Thoughts for a 2010 Prius owner thinking about a Prius v

Easy question. You already know you need the v. Yes, the car looks like a 'station wagon', but oh well. It gives you good mileage and your stuff fits in it. Think about your kids as a ten year old and a three year old. You'll need space for luggage, toys etc. You say you do a lot of road trips...so with two kids, you'll probably need a full size cooler of drinks/snacks too. And what about your dog? If you don't have one now, will the kids talk you into one? The real question is....who gets to drive the new car?

 

I have replaced my non-Prius car (2000 Lexus RX 300) AND added my Prius v (wagon) to our family's stable and kept wife's 2008 Prius. The Prius v passed the test of holding our 2 big (95 lbs) dogs as seen in link below.

2 big dogs in a Prius v (wagon) | PriusChat

 

ASudan – Run, do not walk to your nearest Toyota dealer and trade in the Volvo S60. The Prius v is a Family Limo & Stuff Hauler Extraordinaire --- a “v”eritable “Caddy In A Kimono” with passenger (human and canine) and cargo hauling room galore. We traded our standard Prius sedan in for a new Prius v Wagon and have not looked back.

Your only decision now is do you want-need a Prius v Two, Three, Five or Five ATP.

I wrote this the other day on the subject of selecting the model of Prius v that is right for you. Here it is:

PRIUS v MODEL PECKING ORDER

Prius v Two – MSRP: $26, 550 (MAZDA5 Sport: $19,625)
Prius v Three– MSRP: $27,315 (MAZDA5 Touring: $21,625)
Prius v Five– MSRP: $30,140 (MAZDA5 Grand Touring: $24,025)
Prius v Five w/Adv. Tech. Pkg – MSRP: $30,140 + $5,585 = $35,725 (MAZDA5 Grand Touring - Loaded: $24,025 + $3,050 = $27,575±)

All four, Two, Three, Five, Five w/ATP, Prius v models run on and consume motor fuel with the identical 44/42/40 EPA MPG Hybrid Synergy Drive running gear. Therefore, the buying decision, once you decide you “Gotta Have A Prius v,” is all about Toyota Profit Margin Boosting “$tuff.”

If you do not need Entune and NAV, and are O.K. with fabric-covered seats, then the Pv2 has your name on it.

If you like the Pv2 appointments, but are Smart Phone/iPhone obsessed and secretly in love with the NAV Lady, but do not need 17-in wheels, 3-Door SKS, Homelink, SofTex, heated driver’s and front passenger’s seats and LED headlights, then the Pv3 is calling you.

Should you need Entune, NAV, but also want 17” Wheels, LED headlights, the added convenience of 3-Door SKS & Homelink, the extra creature comfort a heated 6-way driver’s/4-way front passenger’s seats with the kicker of Softex upholstered cushiness and “All That Jazz” Elegance, run, do not walk to embrace and capture the 3-Door SKS Fob of a Pv5 “Pseudo-Limo.”

However, if you are a Space Cadet or Closet Trekkie who wants to run the table on all the Pv5 “Goodies & Stuff,” plus dig mucho deeper into your mattress to pony up the additional $5,585 on top of the Pv5’s MSRP to obtain “Shiny, Spinning Red Wheels” in the form of a non-opening Panoramic Moonroof Skylight, 0.9 extra inches of HDD-monitor display w/ JBL sound-speakers, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) & Pre-Collision System (PCS) and an Advanced Parking Guidance System (APGS), you need to tell Scotty to “Beam You Up” into a Pv5ATP.

No matter which way you go, the versatile “v” in the Prius v is there to serve your driving needs. That “Caddy In A Kimono” is ready to save you money on the road by the miserly consumption of motor fuel, thereby, delivering you at least Official EPA MPG Fuel Economy.

 

We originally had a Gen 2 2005, then replaced that with a Gen 3 2020 with the solar package. We took that one on a 2400 mile trip with the kids and it worked out very well.
Late last year, it was time to replace our Sienna and the best all around vehicle for our needs was the then 'upcoming' v. We picked up a red v Five, since between kids and dogs the Soft-tex seating was high on the wants list. The 3 door SKS is also a huge benefit.

If it says anything, whenever the kids pick the car to take, they want to take the v. it definitely has more back seat space, and the reclining seats are a big hit. We will be taking it on an extended trip in the next couple of weeks and see how it compares. Fair warning- the v does carry around some extra weight, and although it does well with the 17 inch wheels for general handling, it is noticeably less accelerating capable than the '10. And we are battling it out on a fuel consumption- I'm within 3 of the hatchback, and occassionally can beat her average with careful driving.

Side note- dogs have done well in the back!

 

My mother has 2010 Prius and my wife has 2012 Prius V.
I did not have a car for 3 months earlier this year and I was borrowing their cars.
If you use rear facing baby seat, then Prius V is really good.
It has more than enough room for a large rear facing baby seat.
Prius is a little bit too tight for rear facing baby seat. Front passenger needs to sit tightly.
Even 2011 Scion tC has more room for it than Prius.
On the paper, Prius V's fuel economy is 20% less than Prius. But I was getting only 10% less than Prius. So, the fuel economy of Prius V is amazing for its size.

