What are the chances that Toyota will put a bigger ICE in the Prius v?

Aptos Driver – Your 42.6 MPG indicated on the TCH instrumentation for your “stop-and-go to the Golden Gate Bridge, through San Francisco, and up and over the Santa Cruz Mountains” probably qualifies as an EPA COMBINED MPG run. Your “Actual” measured fuel economy would be a shade less than that displayed on your instrumentation. Ignoring this difference between “Displayed” and “Actual,” you, with the help of the HSD Gremlins, did well beating the EPA COMBINED of 40 MPG by 7% with 42.6 MPG. This is good for you “Just Driving It.”

In spite of your, “I still think it would be good if Toyota offered a version of the "v" with the 200 hp of our TCH. I could go for that without hesitation.” I still think there is a chance that gathered members of the Prius Borg “Collective” here on this thread can convince you into letting yourself be eventually assimilated into the Prius “Hybrid Hive.” I say this because you have elected to chitchat here on PriusChat while still not being a Prius owner. Right now, you still fit the profile of those who want to “have more power,” the “Great Unwashed Gas Guzzlers” whom GrumpyCabbie alluded to in his post above.

As I mention on my “Ten Tips Guide…” page, “Whether we realize it or not, we all are now driving under a new fuel consumption and energy use paradigm.” Even with Monterey Bay Area’s $4-ish Per Gallon Of Gasoline, you apparently have not reached that point of realization yet. However, hope springs eternal that you will see the light.

I am not sure that renting and driving a v (vee) for a single day will give you enough Prius v driving experience data to win over “more power in it” loving you, but it is a good start and will be an informative experience for you. Be sure to punch the “PWR” Button on the v (vee)’s console to assure it will deliver the best “more power in it” performance the 2ZR-FXE 1.8-Liter I4 w/Hybrid Synergy Drive can deliver to you.

For the record, I think Toyota did most everything right in my 1st GEN 2012 Prius v. Some how Toyota Marketing left the engineers mostly alone long enough so they could optimally bring together all the design elements of fuel economy, driver-passenger comfort and space, cargo hauling volume, style, and sensible driving performance in a balanced, “High-Low Mix” manner. The result, the Prius v is the “Caddy In A Kimono” I tout it to be. I say this because it combines the best design points of the Iconic 2G and Next GEN 3G Prius sedans, while discarding their worst ones, and then incorporates great, new v (vee) features. As I have written elsewhere, “Prius v… ‘v’ for more ‘v’ersatility. Roger that…but also… ‘v’ery good driver road perspective ‘v’iew ‘v’isibility, ‘v’ery good fuel economy, and ‘v’oluminous interior driver, passenger, and cargo-hauling space.”

A “Honey Do” Test the Prius v passes is one of my penny-pinching wife’s critical tests, the “Joe, I Am Not Paying Them A Delivery Fee --- Boxed Washing Machine Hauling Test.” The Prius v “V”onder “V”agon can pass it with flying colors, your TCH cannot.

I invite you to visit my Caddy In A Kimono Group at: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/caddy_in-a_kimono/

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE, YOU WILL BE ASSIMILATED.

 

Aptos Driver – Ouchy, Ouch! I know that must have “hurt” a sukoshi smidgen, but permit and forgive Ol’ Watakushi-wa, humble ex-Porsche Pilot & Prius Borg that I now am, a bit of exaggeratory hyperbole. I am confident that you shower every day, and that your deodorant does not let you down at mid-day. Additionally, I am pleased to welcome you as an enlightened someone scratching their head about the possibility of becoming a future “Caddy In A Kimono” owner.

You do have it right, “Hybrids are just cool.” (FYI: I am the original "Joseph Cool From Chi-Town." What else would Joe Cool be driving?).

“Gas Guzzling/Guzzler” is a relative term. The EPA MPG on your 4WD RAV4 Limited V6 “Rice Burner” is 19 City/21 Combined/26 Highway @ $2,500 Per Year In Fuel Costs, and my Pv5ATP is 44 City/42 Combined/40 Highway @ $1,250 Per Year In Fuel Costs --- Q.E.D. --- You are driving a “Gas Guzzler.”

