1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Why do some Prius v's (lowercase v for the Prius v wagon) have black fronts?

Discussion in 'Prius v Main Forum' started by Mike Moon, Dec 11, 2016.

  1. Mike Moon

    Mike Moon Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2015
    31
    48
    0
    Location:
    Marietta, GA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    Why do some Prius v have black fronts (For the bottom half of the grill) and not others? I have a Prius v model 5 and my front end is all painted the same color as the car. But I don't see as many like that as the ones with partially-black grills.
     
    #1 Mike Moon, Dec 11, 2016
    Last edited: Dec 15, 2016
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,767
    16,016
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    2012-2014 had colour-keyed front bumper and grille

    2015-current have the black plastic insert. I haven't seen a 2015+ model without the black plastic insert. Could yours have been painted aftermarket?
     
    Prodigyplace likes this.
  3. Mike Moon

    Mike Moon Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2015
    31
    48
    0
    Location:
    Marietta, GA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    Maybe... I don't know. I bought it new from the dealer. It's a 2015. Here's a photo...
     

    Attached Files:

    #3 Mike Moon, Dec 15, 2016
    Last edited: Dec 15, 2016
    GregC1979 likes this.
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,767
    16,016
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Yes, that looks correct. That is the midlife update bumper for 2015-current Prius v. The 2015-current Prius v also have revised taillights. They have the 2 horizontal bars as taillights with brakelights built in behind it. The 2012-2014 Prius v have vertical taillights with somewhat visible LED bulbs.

    [​IMG]

    This is the front bumper for a 2012 to 2014 Prius v. In this photo, this is a Prius v Five with AT package. It has LED headlights, 17" alloys and the optional panoramic resin moonroof.
     
    GregC1979 likes this.
  5. FBear

    FBear Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2004
    354
    21
    0
    Location:
    Maplewood, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Four
    That insert in the bumper makes the 2015 pass the offset crash test with a good rating

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  6. Norcal2

    Norcal2 Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2017
    23
    9
    0
    Location:
    Sacramento
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    My 2015 has the grey inserts, perhaps its the trim package that you have mine is 5..
     
  7. GregC1979

    GregC1979 Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2017
    201
    117
    0
    Location:
    Nowhere
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    V
    Is there any mileage difference with 14-15 year models with update in body style?
     
  8. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,696
    11,317
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    2015 and newer have better crash test ratings.
     
  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,767
    16,016
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    If any, it'll be small. I don't think Toyota sent it in to be rated again since it's the same engine and falls within the same weight range. They updated the Prius c's rating for 2017 (slight update in EPA method) but I can't remember if they updated the Prius v as well. Basically it will result in a lower published mpg but keep in mind it's due to the change in EPA method.
     
  10. GregC1979

    GregC1979 Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2017
    201
    117
    0
    Location:
    Nowhere
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    V
    So getting over 44 mpg city is easily possible in the v?
     
  11. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,767
    16,016
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I really don't know Placentia so I can't comment on how easy it is. I got 52mpg on a short test drive near Toyota HQ at the pre-launch but that's rare.

    I would expect 40mpg city and if you get higher, then you'll be happy, rather than expecting over 44 and possibly getting lower.
     
    GregC1979 likes this.
  12. GregC1979

    GregC1979 Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2017
    201
    117
    0
    Location:
    Nowhere
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    V
    It's slightly downhill to work 6 miles each way, slightly uphill very gradual back home. Weekends, 10% highway. Toyota HQ in Torrance California is where you tested?
     
  13. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,696
    11,317
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    They had it rated again. The overlap tests went from poor to good. 2014 is poor and 2015+ is good.
     
  14. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,767
    16,016
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Yes. Oops I lied. It was 50mpg, not 52. Sorry.

    IMG_0588.jpg

    If it's light traffic and long blocks, you should be able to get over 44mpg then.

    I was talking about FE rating, not crash ratings.
     
    GregC1979 and Prodigyplace like this.
  15. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,309
    3,586
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I don't like the black front insert on 2015+ ...I would like to be same color of car as per OP
    If I could fix that I might get one
     
  16. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2012
    3,626
    1,623
    0
    Location:
    Sanford, NC
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    By now there are enough entries on fuelly.com that you can get a good idea of what real people in mixed situations get from a car. There are about a dozen v wagons in my development and no one drives them using any special techniques that I've seen. My mileage is probably ~30% short trips miles (but 90% of the trips) and ~70% 60-70 MPH highway.
     
  17. RAM v

    RAM v Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2015
    71
    20
    0
    Location:
    St. Paul, MN
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    My average for my last 10 tankfulls is 53.5 MPG. Most of that was probably 75% or more city driving.
     
    GregC1979 likes this.
  18. GregC1979

    GregC1979 Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2017
    201
    117
    0
    Location:
    Nowhere
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    V
    What are your tire pressures set at? Do you drive in Eco or Power mostly? Light or medium throttle?
     
  19. RAM v

    RAM v Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2015
    71
    20
    0
    Location:
    St. Paul, MN
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Tire pressures are 38-39. I drive exclusively in Eco mode. Generally light throttle although I have been pleasantly surprised by the power when it comes to freeway entrance ramp acceleration and passing power. I also tend to choose my routes to maximize economy.
     
    GregC1979 likes this.