 

Now that the V has been out for over a year, can anybody that's owned a 2010 Gen III and gone to a V tell me if they are glad they upgraded or sorry they didn't stay with the Gen III? My husband wants the V but I'm having a hard time giving up those extra MPG's. Thanks for your help!

 

My 2009 Gen 2 was sideswiped by a Semi trailer and totaled It had been getting 46 MPG as I fill it up with gear (see pic)
I got a 2012 v3 and it is much larger for my cargo, but gets 4o MPG instead, but I have not yet driven it in spring or summer.

 

DoMo324 – IMHO, this is one where your husband has the edge on you (I know it is hard for wives to recognize such a mental occurrence in their husbands).

Your Georgetown, TX Geo-Location tells me you are operating your Prius in hybrid-friendly weather year around, as I am here on Florida’s Space Coast. This is a good thing. I am guessing that your GEN III is delivering you mid-50s running MPGs on your MID readout with its 1.8-Liter I4 HSD Combo. My previous GEN II Prius, which our Pv5ATP replaced, was driven Hybrid $mart (see my 10 Tips Guide in my signature). Driving it Hybrid Smartly had it deliver mid-to-high 50s to me with its 1.5-Liter I4 HSD Combo.

Our new 2012 “Caddy In A Kimono” Prius v(vee) has also been driven Hybrid $martly over 12,000+ miles for 15-months (two winters, one spring, one summer, and one fall). I have managed to consistently squeeze out low-to-mid 50s MPGs during these 15-months of operating it. As it sits in my garage today, the lifetime MPG number displayed on the MID is “AVG 51.7 MPG.” Our annual fuel expense operating the v(vee) over the 12-months of 2012 was $650±or ~$0.68 per mile.

The Sedan-sized Prius is nice, and is an excellent people and stuff hauling fuel-sipper. However, once you sit in the comparative spacious luxury of the v(vee)’s cockpit with its generous rear passenger space and voluminous cargo-hauling capability, you will understand why I refer to the v(vee) as a “Caddy In A Kimono.”

You will not miss the incremental “Extra” few MPGs difference between your GEN III and the Pv “Vonder Vagon.”

This is one time when you need to listen to your hubby.

 

DoMo324 : I also live in Georgetown, Tx...have a new v5 and averaging 45.3......incredible compared to 17mpg in our Trailblazer. Both great cars however.

 

We have an 07 we purchased new in 06 and bought a v last year to replace my Odyssey. Never looked back. Love taking the v on road trips. We have two kids, put three dogs in the back and a cargo box up top for our stuff. Mileage penalty is high 30's for these trips, but beats the 17-19 I got in my van. I'm amazed at how much we can fit in this car. But the 07 doesn't just sit, we still take it all over. Including a ski day this year and probably a trip to Southern CA later this year.

 

We replaced our Honda Pilot with a v. I can personally vouch for the cargo capacity of the v ... drove to Tampa from San Antonio, traded in the Pilot after my 6-month TDY and drove back to SA with the v carrying everything we had originally brought to FL in the Pilot. We more than doubled our gas mileage on the return trip.

Bottom line, I recommend you take the time to evaluate your needs and make the choice based on this.

 

I just traded my 2010 III with solar for a 2012 v III. I had 95k miles on the 2010. I use it for work (they reimburse me by the mile for my travel). I am a forensic engineer and often need to carry several tools, or collect and transport evidence. I have had some crazy stuff in the back of my 2010, including four brake drums, pads and wheel hubs off a semi-trailer. I was a low rider that day. For really big loads I would rent a truck from enterprise every two months or so. The 2010 was a great car and I averaged about 48 mpg with a lot of highway driving.

The 2010 was a great car and didn't give me any troubles. I am hard on interiors and it was getting a bit tired inside. Toyota recently dropped the price on 2012 v's by 2k and offered 0% financing so I jumped on one of the last ones available locally (Jax, Florida). I went in on the last day of the month and got a great deal on my trade as well.

At 2k miles I am getting around 40 mpg with the v. I do miss the bigger mileage numbers, but for me it was more than worth it for the extra space and convenience. I noticed right away that the v rides a bit smoother and quieter. I like the slightly higher seating position and my teen kids like the back seats MUCH better. I think the v hits the current sweet spot of versatility and comfort verses mileage. I was a challenge moving my daughter into college, 6 hours away, last fall. Moving her out this spring should go much better. While I miss the bigger mileage numbers it has been worth it for me.

I am trying to take better care of the interior and have bought a weathertech rear mat. I have ordered a Thule rack for my bike and kayaks and plan on getting a cargo box for family road trips.

 

Congrats on your new v! I kept my 2008 hatchback (with only 75,000 mi on it) and added the v to the stable. I so prefer the ride in the v and agree the extra space is worth the (slight) drop in mileage.