Is the Prius v right for us?

It does have front wheel drive and can navigate snow and ice reasonably well, certainly better than most rear wheel drive cars. It does have low ground clearance so off roading is out. The power is not bad; it sounds different because the cvt (continously variable transmission) will allow the engine to rev up faster than you might expect on serious hills when accelerating. But the fact that you can accelerate and pass going uphill will surprise a lot of people.

I also find if you keep up with traffic you have no trouble with trucks. Obviously if you are doing 50 when the trucks are doing 75 you will feel their wind and contempt.

Finally the halogen lights are fine unless you really want to blind others even on low with HID.

CVT on Wiki
Powersharing Transmissions on a Prius
CVTs should be distinguished from Power Sharing Transmissions (PSTs), as used in newer hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius, Highlander and Camry, the Nissan Altima, and newer-model Ford Escape Hybrid SUVs. CVT technology uses only one input from a prime mover and delivers variable output speeds and torque, whereas PST technology uses two prime mover inputs and varies the ratio of their contributions to output speed and power. These transmissions are fundamentally different.

 

I've driven on the interstates and various highways quite a lot, Philadelphia to Tampa, and am very satisfied with the stability while passing trucks, etc. Passing trucks at 75 mpg has almost to effect on the Prius from my experience. I have the v 5 with 17" wheels maybe that makes a difference. I can't say for sure because I've never driven The v with the other wheels. I assumed the good highway handling was due to the aerodynamics.

 

I never been in the snow with the v and probably will never living here in SoCal but I belive you that it can handle it well. But as for being push around, I driven the v the first week of owning it on a eight hour drive to San Francisco and it was the scariest thing that my wife and I experienc. The average speed was 70-75 mpg regardless passing or being pass by the car still pull. The worse part was over the bridge. The speed was about 60 mpg. Still today my wife complain as she use the car to go to work. Avg speed is 70 mpg and she still has the problem with being push around. I do not know maybe it's just us. But either way I will be doing a few upgrade to it soon. Maybe it will help.

 

Center stiffening brace will help with that uneven tracking, or squirelly feeling, when getting hit by crosswinds or air turbulence from big semi trucks whooshing past you.

 

Thanks. I am on rakuten right now. I will add a center brace too.

 

I notice the crosswinds more, since it's a pretty big broadside target. I drive highway mostly, and even on long trips I've never had much for stability issues or trucks passing at any speeds. My v also has just the base tires.

 

I have never had any problems with wind or passing trucks in 3 years and 42,000 miles. My v is very stable in all conditions on the standard 16 inch Yoko Blue Earth tires. Are you sure your tires are properly pumped up?

 

Just completed a 200 mile one way trip to the beach with 3 kids, 10, 8, 4. Own a '12 v Three.

Rented a minivan just for the ability to separate the kids into captain's chairs and third row. For a 4 day there trip, the Grand Caravan had barely enough cargo room for the 5 of us when you included 3 beach chairs, umbrella, sleeping bags, beach toys, stuffed animals and only 3 suitcases. I ended up stuffing cargo behind the second row and on top of half of the third row folded down.

Yes the 3 kids fit into the back of the v but only for 50 miles and only when so tired that 2 drifted off. Made the same trip last year in the v with only two of the kids.

Mileage was half what the v gets, but the room was priceless. I don't resent spending the $30 extra for gas and the $360 rental. Space and separation are addictive. When my kids were the same ages as yours they used to sleep on the floor of the rear two rows.

At the same time, the Grand Caravan was one of the cheaper versions and while it rode well, the controls were cumbersome, displays rudimentary. I missed outside temperature display, compass indication, etc.

Also, we took a 10 year old TomTom navigation device with 5 year old map data since the Dodge didn't have any GPS and rediscovered how much more we liked the TomTom compared to anything from Toyota. The clarity of voice, multiple warnings, ease of programming by the passenger while on the move were head and shoulders over our '12 v's or '11 Avalon's navigation. Did miss the always visible screen in the middle of the dash.

Never experienced any crosswinds effect that wouldn't affect any car.

Love my v, just not the tool for every purpose.

 

Do you intend to trade in or sell you Honda Fit?
Because you lost your Ford Expedition but seemed to be "blending" your replacement for it, into a "hybrid" situation between an expedition capable vehicle, in terms of hauling and room, and a "Fit" in terms of efficiency.

In which case The Prius v, probably does fit that bill. But do you intend to lose that commuter vehicle?

Maybe some prejudice here, as I had a 2010 Honda Fit and was a big fan of that vehicle. You're quite right that it's possible Achilles heal would be as a long road trip vehicle, but as a commuter, around town vehicle you might find yourself missing it quite a bit. I would go as far as ask if keeping it is possibility, with just the addition or replacement for The Expedition? Or is part of your plan going from being a 2 vehicle family to being a 1 vehicle family?

SUV's capable of offering you towing capacity and room are plentiful right now. You could expand your Non-Hybrid search beyond those few you mentioned. Almost every major automaker has their offering.

But I often assume, when anyone comes to "Prius Chat" to ask if a Prius is right for them, that really their mind is mostly made up. And they are really just looking for support for a decision they are on the brink of making anyway. So I would say The Prius v, would offer you what you think it would, which would be "hybrid" created fuel efficiency even surpassing that of the Honda Fit, while offering you more room and hauling capacity. Even though maybe not as much as you think, as The Fit was pretty amazing. With the flat load floor, I called it my "Mini-Truck".

I consider my standard Prius a much better road trip vehicle. The Fit was more "fun" around town, but more tiring on a long drive. My standard Prius is also 50 mpg, and The Fit never came near that level of efficiency for me. The Prius v, doesn't offer quite as big a difference in MPG. But it should still be marginally better while offering you more of the Expedition/Fit benefit you seem to be seeking.

I just hope if you replace both the Expedition and The Fit with 1 vehicle, you don't end up missing both of them. The Fit was an excellent around the town and city vehicle. I love my Prius, but there are times I still miss my Fit. I honestly think The Prius v, and The Fit as a commuter- would be the best of both worlds.