Prius C Newbie considering purchasing a Prius v

2015 v nose job makes it really ugly

 

We had both the 2005 and a 2006 Prius, the latter of which we kept for about 9 years. I considered the v (lowercase v for the Prius v wagon) and actually ordered the new model 2015 v five with the advanced technology. We special ordered the model 5 in Absolute Red. Very cute car. But in the end, I was kind of bored with the Prius. The v is not as nimble as the regular Prius. However, if you are into safety then that newer model with the longer nose gets a higher rating by the Insurance Institute. Having said that you will be happier with all the gadgets that the 5 comes with as well as the technology package. Otherwise you will see a lot of differences between the Cad and the Prius. They are dealing on all Prius vehicles because of the big 2016 changes coming our way. The v will not change as I understand (It already went through a change). As for the internal guts that could be late 2016 or 2017. The v is a great car but does not have the mileage that the regular Prius and Prius v have. If 42 or so is ok then you will be happy. Don't expect 50 mpg like the other Prius models. No leather, but that fake stuff. I hated that. You can of course have leather put into the car for about $1000. Yes utilitarian for sure. That said, we ended up leasing a 2015 Kia Soul EV. Great electric car that has a 105 mile range. Fully loaded. This is now my wife's car and she loves it. I ended up getting the 2014 Rav4EV which has a 130 mile range. They are no longer available as they were a compliance car for California. I keep looking for another car that we might like. And for sure I would not get anything less than the v model 5. By the time you cost out your turning in the lease and getting the other car you will be out enough money to more than cover any gas difference, plus. I would keep the Cad and wait. There are a number of new vehicles coming out in the next couple of years such as plug in hybrids which will give you the best of both worlds.
Manny

 

Mine is a '12 v three so a bit different from the one you are looking at in style and features. But should give you some ideas.

After reading the forums for a few years and owning it for 24k miles or so, I constructed a list of likes and dislikes....about 30 of each...some mine, some others have mentioned. It is as honest a list as I can make it. See if any of those would influence your decision.

I bought mine for a combination of reliability, utility and economy (being a proxy for extending the time between fill ups, not trying to achieve the ultimate MPG). It has met my expectations. It isn't an SUV. It isn't a Porsche. It isn't an electric. It isn't a minivan. It isn't highly optioned until you get to the five with options. It is a very competent small station wagon.

Prius v Likes and Dislikes - mikefocke2

 

IMO, the Prius v (lowercase v for the Prius v wagon) is good if you need the extra cargo room. I like the Camry Hybrid if you don't need the cargo room, because it's more powerful and provides a much more refined interior and driving experience with only a minor hit in mileage.

 

If you don't need either a hatch or a wagon, The Camry or Avalon hybrid might work for you, in terms of price they are in the neighborhood of a loaded v.

 

If I were going from a Caddy to a Toyota Hybrid, I'd choose the Avalon Hybrid first and the Camry Hybrid second. I have the TCH and I love it. The ride is really smooth.

 

Well, I do understand that. If a hatchback is what you need, then by all means, get a hatchback. They are super versatile.

 

Also makes it go from "Poor" to "Good" in the IIHS small offset crash tests. May be functionality over form.

That said, I personally think the new front end of the 2015v looks just fine, especially in dark colors.

Also, where's catgic? I'm shocked to see no "Caddy in a kimono" comments!

 

Breakfast - Fear not, His Chicago Coolness-In-Chief, Catgic," is out here in the hinterlands thinking "Caddy In A Kimono" thoughts, and electro-gliding past gas station after gas station at an MID-Indicated Lifetime 53.7 MPG, as racked up driving in all Highway, Around-Town, and City weather fair and fowl over 40,000-miles. Your "Where's catgic? I'm shocked to see no "Caddy in a kimono" comments!" thoughts must have bubbled up as a result of you experiencing a stealth, pseudo-mindmeld with me via the WWW as I was thinking warm "Caddy In A Kimono" thoughts.

I saw Mike MnmJack's initial "I am thinking of trading my leased 2014 Cadillac SRX for a 2015 Prius v (I think, Four) sitting on the lot," when he first posted it back on Thursday. I was very tempted to chime in with some "Caddy In A Kimono" pontification, but I restrained myself.

