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Handling of the Prius v

Discussion in 'Prius v Main Forum' started by J L, Nov 8, 2014.

  1. J L

    J L Junior Member

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    What are your opinions regarding the handling of the Prius v?

    Before buying my 2013 prius v, I only got a chance to test drive it in the middle of a busy city, so I couldn't really test the steering and the brakes. It wasn't the biggest priority of mine because I own other high-performance cars to begin with.

    But after a road trip that involved driving on countryside 2-way roads with lots of turns, I was seriously impressed with how the car takes corners. Most of the time, traction control and stability control didn't activate. I don't know if it was done on purpose, especially given the suspension design, but this has genuinely made me much happier with the purchase. I value confidence-inspiring handling on a road car like this because in emergency situations, I would be glad to know that I have a better chance of avoiding some accidents with evasive maneuvers.

    A few automotive journalists seem to feel similarly with what I have experienced, but how about everyone else on here?
     
  2. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    On the 17" rubber, the v tracks on rails with minimal body roll or steering scrub.

    It's not a powerhouse, but the v's handling makes it easy to conserve energy to post that quick qualifying lap.
     
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  3. J L

    J L Junior Member

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    Well it would be amusing for me to bring this to a track if that ever becomes a plan of mine. But for day to day use, it's nice to experience some good driving dynamics every now and then. These Prius v's are very popular around where I live as airport and private taxis, minivan replacements, and a bunch of other uses that don't involve a lot of high-paced driving. A lot of people, myself included, initially expected these cars to understeer and handle very crudely, but I certainly was proven wrong.
     
  4. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    It's got me out of trouble a few times.
     
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  5. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    Actually my 1998 Mazda MPV minivan drives and handles better than my Prius "v."

    The MPV was based on the rear wheel drive Mazda 929 premium sedan.

    I did, however, added my front and "box beam" mid underbraces to my "v."

    Now, it handles better.

    I was disconcerted on how flexible the "v" chassis was. I felt the flex at the little bump on the gutter at the emd of my driveway. With the braces, that's all gone now. My avatar shows the braces installed.
     
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  6. J L

    J L Junior Member

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    Strangely, I have never really noticed any "flexing" of the chassis on my Prius. I did on my old minivan, but my car is still relatively new so I will see if it develops such issue later on.
     
  7. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    With the hatchback, I heard of chassis flex and poor road holding on the highway in wind.

    When I was looking at the HB, I was on;ly considering the Plus/Persona for its upgraded suspension.

    That also gave me some concerns about the v. But I've never sensed any of that with our v.
     
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  8. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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    It doesn't handle like my Porsches did. (But it gets twice the miles per dollar, depreciates much less, carries twice the people and 6 times the cargo. Carries grandkids in the back seat. It has all-seasons, not ultra high performance summer tires. So it can be my every day car in my climate.)

    Different handling? Yes. Do I drive them differently? Yes. Better every day handling than the wagons from any of the other 5 different manufacturers I've owned? Yes. Better than the CRV it replaced? Yes.

    I don't expect the same things from a sports car as I do from a wagon.
     
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  9. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    Well, it doesn't handle like the 2000 either, but then it doesn't have 180 rwhp in a 1900 lb package with Datsun Comp suspension and summer-only gummy tires three times the width of stock on rims twice as wide as stock.

    I submit I don't drive the CR-V that spiritedly. No comparison worth making.
     
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  10. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    The rear wheel drive Mazda MPV is the real precursor to the crossover vehicle, although it was classified as a mini-van when it was sold.

    It had a hood and four SUV like doors, a unibody, four wheel disc brakes, and a tuned suspension made for a car. It was lower to the ground to its contemporary SUV's.

    I wish I could buy another with the same configuration but NEW. It has been a wonderfully reliable vehicle.
     
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  11. Eric "v"

    Eric "v" Member

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    I'm doing ALL the upgrades for handling that Juiced Hybrid sells - all the braces, lowering springs, and sway bars. I have only one more brace and two sway bars to go. I swapped out my 16" wheels for ENKEI RPF1 17" wheels and 215/50/17 Yokohama V rated tires.

