What was your biggest surprise?

You can adjust the light sensitivity of the sensor and I am now set it on level 2 ( 2 bars).
For those who want DRL, I suggest cover the light sensor with something that won't let the light in.
I am so surprised when the Homelink on the rear view mirror is compatible with my 22 year old garage.

So true on the Homelink garage door opener. We joked that the new car was going to force us to buy a new compatible garage door opener but it programmed the first try and works good.

The biggest surprise for us has been the development of a new method of driving, centered on maximizing fuel economy. We had absolutely no plan to alter the way we drive (this is our first hybrid) when we bought the car, and hoped for something close to the EPA estimate. But, when you have the graphics constantly reminding you how you're doing, it becomes a fun responsibility to try to do better. We have gone only 360 miles so far, but are averaging 49.4 per the digital display.
Another welcome surprise for me has been how much my wife loves this car. She has never been so enthused about a vehicle.

my biggest surprise was such a cheeeep center console lid, cloth?? black?? how is the replacement cover they have, or is that cheap? is there any way of taking the lid off, and removing the padding, and cover?

My biggest surprise was that it did not reach even near the MPG that was promised.

PriusChat Shop : 2012 Toyota Prius v Center Armrest Console Cover [PCv4] - $49.95$41.86

This is what I have on it now.
The OEM lid is not cheap as you can see below at $189 plus $49 shipping.

2011 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS V WAGON GENUINE ARM REST CONSOLE LID JDM JAPAN NEW | eBay

+1 I also have the Center Armrest Console Cover from the PriusChat Shop. It's not a perfect fit; but it looks nice enough and gets the job done. Definitely an improvement over the cheap cloth Toyota put in the center armrest.

There's a comfort strap tucked into the back of the center seat that holds the center seat belt down and more comfortably over a passenger's shoulder.

:cheer2: yippie thatswhat I want to hear!

I plan on getting this upolstered at an auto interior shop as soon as I get my car. You would think for $$$$$ toyota asks for this car it would come with a bit more luxury. Did I say that out loud. Seriously how much weight would real leather and a few seat motors add? And whats up with the plexiglas sky light mock moonroof? Oh well 50 mpg's..50 mpg's

Ha! I've had mine for almost 2 months and never new that was there. It's a much better fit for my coffee thermos.

Thanks!

From history - within 6 months of its release, there were leather options for the "all cloth" 2004 Gen II Prius. Leather wasn't offered on the 2004, so aftermarket was the only way to go when the cloth got dirty too quick. We waited for an additional 6 months before getting our 2004 done over in Leather (INCLUDING the center console) because by that time, there was competition between aftermarket leather companies. Thus, it's highly likely there'll be an aftermarket leather option for the V center console soon. Yes, the leather center console is much easier to keep clean of oily people skin. Be patient ... I guarantee an aftermarket leather version is on its way.

The crappy rear speakers. I don't understand how they decided to set up the balance like they did..

I am surprised how much I really love it!

I noticed something odd when I had the rental. We had to adjust the bias toward the rear to make the sound NOT seem to be coming from the dash.
Once we did, I din't have complaints. I guess we got used to it.
You think the quality of the rear speakers or the location? Maybe they use smalll magnet whoofer cones to save energy???

When I received the car I was looking for the heated mirror button on one cold morning when there was a bit of fogging. Never found it. Was sure that the V came with heated mirrors. Finally looked it up in the owners manual and found they come on with the rear window defog button. Happy to know I wasn't crazy!

Where is the rear window defogger button?

Just to the left of the large climate control dial.

I don't own a "v" ... but isn't there a separate screen on the display for the "audio" settings which allows for balance adjustment? Perhaps the balance setting on your system was inadvertently set to a "crappy" position.

We drove our two 2009 prius for a couple years. Wife drove hers and I drove mine. Biggest issue I had was the split upper/lower rear window. There is a dividing bar that prevented us seeing a clear unobstructed rear window.

Wife and I are retired, so when I went for a drive wife would go with me in my car. Same for her... I would go with her. Decided that was double insurance, gas, and maintenance. Silly. Why not trade both 09' Priusi in for a new 2012 Prius v5. Did so last November '11.

New 2012 Prius v5 cost us less than $6.00 with the trade-ins. Surpise #1 !

Prius v5 has a single rear window. How pleasent. Surprise #2 !