like's and dislikes about the new prius v

First impression from the pics Danny posted....I like it. Just like when the 2nd Gen came out and I first saw one off the transport. I will have to see/drive one in person, before making a list. Spend some time, so to speak, with it. But I really don't see anything I think is a dislike to me.

Guess likes and dislikes are to each his/her own. You can't please everybody and there is no "perfect" vehicle.

 

I dont like it at all. I would prefer a HSD version based in Toyota Verso (EU Model). I dont see many improvements in materials...etc. Also a production version of Hybrid X concept would be a lot better looking car... I hope here in EU we will get just a Verso HSD version as they did with Auris HSD.

Come Toyota..!!You can do it thousand times better...

 

I like the speedometer and the better climate control screen, the dash layout is cool too.

I don't like the profile. I think they could have made it look cooler. I think the MPG is horrible. I at LEAST would have expected 47 city, 44 highway, 46 combined or something like that. The actual mileage is WAY too low for me.

 

Things i like :
- reverse beep finally gone off
- more aggressive "motor-off" that actually saves gas
- a somewhat sane "lightswitch" that allows me to keep it on at all times.
- an embryo to a "car customization menue" where the car may me customized (just waiting for the 100+ items that a user might want to change)
- less drag when accellerator is released, but still not freewheeling.
- the error-prone back lightbulb finally replaced by LED.
- a much improved bluetooth handsfree
- I CAN USE THE NAVIGATOR AT SPEED !! THANKS!
Dislike :
- former dashboard was modern and simple. New dashboard is modern and wastefully complicated
- still no electric heater in acc ( for faster de-icing of front-window)
- still erratic acc behaviour at zero degrees (C) and damp conditions.
- keyless "lock" button replaced by less functional touch-key that requires no gloves
- a HDD with limited usablility when all i want is a USB-socket for a memory device.

 

dislike -

about 11.5 second 0 to 60 acceleration time which would be 1.7 seconds slower than regular Prius.

Anyone else think this might not be so comforting with the whole family and gear packed in, then you're in a situation where you need to pull out onto the road and go?

 

Unimpressed. Bigger but much worse mileage and slower. Just doesn't seem like a net gain except in the most extenuating of circumstances. The reclining rear seats sounds cool, though.

 

Dislike: It's too vanilla (like Camry) and reminds me of the Ford Escort Wagon *yuck*

ETA: I just watched the You Tube video featuring v and it looks like Rondo and Quest had a baby. Gah.

 

Have only seen pictures, so no real input as to how good it is but:

Minus--not shaped weird enough, like a 1950's sci-fi spaceship

Plus--am I missing something, or is the split rear window really gone? Sure hope so.

 

Rear split window is gone from both the Prius c and Prius v.

Like: more cargo room, hopefully more passenger room (not more passengers). Front passenger seat folds flat

Dislike: less mpg

 

I had the chance to see and sit in the Prius v here in KC this weekend at a Toyota event. Overall, I liked it. First thing I noticed when sitting down was the higher roof. It gives the feeling of mini (micro) van inside. The rear seat bottoms have some fore and aft adjustability and the rear seat backs recline some. The back has usable cargo carrying capacity with the higher roof line and boxed off back end. The width of the car felt the same as the Gen III Prius. The dash has a mini van look and feel to it.

The rep stated it weighs about 275 more than the Gen III. The highway mileage may suffer due to it's shape, but I can't imagine it's not as MPG capable as the Gen III Prius below 45 MPH.

 

At around $28K, and 40MPG, which is where I bet it comes in .... KEEP IT .... 275 pounds shouldn't yield 20% less efficiency, and who REALLY needs the extra cargo space often enough to sacrifice that amount of efficiency on a full time basis. If I need more cargo space I'll just throw my hitch-haul on the back with my nice waterproof container. Sure I'll lose a little mileage doing that, but it's just THAT trip, not full time.

There are early adopters of ANY new design or technology, many of them right here I have no doubt.

For me ... if it's not priced sensibly (+$500-1000 MAX per model right up the scale) ... I wouldn't even consider it.

REV

 

Revhigh, I think you're looking at this the wrong way. The Prius v isn't here to compete with or replace the current Prius. If you're satisfied with the current Prius, there's no reason to upgrade. IMHO, the v appears to be a hybrid option for those who want a CUV. Its cargo volume is just shy of the Honda CRV, a popular $21,700-starting non-hybrid that only gets 21/28 EPA. You should apply an offset from that price, not from the price of the current Prius.

 

Oh I don't know. Ask any pickup truck/SUV driver. And most of them will tell you to take a hike to tell them to drive anything else. I drove my trucks for 22 years before getting the Prius. Great for cargo, horribly inefficient for just hauling my sorry butt between point A and B.

 

People are free to drive whatever they want. I've always owned trucks and SUVs with 4WD ... I finally came to the conclusion that I didn't really NEED 4WD, I just WANTED 4WD. When it snowed I'd go out and drive around just because I COULD .... didn't really need to ... just did it because I COULD.

Pretty stupid when you think about it. If you REALLY NEED a 4WD vehicle (or pickup truck) a few times a year ... RENT ONE for the day. Lots cheaper that way rather than paying insurance, gas, and bigger payments for the other 363 days ... LOL.

REV

 

Good points regarding price, but it's not 4WD like most CRV's and RAV4's .... therefore not in the same category, IMO. It's just a station wagon ... I'd rather have an Outback with AWD for the same or less money.

How did they lose 20% fuel efficiency from adding 275 pounds ? All from aerodynamics ? Doesn't look that different to me ... just a slightly different roofline.

REV

 

Well...the Cd went up from .25 Gen III Prius to .29 Prius v. The roof is significantly higher than Gen III Prius and the back end is much higher and boxed off. Both of those contribute to the increased drag. The extra 275 lbs would show itself when accelerating the vehicle in town. With some < 45 MPH pulse and glide, I cant imagine it couldn't return MPG numbers close to the current Prius.

 

Exactly ... 45 I could see .... but 40 ??? Hard to understand.

REV

 

We have two teenagers both playing cello. Plus a five yr old in a booster seat. Very tough to fit them all in the current Gen 2. Would very much like to check out the cargo capacity on the v.

 

Saw and sat in the V at a Chicago Toyota event today. The Toyota expert there says the default reverse beep is still there. And the gps nav is still locked out when the car is in motion (booooo!!!!).
Some of the Hybrid info has been moved back into the NAV screen. Didnt have time to analyze the gauges too much.
The center storage console opens sideways now (hinged on passenger side). so no more sliding back. There is no 12v power jack inside this console, but there is one in the cargo area. Better lower center cupholder that doesnt get in the way of the shifter... (errr.... which isnt there anymore). The passenger side dash cupholder looks goofy.
Rear cupholders now pop out from the center console. Rear seats look thinner.

A can of Fix-a-flat, and a compressor is included, instead of a real spare?
Nice storage space for the retractable cargo bar.

rich