Fear Not, Yar Doin’ Good! You a doing well with your Pre-Prius v ownership training of “I monitor real-time MPG closely…coasting whenever possible, by ‘feathering’ the engine, and driving with a very light right foot.”

Keep in touch here and over yonder at the Caddy In A Kimono “Hive.”

 

Driving my Prius V reminds me a lot of flying light airplanes. Neither have much excess power and both use some of the same tricks to save weight to make the most of available power. Both do quite well in level flight or on level terrain. In light airplanes, excess power is what determines rate of climb performance. It shows up in the V as miserable hill climbing performance. With just two adults in the V and little cargo, the V really struggles on even moderate hills. It is all but impossible to accelerate and it seems you can be lucky to maintain whatever speed you carried into the hill. I would absolutely hate to even attempt to do any hill climbing with a full passenger load. So, does the V need more power? If you are a flat-lander, current power is fine. If there are hills on your typical drive route, then, yes, it needs a healthy boost to power through any reasonable combo of more taction battery or more ICE power.

 

FAField – FLY NAVY, NAVAL AVIATION! I am pleased to welcome you aboard as a “Nugget” Pv5 Petrol Warfighter Pilot-In-Training. I liked your “Driving my Prius v reminds me a lot of flying light airplanes” comparison. That was good. However, I think you “Crashed & Burned” with your strong criticism of the v (vee) regarding its “miserable hill climbing performance… really struggles on even moderate hills…It is all but impossible to accelerate…or maintain whatever speed you carried into the hill.” Clearly, you still are working on developing a “Hybrid $mart” driving mindset. I say this because I use DWL (Driving With Load) to negotiate all hills/up slopes almost all the time, the technique application of which requires precisely THAT YOU DO NOT “…maintain whatever speed you carried into the hill”

I assume the vehicle your new Pv5 “V”onder “V”agon replaced was a V-6/V-8-powered SUV other Conventionally-Powered vehicle that delivered Teen-To-Twenties MPG-FE as it speedily climbed hills for you there in the North Country of the People’s Republik of Californiastan --- thirstily guzzling down fuel during the whole climb.

As I said, I like your “Prius v : Small Airplane” analogy. However, IMHO, your commentary was/is a bit harsh and borders on being unfair. The Pv5ATP Petrol Warfighter, Family Limo & Stuff-Hauler, was designed and built to transport people and stuff while “Coming In First” logging Ultra-High MPG-FE and minimizing “Pain At The Pump.” It WAS NOT designed to “Come In First” on the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. In spite of your harsh drubbing of the v (vee) as being a vehicle lacking the features needed to qualify it for candidacy to PPIHC, I respect your opinion. I assume it is an honest opinion based upon the shortfall between your “Expectations” prior to purchasing your Pv5, against how it “Actually” performed climbing hills against that “Expectation.”

Just for grins, let me “Climb” your “Prius v Is Like…” Comparo up one more “Flight Level,” and compare the “Hill Climbing (Rate Of Altitude Ascent),” Fuel Economy, and salient Key Performance Specs of my “Fuel-Sipping” Stealth, Terrain-Hugging “Magnetic Gray” Prius v Petrol Warfighter with a Mid 20th Century, “Flight Endurance Record Holding” ZPG-2N “Reliance” Lighter-Than-Air (LTA) Airship, and a State-Of-The-Art, 21st Century Supersonic F/A-18E "Super HornetAll-Weather Carrier-Capable Multirole Fighter Jet Aircraft.

