How is the driving experience in the v?

It has plenty of power. Yes, it works hard when you have air conditioning working and you are merging onto an interstate. It's mostly a sound, not the result which is of concern. Who cares about the sound. We are happy with our v purchase.

 

I don't think it is so much a lack of power as it is the engine really revs when you accelerate hard. You feel like you should be going faster with all the revving that the engine is doing. I've put around 1200 miles on my v in the past month and only 100 or so on my 4Runner. The 4Runner feels overpowered now that I'm in tune with the v.

 

I was given a Ford Focus as a rental (my V got rear-ended and is in for repairs). The sizes of the cars are about the same, but I can't tell you how I hate driving the Focus. I suddenly realized how wide, airy and open that huge front windshield makes the inside feel versus the Focus, where I feel claustrophobic.

The V has all the pickup I need (and I came from 23 years of SUVs), and it's something I actually look forward to driving. Except for the iPod problems (discussed elsewhere on this chat group), the V is absolutely perfect.

 

I came from a 2000 Chevy Blazer to a v2. For me, after a month or so and 3k miles later... here's my 2 cents.

There's a definite power difference. Going from my 240hp v6 to 99 hp 4cyl ... 135hp with ac motor? something like that... mainly - on-ramp takes a few more seconds to get up to speed - but I use the downhill onramps to my advantage. I hate the people that wait till they are merging to accelerate. as soon as I turn at the light - i'm on it - and usually up to 65-70 by the time i merge. Passing on a highway- I tend to allow more room than I did before - but it did get up and go rather suprisingly considering.

I drive mostly state highway to work- so my speeds are not interstate unless its a work trip or weekend venture... but the car rides smooth, corners very well with little body roll, and is relatively quiet. feels a bit heavy in the front on cornering but not bad.

Like the OP, I drove both - and after driving the liftback first - then the v, I couldn't believe how much "flatter" cornering the v seemed to be - the wheelbase by comparison to my blazer is 1.5 inches longer... but the body was 1.5 inches shorter. it gave me the same space behind the rear seat - and at worst case - double the gas milage.

My only complaints at this stage - would be that they use more sound deadening padding, especially in headliner...
the rear door speakers are worthless - or the head unit is underpowered for those two channels? and as far as power - as your concern was - I don't understand why they use such an underpowered engine. the GM chevy cruze as an example has a 1.4L turbo in it that is making close to 180hp. vs. the 99 we get with the v. and the cruze is approaching 40mpg without hybrid tech. I'd like to see that motor mated up to the synergy drive and see what perfermance could be gained if any?

for what it's worth ...

 

The Cruze makes 138 HP, not anywhere near 180. Don't let the turbo fool you, it is slow.

 

My DD is '13 Scion FR-S.
My wife drives '12 Prius V3.
My mother drives '11 Prius 2.

On the weekends, I drive Prius V and Prius.
I can say Prius V is more comfortable than Prius. It obsorbs bumps better and there is less interior noise. According to EPA, Prius gets 20% better fuel economy than Prius V, but I only get 10% better.
I don't feel lack of power on Prius V (or Prius). Since the engine is quiet, I don't hear much noise even when I step on the gas. From the engine noise, Prius V feels like it's having easier time accelerating than FR-S (when driving normally). I still get amazed with how good Prius V is everytime I drive it.

 

Just checked the v versus some other high fuel economy vehicles on Consumer Reports.

Model, 0-60, 1/4mi (mph), city, hwy, 150mi trip
Prius v, 10.7, 18.1 (78), 33, 47, 46
Cruze Eco, 10.0, 17.7 (80), 17, 40, N/A
Camry Hybrid XLE, 7.6, 15.9 (92), 32, 43, 42

So, yeah, if you want something fast and efficient, get a Camry Hybrid!!! As Jayhawk mentioned above, I'd like to see that 2.5HSD proliferate through the lineup. I think the problem of getting it in the v might be the system fitting at all. That AR engine in the CaHy is a good bit bigger than the ZR in the liftback and v. Toyota really needs to make a Lexus CT300h w/ the 2.5HSD. Make it a real wagon instead of a tiny hatch, and I'll be trading up!

 

It seems this has been the talk for several years. Here's an autoblog article from more than three years ago with an artist's rendering of a possible CT300h.

 

my point was, its was way more than the 99 that the prius ICE makes alone... couple that with the ac motor...it's an extra 40 almost 50 hp. would make a huge difference and give the liftback a "performance" feel possibly..

 

I am very happy with my "V". It has the power when you need it. The ride, I believe, is much smoother than the Corolla I previously owned. Steering is very responsive, although I've heard otherwise. Braking is a bit of a learning experience since the regen braking is new to me. But I've totally got the feel of it now (just under 1000 km on my car for far). Now as for fuel economy, I continue to get 4.4 L/100km (that's about 53.5 MPG for my US neighbors). I smile and wave as a pass the gas stations!

 

I drove both, and chose the camry for the power, over the V. To each his own. The V seemed sluggish compared to the camry. Probably would have been happy with either one though.

 

62 HP will do that.