To v or not to v ... THAT is the question...

What type of commute do you have? Mostly freeway? City? 50/50?

I think the space of the v will be handy as your kids grow.

I didn't buy the lift back Prius because I didn't like the visibility out the back or the bridge console. The bridge bothered my right knee. If you are tall sit in one at he dealership for a while.

We have a v that commutes about what you do and it is primarily freeway at 65-70 mph averaging 42.6 with a lot of colder weather in there. Lately it's closer to 45 but the 42.6 is overall. W

 

I drove both the v and the 2012 hatchback before buying the v. I also have owned a 2005 hatchback. To me, the v is a noticeable level of improvement over the hatchback in terms of refinement and room both for the driver and the kids in the back. Your going to spend around $26,000 so I wouldn't let a $2000 difference determine my decision nor would the possible additions like sunroof, etc. The v is much more versatile and I personally average over 50mpg. If I had bought the hatchback, I probably would be regretting it.

 

You don't want a weekend family trip planned and have to skip the Prius since it is just not big enough, go with the v, it suits most needs.

I have been getting 42 to 44 MPG, in fact I just got 42 miles on a 80 mile round trip airport run, mostly freeway, with five adults and four carry-on bags plus a back seat of sleeping passengers with reclined seats.

 

Your kids are gonna want a dog as they get older. In order to better accommodate the kids and dog you'd be better off getting a v (I'm the guy who makes your question all about me). Get the v for the hypothetical dog.

 

Seriously though, if you get the v I think you're gonna drive the van less and less for family use and see even bigger savings in gas. (You can fit a lot of junk back there).

 

If the OP was dealing with chosing a singular all purpose vehicle, I think I'd recommend the Prius V, given his family and admitted need/desire to haul things....

But since he also admits to having a Van for those occasions and needs...

I'd go with the standard Prius.

Might be pleasantly surprised by how much it can haul in anycase. Good vehicle, better mileage.

 

Well, don't forget, Tideland... Catgic does have a record of something like 70 something on a Prius v.

To be honest, don't know what the OP is doing, and I have a v because I liked the higher seating over the Prius sedan style seating. I would say go with it over the van unless you are having the van tow stuff too, then perhaps the standard Prius would work. Although I would say have the v as a backup family vehicle over the van in some cases.

 

In February I test drove a V and the hatchback and did not see much difference. Since I have a van I decided to buy the hatchback. There are advantages either way and I really think that you will appreciate the gas milage with either model. 50 mpg puts the fun in driving places!

 

Lots of good responses in this thread.

My family owns a gen II 2005 Prius and a Sienna van. We drive the Prius as much as possible but, the standard Prius is a bit small for road trips with my wife, 2 teens and I. I hate to take the van due to the extra gas it uses.

With 3 kids the standard gen III Prius will definitely be on the small side.

My vote is for the Prius V. It meets your needs for packing the drums and PA gear plus you will find you will use it a lot with your family.

Your kids are growing and they will appreciate the extra room in the back. Plus there is enough luggage space for weekend trips, etc.

 

One thing the OP might consider that I have NOT seen mentioned here yet is the following ... the total / maximum cargo WEIGHT capacity - recommended - for the "V", which I believe is about 110 pounds MORE than the "hatchback". Since the OP has three kids, how much weight the "V" can carry might be of more importance than the available space itself. With THAT in mind, I believe I'd go with the "V". Otherwise - if the "hatchback" is truly large enough AND the somewhat lesser carrying weight is NOT an issue, then I believe I'd go with that ...

 

Just note, again, that the MPG you get with the Prius and the Prius v will vary depending on how you drive, as you can see with my sig, I started out below 40 and that is due to how I drove my car the first few times and breaking a old driving habit. As I also pointed out, catgic, the author of the link I have in my Signature on a REALLY long hypermiling tips, he does get the Prius v to higher mpg than what the EPA rates the car, so it is possible to get more MPG, but depends on how you drive it and handle it.

 

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH ... I just checked the "fuelly" site and saw that 76 Prius "v" are listed there. Of those, 28 are reporting mpg of 40-or-less, while 48 are reporting mpg of 41-or-more. The single largest "category" has 18 of them reporting mpg of 43. As always, "your mileage will vary" ... but, if nothing else, mpg somewhat HIGHER than the rated 40 is quite possible. AND ... the exact same thing can be said of the "liftback". So much does-and-WILL depend on "how" you drive.

 

mudmanrv, you're combining a lot of features. First, you mention 5000lb towing .... then 7 passenger hauling. Then cars that "CAN" get 40mpg (which is usually NOT their combined epa, as tideland mentioned). The closest you'll find if you really really wana combine into an all in one ... is the highlander hybrid (similar to our Lexus400h). You WILL be able to tow (but not as much as a 3/4 Ton pickup) and you'll be able to haul 7 people (but not as comfortably as in a full size van) ... and in the hyhi, you'll only get 30mpg ... which is way better than your present vehicles. They do well in snow (speaking from experience) with higher ground clearance the the v ... and they can be had with an AWD option. Life is all about trade-off's. Your call! and remember ... the cost of gas WILL continue to spiral ever upward, because after 80 years of burning through the cheep / easy to find stuff - we will now start using the hard to get slower to extract - remaining stuff.

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PARTIAL quote follows:

Don't know WHERE in NE Indiana you live or if this would be a valid consideration ... but I ordered our '08 when gas was nearing its peak in June of '08 and took delivery the first week in August, very shortly after gas had started to come down; it was about $3.80. We bought it through Andy Mohr Toyota in Avon, which is about 5 miles west of the 465 "loop" around the west side of Indy.

We did NOT get any discount as such ... but neither were we charged a premium. If interested, you MIGHT check them out on line and, more specifically, you might get in touch with Max Hopper; their principal internet sales rep. If you do that, you can let him know Ed from Lafayette pointed you in his direction.

 

I have both prius v and prius hatch. I get 55 mpg with the hatch and 45 mpg with the v. The v is loaded and cost me 30 g out the door. I got the hatch (trim level 3) for 26 g and 0% financing. I love both vehicles and use the v to haul my dog around. She doesn't fit well in the hatch.