Should I buy a 2016-17 Prius V Five?

A v with 40k that only needs to go 100k is easy to expect. No hv battery or brakes should be needed except for oil changes and maybe fluids closer to 100k. The battery and most things are the same as a regular Prius although Toyota changed the final drive ratio for more load capability, increased the ac capacity, added ride enhancing pitch and bounce control, used bigger tires, etc. So the v’s mpg is not quite as good. If 100k is your end point don’t bother with extended warranty. Some powertrain and hybrid warranty should still exist on those cars.

The real question is how much are they asking? Some are overpriced in my opinion. I looked at a 2017 trim 3 40k miles without the advanced safety tech last year and they wanted close to $20k at a dealer. And they sold it. I would think with todays depressed market and low gas prices it should be way less than 15k.

Toyota did not make many 2017 v’s. At the time they were pushing the older Rav4 hybrid with a better Rav4 introduced as a 2019. No doubt the v’s are good cars and they are a market nitch that are hard to find right now.

Later this year, the slightly bigger v (Venza) will be out as a hybrid with an excellent 2.5L hybrid, luxury ride, interior and sound deadening. But they will likely be in the mid to upper thirties with high demand ensuring little discounts. Also the Rav4 Prime plugin will be introduced which should be a winner as well.

 

5 years 100k is not a lot to ask, but any repair that may come up could be several times the magnitude of a fit, or most any gasser.
the biggest issue is hybrid mechanics are few and far between. the brakes last forever because the car uses electrical regeneration through the tranny to slow itself down.
wear and tear items are no big deal. it's things like hybrid battery, brake actuator and a/c compressor that get pricey, because they're high tech, and require a specialist and expensive parts.

 

I like our '16 V.
Very comfortable, no dependability issues.
40K mileage for a used car seems reasonable.
Yet what is the purchase price? I believe list price for a V5 was about $28K.

Rarity and part acquisition issues? I'd say no.
Quietness? Some complain about motor noise I do not. I also have no interior rattle noises.
Towing? There is a hitch assembly on the aftermarket and light towing seems reasonable. I do not tow.

Brakes? I recall reading some issues about pad wear because of a lack of lubricating the caliper pins.
Battery life? No comment other than 100K or 10 years you should not expect issues.
200K life? I think there are many on this forum with that mileage and V are often used as taxis, so they can be robust.
Wheel alignment? Seems to be difficult aligning the rear (do a search) so take a look at tire wear on your potential purchase.
Handling and wind? Can be affected in cross winds, chassis stiffening braces are available aftermarket. I have no issue with OEM handling.

Good luck in your decision.

 

Supply of most Prius v parts should not be a problem since Toyota is still selling the Prius v under at least three model names in many regions including Japan, U.K., Europe and Australia.

My opinion is that the "Five" is the only Prius v worth considering. The Five's standard LED headlights are rated "Acceptable" by the IIHS. The headlights on the the Five with the optional Advance Technology Package (ATP) received the IIHS highest "Good" rating. The halogen headlights on the lower trim Prius v models received the lowest "Poor" rating. Here is a link to the IIHS ratings for the 2016 Prius v: 2016 Toyota Prius v

As for reliability, while our 2012 Prius v Five/ATP is at only 45,000 miles, it is surely the only vehicle we've owned in 50+ years that hasn't had any problems at all by that mileage.

If the 2016 Prius V Five you are considering has the Advanced Technology Package, I'd give it a massive number of bonus points due to it having Pre-Collision System (automatic emergency braking), Dynamic Radar Cruise control and many other safety and convenience features. Here is a link that has all the Prius v brochures where you can see the contents of this package and compare Prius v trims: Auto-Brochures.com|Toyota Car PDF Sales Brochure/Catalog/Flyer/Info 4Runner 86 Avalon Camry Celica, CH-R, Corolla Corona Echo FJ Cruiser Highlander Land Cruiser Mark II Matrix Mirai MR2 Prius RAV4 Sequoia Sienna Solara Supra Tacoma Tundra Venza Yaris

 

I find the highway noise on our Prius v pretty irritating - especially the engine roar on uphill slopes. If your profile location is a Florida zip code, then that might be less of a problem for you unless they start building hills there.

I don't find the driver seat in our 2012 Prius v Five to be very comfortable but the 2016 Five you are considering has a power driver seat with more adjustments. The front passenger seat on the Prius v and in most current Toyota models leave a lot to be desired since they have only 4-way adjustments and no lumbar support. They're fine for some people and not so much for others.

 

Just clarifying something: you say the standard Prius is too small. Have your needs changed? Because a standard Prius is significantly larger than a Honda Fit.

 

Bought 2014 Prius v 5 last week trading in a 2009 Honda fit. Much more room in the Prius.

 

Don't do it....... your better off with a ICE at today gas prices....
You most likely won't get 215,000 without several High $$$ things going on.