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Toyota’s runaway-best-selling hybrid of the past 10 years has expanded its line with the 2012 Prius V.
The V is for versatility, aimed at families.
Roominess is the primary benefit, as the V is 6 inches longer than the regular Prius. It is an inch wider and 3 inches taller, and rides on a 3-inch-longer wheelbase. The V’s 34.3 cubic feet of cargo space is 50 percent more than the Prius.
Designers paid particular attention to rear-seat passengers, who are treated to seats that slide fore and aft, seatbacks that recline, heat and air from floor vents and a panorama sunroof overhead. The rear-door openings are wider, too.
Size means pounds, though, and the 250 added to the Prius V takes a toll on fuel mileage. While drivers of the regular Prius often attain averages near 50 miles per gallon, the new V edition carries an EPA rating of 44 in the city and 40 on the highway.
Yes, the higher mpg occurs in town, for that is where the hybrid system’s electric motor is called upon; higher speeds are powered mostly by the gasoline engine. An average of 42.5 mpg for stop-and-go driving to shopping centers, Lowe’s, church, Starbucks, etc., was cut to 40.5 by drives to Colorado Springs and Sterling.
Several other regular internal-combustion-powered and clean-diesel autos can match the V’s 40 mpg rating on the highway; in town, nothing compares, other than another hybrid.
Power in the front-wheel-drive V is the same as that in the regular Prius – a 1.8-liter, 4-cylinder engine of 98 horsepower and an 80-hp electric motor, tied to a continuously variable transmission. Acceleration is on the mild side, though throttle response can be increased with the push of a “power” button.
The Prius continues to dominate sales of hybrid cars in the U.S., selling almost half of the 211,597 hybrids tallied thus far this year.
Behind the Prius’ 104,251 sales through the first 10 months of this year are the Hyundai Sonata with 16,043 hybrid sales, Honda Insight with 13,618, Honda CR-Z with 10,461, Lexus CT 200h with 10,363, Ford Fusion with 9,405, Lexus RX 450h with 8,562, Ford Escape 7,878, Toyota Camry 6,714 and Lincoln MKZ 4,830.
Hybrids account for only 2 percent of total sales in the country.
Among plug-in electrics this year, the Nissan Leaf has sold 8,048 and the Chevrolet Volt 5,003.
Clean-diesel sales champ has easily been the Volkswagen Jetta with 44,714, while far behind are the VW Golf with 8,286, BMW X5 with 5,491, Mercedes-Benz GL320 with 4,251, Mercedes ML320 with 3,424 and Audi Q7 with 3,195.
The ride in the V has been softened a bit over the regular Prius; still, the road dips and tar strips are felt. The four-wheel antilock disc brakes provide regenerative boost for the electric-power system. Visibility is good in the longer body. Its instrument panel, in the center of the dash rather than in front of the driver, is overly busy with far too many gauges and other information.
The extended structure, of course, means added cost. Sticker price on the Prius V was $36,622, which included navigation and high-end audio systems, panoramic sunroof with power shades, backup camera and radar cruise control. Lesser-equipped models of the Prius V can be bought closer to $30,000.
To add confusion to the V, the three price levels of the V are the Two, Three and Five.
A look back
Thirty years ago, I reviewed in The Denver Post a 1981 Maserati Merak SS. Excerpts:
The highest-priced car I drove in the mid-1970s through the early ’80s with The Denver Post was the excellent sports car, the 1981 Maserati Merak SS.
Priced at $42,637, the Italian-built, mid-engined speedster was $3,500 higher-priced than the Porsche 928 and $8,000 more costly than the Mercedes 300SD turbodiesel sedan.
What a tremendous feeling when the Maserati hangs in on the curves, with no lean, no sway, no pitch, just level power.
Power is from a 181-cubic-inch V-6 engine; fuel delivery comes from three twin-throated Weber carburetors. The rear deck provides access to the engine, battery, spare tire and fuel system, while under the hood is a small luggage compartment with an impressive leather-bagged set of tools. It stands only 44 inches tall and weighs 2,905 pounds on a wheelbase of 102 inches. The interior is padded virtually throughout. It has red leather seats, black leather on the console, red instrument panel and dark suede on the dash top. Inch-thick cushioned visors turn up against a padded white leather headliner. Pleasant-sounding AM/FM cassette stereo is by Blaupunkt.
The vehicle was provided for test-driving by Royal Carriage Works at My Garage, 455 Broadway. 2012 Toyota Prius V $36,622 (price as tested) MPG City 44 Highway 40 Vehicle type: Hybrid wagon Wheelbase: 109.4 inches Length/Width/Height: 181.7/69.9/62 inches Weight: 3,274 pounds Engine: 1.8-liter 4-cylinder hybrid Transmission: Continuously variable Fuel mileage: 40.5 mpg Fuel tank: 11.9 gallons Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles basic, 5/60,000 powertrain, 8/100,000 battery pack Competitors: Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid Built at Toyota City, Japan Parts content: Japan 90 percent THE STICKER $29,990 base $5,580 Navigation, backup camera, Sirius satellite radio, HD radio, USB port, radar cruise, panoramic moonroof $760 Destination PLUSES Fuel economy Roominess Cargo space MINUSES Performance Busy instrument panel High price
Power is from a 181-cubic-inch V-6 engine; fuel delivery comes from three twin-throated Weber carburetors. The rear deck provides access to the engine, battery, spare tire and fuel system, while under the hood is a small luggage compartment with an impressive leather-bagged set of tools. It stands only 44 inches tall and weighs 2,905 pounds on a wheelbase of 102 inches. The interior is padded virtually throughout. It has red leather seats, black leather on the console, red instrument panel and dark suede on the dash top. Inch-thick cushioned visors turn up against a padded white leather headliner. Pleasant-sounding AM/FM cassette stereo is by Blaupunkt.
The vehicle was provided for test-driving by Royal Carriage Works at My Garage, 455 Broadway. 2012 Toyota Prius V $36,622 (price as tested) MPG City 44 Highway 40 Vehicle type: Hybrid wagon Wheelbase: 109.4 inches Length/Width/Height: 181.7/69.9/62 inches Weight: 3,274 pounds Engine: 1.8-liter 4-cylinder hybrid Transmission: Continuously variable Fuel mileage: 40.5 mpg Fuel tank: 11.9 gallons Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles basic, 5/60,000 powertrain, 8/100,000 battery pack Competitors: Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid Built at Toyota City, Japan Parts content: Japan 90 percent THE STICKER $29,990 base $5,580 Navigation, backup camera, Sirius satellite radio, HD radio, USB port, radar cruise, panoramic moonroof $760 Destination PLUSES Fuel economy Roominess Cargo space MINUSES Performance Busy instrument panel High price