Thanks for thinking of "v"onder "v"agon owner, and fuel-sipping' v(vee) fan and cheerleader, me.

Note to Mike MnmJack, run...do not walk...to your local Toyota dealer, go with a 2015 Prius v Five (Five ATP, if you can afford it), and do not look back...you will not regret it.

 

co-worker is getting rid of his Camry Hybrid. He is fed up with ski pass-through and inability to use his car for any cargo due to non-reclining rear seats.

 

Since it is only a bit, why fuss ?

 

Mike MnmJack – I have made numerous posts, and offered pertinent commentary about the Prius v(vee). Therefore, I invited you to drill down into previous Prius v(vee) related posts I made, and my comments to others posts on the v(vee). As regards my “Caddy In A Kimono” tag given to the v(vee), let me give you a short Mike-Tailored blurb on the Prius v(vee).

The Prius v(vee) is neither a minivan, a SUV nor a crossover. It is not truly even a station wagon, as the EPA insists that it is. Therefore, the best term that comes to mind for me to describe the Prius v(vee) is that it is a “Caddy In A Kimono.”

Some chide that the Prius v(vee), with it generous room and creature comfort is for “Fat People,” to which I retort, “Bring On ‘Fat Tuesday’ --- because FAT FUEL-SIPPING IS WHERE IT IS AT.”

Let's see... hum-m-m... "v" for more "v"ersatility. Roger that, but also "v"ery good “Captain’s Chair-esque” driver seat seating comfort and road positional perspective,"v"iew & "v"isibility. Add to that limousine-dimensioned interior rear passenger leg room and space with "v"oluminous front and rear passenger room that is “Multiple Kiddie Kar Krash Seat Friendly” plus 50% more "v"oluminous “Dog Tail Wagging” & “Washing-Machine-In-A-Box Accommodating” cargo-hauling space behind the back seat, while managing to deliver "v"ery, "v"ery good fuel economy.

A FWIW FYI DATA POINT: Driving my iconic GEN II/2G Prius Sedan that the Prius v(vee) replaced, “Hybrid $mart,” I was typically running 55-58 MPG Per Tank-Full Fuel Economy Averages (about 120% to 125%± of Official EPA). Driving my Prius v(vee) over nearly 40,000-lifetime miles and 3½ years in Florida's “Hybrid Friendly” climate, I am logging Per Tank-Full MPG numbers that track in the low-to-mid 50s, which is in the range of 125% to 130%± of EPA MPG. Needless to say, I am very “Hybrid Happy” with these “Fat Fuel-Sipping” fuel economy numbers.

The most "Caddy In A Kimono-esque" version of the Two, Three & Five Levels of the 2014 v(vee) is the Prius v(vee) Five. This is so because the Level Five gives you 17-inch alloy wheels w/ low-profile tires, Smart Key System (SKS), SoftTex seating surfaces, 6-way adjustable driver’s seat w/ power lumbar support, Homelink, Entune Premium Audio w/ Navigation & App Suite, and LED Headlights w/ Auto Level Control, Auto ON/OFF Feature and Fog Lights as Standard equipment. Of course, with the $5,500 Advanced Technology Package (ATP) option added to a Level Five 2014 v(vee) comes the additional "Bells & Whistles" of a Moonroof, Advanced Parking Guidance System (APGS), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), & Pre-Collision System (PCS).

Good Luck & Happy Hybrid Car Shopping!

 

I have a question about your statement " The v is a great car but does not have the mileage that the regular Prius and Prius v have. If 42 or so is ok then you will be happy." are you saying the v doesn't get the same mileage as the basic models do? And you recommend getting an older model, 2014 or older Prius instead of a new one.

 

Calico Kitty – I will leave it to DrManny3 to respond to your question on specifically what he is saying about the fuel economy mileage of v(vee) versus the regular Prius and the (I assume) Prius c(cee). However, permit me to say this about that.