    BTW, Toyota had to improve the front suspension geometry for the v's extra weight and that's why it handles better than the standard Prius 4 door.

    (After having owned a '93 RX-7 twin turbo everything else handles lousy.)
     
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  12. Hankth

    Hankth Junior Member

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    I traded an Inviniti G35 for our Prius v, so I know what good handleing is . We have the 17" wheels, and I was very surprised at how well it handles. We have 49k on the v now, and there have been only a couple of situations where I've had to steer quickly with no drama what so ever.
     
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  13. jejb

    jejb Member

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    Can I ask why? We have a lot of very twisty, turny roads here in the Ozark Mts, and the v handles them very well. As good as my WRX did? No, but not all that much different at or below the posted speed limits.
     
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  14. Quentin

    Quentin Member

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    Pics? I have PF01s on my FR-S. I really wanted gold RPF1s, though.

    I really hope Toyota considers a fully independent rear suspension next go around. That was my only complaint with the v handling.


    Tandy 400
     
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  15. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    After three years of trials and experimentation, I have found that a stiffer and torsion compliant mid-chassis under brace like my "box beam" and my improved version of the Tanabe type front under brace does a lot to improve stability of the Prius v and the Gen III for less than $200.

    I paid over $200 for the tedious and time consuming to install CUSCO front strut tower brace, to find that the front underbrace does essentially the same thing for half the price and a thirty minutes or less install.
     
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  16. Eric "v"

    Eric "v" Member

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    Mike,
    Tomorrow I'll install the FOURTH brace on my v. That includes the strut tower brace, which improved the handling the most.
    1. Cusco strut tower brace (mainly aluminum)
    2. Cusco center brace (BTW, Yes, Mike, except for the strut tower , Cusco braces actually ARE chrome moly steel.)
    3. Cusco front lower brace
    4. Tanabe aluminum 2 point aluminum front brace (Big Cusco brace unnecessary on 2013 & 2014 models B/C of newly triangulated OEM braces at each side where the 2 point brace attaches.)


    OK, I'm a guy that once owned a '93 RX-7 twin turbo so I like a very rigid body to let the suspension work well. Unlike a rally car I won't install a roll cage or have all the body seams stitch wielded for stiffness so I opt for all the available braces. What I Have noticed with the underbody braces is increased "solidity" in the feel of the car.

    Yes, the stock v handles better than the regular Gen III Prius due to improved front suspension geometry but still the long body is a relative dishrag. Compared to my tuned '95 Nissan Maxima the v is "limp" as it came from the dealer.

    My next upgrade will be front and rear sway bars. After that adjustable shocks at 50,000 miles to handle the 5% stiffer Tanabe lowering springs. (Tanabe's stiffness rating)

    ** UPDATE: Photos of my v are posted in the "Modifications" section. (But no photos of underbody braces - yet.)
     
    #16 Eric "v", Dec 4, 2014
    Last edited: Dec 28, 2014
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  17. Xterra72

    Xterra72 Senior Member

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    Put these on and handling is day and night.

    Cusco front sway bar

    Cusco complete undercarriage suspension upgrade

    upgrade TRD Springs
     

    Attached Files:

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  18. Eric "v"

    Eric "v" Member

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    Xterra,
    Imeant to say "My next upgrade is front and rear sway bars." not strut tower bars. I corrected it.

    And yes, I wish to he!! I would have used the TRD springs instead of the Tanabe lowering springs, which (despite being only 5% stiffer) overpower my shocks and cause my front tires to rub in the wheel weeks on sharp,slow turns. I just didn't know TRD springs existed at the time. Your post is the first I've heard of them.

    UPDATE: The Tanabe 2-point brace is in and I can say I actually feel an improvement in ride quality and a somewhat in cornering with a bit quicker "turn-in" feel on faster turning maneuvers.
     
    #18 Eric "v", Dec 6, 2014
    Last edited: Dec 7, 2014
  19. J L

    J L Junior Member

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    Interesting to see the modifications you all have made on your cars. Moreover, I'm fascinated at how big the performance aftermarket is for hybrids. I plan on keeping my car stock, as I think the balance between ride comfort and handling is well-dialed as is.