No go…

You will be hard pressed to find a Prius that will do what you want. Most towing type cars would be best with a 6cyl engine or better, like a Highlander. The Prius 4cyl engine won't handle the load, not even the Prius v.

As for the rack, I think you should be able to do so, but it would not help with your Fuel Economy, but also depends on the load. I do not believe the Prius v or any of the Prius cars were built for heavy loads.

 

A 29-ft sailboat isn't exactly "small." As Keiichi suggested, take a look at a Highlander hybrid. It can tow up to 3500 pounds and was made to do what you want it to do. It "only" gets 27 mpg but it comes with a roof rack.

 

Most that I've seen use a hitch for a bike rack or cargo tray. I wouldn't tow with a v personally but I'm sure some have. W

 

People tow with Prii of all sizes all the time. And you can get the hitch-mounted cargo tray as well. But if the Matrix suits your needs all the way down to it being your only vehicle, then you might as well hang on to it for a few more years.

 

This is a silly statement. MOST families don't need to tow a sailboat, or anything else for that matter. Most of what would be put on a roof rack could either be carried in the car, or on a trunk rack. While it is not recommended by Toyota, some people also install a hitch, and haul stuff on a shelf behind
the vehicle.

I understand that this vehicle isn't right for "your" family, and certainly it isn't the perfect car for everyone. But to say that it isn't much of a family car because it won't tow your boat, or support a roof rack on your sunroof?

 

Seilerts - What is the towing capacity of the Toyota prius

Just cause you have seen people tow stuff with Prius cars, does not make it 'right'. I remember a freeway shutdown because some nimrod decided it was a good idea for his compact car to tow a sailboat, which toppled over and closed off a freeway.

From cars.com - http://www.cars.com/toyota/prius-v/2012/specifications/

So, the car is rated for a total weight of 4.3k lbs... The car itself is 3.3k pounds. At most, it should not try pulling more than 1k worth of weight. If you factor in 5 people, averaging around 100 lbs each, you have 500lbs left. Now since not everyone is going to ideally 100lbs (Hell, I admit, I am 240 lbs...) That is still not enough to tote the stuff you plan on taking along with a boat that is 1.5 times the GVWR. If the car had a higher powered engine, then it wouldn't be a problem, but a 4cyl engine is not designed for heavy loads.

 

If you tow anything with a car that isn't rated to tow anything, and you get in an accident you are screwed. If they can pin any part of the accident on the fact you were towing something, and if you were at fault or if there was personal injury you will be in trouble. I wouldn't risk it.

 

Nah, it sounds silly to me because there are many families that are perfectly happy with the car. I'm not saying that it is silly to say the car isn't right for YOUR family, I'm just saying that it is silly to say that the car isn't right for ANY family, as in "It isn't much of a "family" car if"

 

Growing up, my parents drove a mid-sized station wagon. Every weekend we drove to the ski hill with up to six people, skis, poles, boots, etc., in the cabin. Somehow we all survived.

I've hauled trees, bushes, bark dust, etc., inside my 2005 Gen 2.

I'm with Danny on this one. Just because it doesn't fit your needs, that doesn't mean it's not perfect for many families.

 

With 3 kids, you're looking at minivans.

Or tell the 20 year old to get a job and car.

I think the v would be ideal for a ski trip. Loads of cargo space in the back for helmets and boots and you can put a roof rack on top so long as it is the type that clinches to the door frame. You obviously don't want the kind that you screw directly into the roof.



I'm personally adding a hitch when mine arrives. I had a roof rack on my GTI and that business is for the birds. My Thule hitch mounted mountain bike rack is far easier to live with.

 

I couldn't agree more. I was just pointing out that people tow with Prii of all generations. If the original poster were interested, he could read the stories. Some people are very cautious, while others take calculated risks.

I would highly recommend a Tundra or Sequoia for the original poster, but that is not kosher here.

 

If you are looking for fuel economy coupled with ability to tow a sailboat one option to consider would be the jetta sportSwagen or the golf tdi Wagen in Canada. I previously owned this vehicle and the torque of the diesel is well suited to the task of towing much better than the Prius.

 

Investigating the total reality of a vehicle in relationship to your desires and potential uses is important.

I'd say if frequent and semi-demanding towing, along with desire for a roof rack, were automotive priorities? Then perhaps a Prius V, isn't the choice for the OP at this time.