The heavier curb weight, increased Coefficient of Drag (Cd), and increased final drive ratio specifications of the 2012-2015 v(vee) Station Wagon all work to constrain the inherent fuel economy of the v(vee), as compared to the smaller, less voluminous and 298-pounds lighter 2010-2015 Liftback Sedan, and even smaller, 840-pounds lighter, and even less voluminous 2012-2015 c(cee) Subcompact. These constraining differences are directly reflected in the individual Official EPA MPG numbers of the v(vee)Station Wagon, the Liftback Sedan, and the c(cee) Subcompact.

While the v(vee) Station Wagon and Liftback Sedan share the exact same 2ZR-FXE, 1.8-Liter I4 powering their Hybrid Synergy Drive running gear, the v(vee)'s axle ratio was increased to 3.704:1 versus the Liftback Sedan’s 3.268:1 ratio, the v(vee)’s Coefficient of Drag (Cd) is 0.29 versus the Liftback Sedan’s 0.25, and the v(vee) out weighs the Liftback Sedan by 298-pounds.

The c(cee) Subcompact uses the same 1NZ-FXE1.5-Liter I4 "Atkinson" engine that powered the iconic 2004-2009 GEN II/2G Liftback Sedan, has a Coefficient of Drag (Cd) of 0.28, and weighs 840-pounds less than the v(vee) Station Wagon.

There Is No Free Energy/MPG Lunch…Read ‘Em & Weep…

EPA 44/42/40 MPG v(vee) Station Wagon
EPA 55/51/48 MPG GEN III/3G Liftback Sedan
EPA 53/50/46 MPG c(cee) Subcompact

As regards the Per Tank-Full MPG Average “actuals” of the “Hybrid Herd,” as recorded in the fuel economy numbers reported to Fuelly, the Group-Grope CENTER OF THE BELL CURVE MPG Average spans 41-43 for the v(vee), 47-49 for the Liftback Sedan, and 49-51 for the c(cee) Subcompact.

Folks who consistently drive the Prius Hybrids “Hybrid $mart” typically get 125%± of Official EPA Combined MPG. As I shared above, driving my Prius v(vee) “Hybrid $mart” for 3½ years over nearly 40,000-lifetime miles in Florida's “Hybrid Friendly” climate and terrain, I am logging Per Tank-Full MPG numbers tracking in the low-to-mid 50s, which is in the range of 120% to 130% of EPA Combined MPG.

 

Bravo Zulu. Low 50s is pretty stout for a v. Especially with Florida's unpredictable moving chicane traffic.

 

Air_Boss – Roger your “BZ,” and Righty-O you are about “Low 50s is pretty stout for a v.” I have to “Hybrid Hump” very hard the year round to keep my Lifetime MPG number in the 50s. I incrementally bank Lifetime MPGs driving during the eight (8) months of Florida’s “Hybrid Friendly” Late Fall/Winter/Early Spring driving seasons, to then be partially expended driving during the four (4) months of the “Less Hybrid Friendly” hot summer season.

The “Good News.” So far, the Summer Of 2015 Florida Wx has been Hurricane & Major Tropical Storm-Free. The “Bad News.” The Weather Gods have been delivering an exceptionally long run of 90-ish °F hot weather, which is requiring heavy use of “Joe, turn up the air conditioner” to keep my Bride (& me and the Traction Battery) cool. This summer’s run of hot temperatures is challenging me to keep my Per Tank-Full MPG numbers bumping along at or above 50.0 MPG. I experience occasion, temporary summer season OH $#!T drops down through 50 to 49.x, requiring me to redouble my fuel-sipping efforts to efficiently apply all my hybrid driving skills and tricks to bouy it up back north through 50 as I electro-glide down A1A, and the connecting beachside byways and highways in order to regain Fab 50-ish MPG numbers.

Fortunately, I do not live in any of the Über-Crapola, high population density urban area “Traffic Nightmare” parts of Florida (i.e. Palm Beach-Miami, Tampa-St Pete, Greater Orlando Metro, et al). By comparison, I live in an ocean side area that is a veritable “Sleepy Hollow,” whose typical “Around Town” road traffic has none of the “Florida's unpredictable moving chicane traffic” characteristics to which you refer.