Prius v in Winter

Short answer: no.

We have driven our 2012 v Five in northern winters since new. When it was still on the OEM A20 tires, we had a really alarming drive back in a blinding snow storm, along I-95, that caused me to buy new 17" rims TPMS and Dunlop M3 Winter tires. Used them two winters thereafter. Upon replacing the A20 with new Continental LRR TrueContact all-season tires, we never used the winter tires again, and we sold off the 17" rims with TPMS and Dunlops.

Moral: if you have good all-season tires, you probably won't need winter tires. Mats aren't a bad idea, but why not just clear your shoes before entering the car?

 

When you change your mind:
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=X-Ice+Snow&partnum=065HR6XISXL&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&autoMake=Toyota&autoYear=2013&autoModel=Prius%20V&autoModClar=Two

 

We have Weathertech floor liners in all of our cars. We have actual snow tires for one car, and “all weather” snow-rated all-season tires for the other two. Remote start is nice if you park outside, to warm the car before you get into it.

 

Check BOTH coolant levels/quality/concentration...

Husky Liners are good as well, at least before they supposedly made a poor modification....

REVVL V+ 5G ?

 

Second the snow tires, preferably on separate rims. Try to do them without TPMS sensors, if legally possible in your area. Look into getting the block heater as well, and maybe an 12 volt battery charger, if your usage is sporadic. For the latter, either external or on-board, depending on your situation.

 

Depends on how far up you're moving. Further up than DC / Northern Virginia, winter driving starts getting way different than FL driving. First snow fall in particular, every year it seems.....
It also depends on how much you want to winterize. Some don't bother doing anything special to or with their cars in the winter, except let them idle to warm up and / or deice the windshield. And that one habit is going to be really noticeable on the mpg gauge.

 

Like most cars, driving on ice is dicey and not recommended. If your going to a place that only has light snow once every few years then you are ok. So ice may keep you home at times.

 

If you put it in Park, it will charge the battery while it keeps you warm and safe. I warm it at idle and sit in it at idle without a second thought. Just last night, I did exactly that for about 30 minutes in 15F outside temperatures. The ICE will run as frequently as required to maintain Toyota's minimum operating temperature. If you turn on the front defroster, the engine will run continuously. Fuel consumption doesn't even register on my list of concerns when the outside temperature is low enough to be a threat to health and safety. Even with this type of winter usage, and many short trips, my 2010 is averaging about 43 MPG according to the GOM.

 

The Prime doesn't use either battery when the engine (ICE) is running in PARK. The traction pack battery usage can be tracked on multiple screens of both the MID (multi informational display) youtu.be/df22q_SgGkg
and the MFD (multi function display) 7" or 11" screens
It's also a good preemptive measure to check the 12 volt battery once a month (winter months) or at very least the first few times the temps drop below freezing in the fall as the computer systems have the biggest changes as ambient outside temps drop in the fall, at least from what I've seen happen.

and a look at the 2023 expected refresh and changes start here youtu.be/_n2r7ON4Hxk

just noticed - nothing special needed.
can do all sorts of things like grill block (which I do religiously) - block heater - turn on the traction pack heater function found in the car settings screen of the MID ( recommended ) - but all those things are not essential in the winter, especially if not driving the car in inclement weather.

I'm also a beach lover - surfer and was an ocean lifeguard for a couple years before college.

 

@jerrymildred might have a few excellent recommendations for preparing a Prius for travel from FL to the frigid northern climates.

 

Nothing special to preparing the hybrid. But for all cars, if you're going from FL to the north and it's very cold where you're going, you'll want to replace your crappy Florida windshield washer fluid with stuff that won't turn into a block of ice. Or dump plenty of alcohol in the washer fluid tank. Whichever is cheaper for you.

 

If you're "religious" about using Toyota coolant get the red concentrate and add it to top off the levels.

REVVL V+ 5G ?

 

That stuff would come in handy if for any reason you needed to do a water flush. You'll never get all the water out, and it's nigh impossible to achieve a 50% mix with the pre--mix. The only downside to the concentrate: I believe they recommend to change more often; the interval's maybe 1/2 of the pre-mix. But it can get you out of a jam.

Addendum: found this:

https://garagedreams.net/products/toyota-red-vs-pink-coolant-which-is-better

Also, seems to be discontinued, hard to find. Here's description:

Toyota Genuine Fluid C0009-00119 Long Life Coolant - 1 Gallon Red Pure Concentrate

 

I had a discussion on a Sienna forum with someone concerned about the difference. I did not look really hard I confess but there is no Toyota pink concentrate so far. (Someone feel free to prove me wrong). The difference being pink and red use a different carboxylic acid. Pink being only sold as 50/50 Toyota can quality control the purity of the water and hence the longevity. With red they don't trust us to use distilled water which hence shorter interval. (Still unproven theory that I'm holding onto until someone finds me pink Toyota concentrate).....

REVVL V+ 5G ?

 

The link I posted describes some differences in the chemistry of the two.