joe_Limon - 6/17/2011 10:23:50 AM

0 Boost

lmao, the prius wasn't even around in the early 1990s

quizz - 6/17/2011 1:19:37 AM

0 Boost

As a proud owner of a Sienna minivan driving around my kids in SoCal traffic, I need the acceleration available in either the Sienna or Odyssey. I borrow my niece's 3rd generation Prius now and then, and I have to say the lack of freeway acceleration is very disconcerting when cars are coming through at 70MPH as you try to merge. A diesel has the pull at speed for freeway driving.

Until most drivers are loping around at 50MPH because everybody has a hybrid, I'm not going to be an early adopter and face the disadvantage of sucky acceleration.

LACMAN - 6/18/2011 10:05:58 AM

+1 Boost

"The first thing I noticed was that the steering was tight and responsive,... I felt engaged in the driving process..."

^Right. And the Camry SE is engaging to drive as well.