Catgic’s P2vATP "Prius v" Stealth, Terrain-Hugging Petrol Warfighter Performance:
■ Crew/Payload: 5 People/Kids Passengers Plus Optional K-9s & Feline Pets With Rear Cargo-Hauling Area Sized To Transport A “Washing Machine-In-The-Box / Big Screen LED HD-TV / Assorted Yard Maintenance & Honey-Do Project Supplies.”
■ Maximum Speed: 103 mph (166 km/h).
■ Rate Of Altitude Ascent (i.e. Hill Climb): 5.740 linear-ft/min (1,148 m/s) [9.2-minutes to climb a 10-mile long, moderate 6-8%, upslope road grade].
■ Fuel Economy: EPA Official Fuel Economy Rating: 42 MPG Combined “CITY-HIGHWAY.” Typical “Hybrid $mart” Driver Reported Running Average MPG Actuals: 45-50+ MPG.
■ Combat Sortie-Mission Endurance On One Fuel Up/Tank-Top-Off: 13+ hours Operating Time (Which Is Approximately 1½ Weeks Or 10½ Typical Driving Days Of Operation For The Average Driver).
■ Maximum Range To “Dry Tanks:” 650± nm (1,046 km).
■ Propulsion Provided By: Hybrid Gas-Electric Synergy Drive (Gasoline-Powered 1.8-Liter “Atkinson-Cycle” In-Line 4-Cylinder/4-Cycle Engine/Electric 6.5 Ah NiMH Battery-MGen [98 hp From Gasoline + 60 kW From Electric = 134 hp Total Available]).
■ Fuel Quantity & Type Requirements: 11.9-Gallons of Regular Unleaded, 87 (Research Octane No. 91) Octane Or Higher Gasoline
■ Combat Radius (Unrefueled): 25 nm For Typical “Daily Commute.” For A RO2N Mom’s/Grandma’s House & Return”: 200± nm. For A “Family Camping Trip” Mission:
250± nm.

ZPG-2N(Snowbird) "Reliance" Lighter-Than-Air ASW-Maritime Patrol Airship Performance:
■ Crew/Payload: 14 (3-Pilots, 1-Tacco, 1-Navigator, 1-Flight Engineer, 1-2nd Mech, 7-ASW/Radar/Mad/ECM/Radio/Sonar Sensor Operators & Ordinance Sonobuoys / Torpedo / Depth Charges / Mines / Bombs / Ordnance-Handler & Observer Air Crewmembers along with Oodles of Cargo-Hauling Space).
■ Maximum Speed: 80 mph (128 km/h).
■ Rate Of Altitude Ascent (i.e. Hill Climb): 1,500 ft/min (7.7 m/s).
■ Fuel Economy: 0.3± MPG.
■ Combat Sortie-Mission Endurance On One Fuel Up/Tank-Top-Off: Typically, 200+ hours (8½± days).
■ Maximum Range To “Dry Tanks:” Typically, 8000± nm (12,875 km) [World Record Unrefueled Distance & Flight Time: The ZPG-2N “Snow Bird” landed at Naval Air Station Key West, Florida in March 1957 after flying 9,448 mi (15,205 km) over the western shores of Africa and Europe and across the Atlantic from East-To-West, in 264.2 hours (10+ days)].
■ Propulsion Provided By: Twin Propeller-Driven, Gasoline-Powered “Otto-Cycle” Wright Cyclone R-1300-4-4A (7-Cylinders) Radial Engines, 800 hp (600 kW) each.
■ Fuel Quantity & Type Requirements: 30,000+ Gallons Of AVGAS, Grade 115/145.
■ Combat Radius, (Unrefueled): 1,000± nm For A Typical “Hi-Lo-Lo-Hi” (Unrefueled) “Combat Commute” or 4,000 nm For Point-To-Point/Air-Air Mission (NOTE: Range Of Mission Duration: 5 (Unrefueled)-To-17 (Refueled) Days With Typical Sortie-Mission: 7-Days In Duration). Maximum Combat Radius: 4,725 nm.

F/A-18E "Super HornetAll-Weather Carrier-Capable Multirole Fighter Jet Aircraft Performance:
■ Crew/Payload: 1-Pilot With His Finger On The Trigger Of A M61A1/A2 Vulcan 20mm Cannon with External Stores Payload of AIM-9X, AIM 9 Sidewinder, AIM 7 Sparrow, AIM-120 AMRAAM, Harpoon, Harm, SLAM, SLAM-ER, Maverick Missiles; Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW); Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM); Data Link Pod; Paveway Laser Guided Bomb; Various General Purpose Bombs, Mines And Rockets.
■ Maximum Speed: Mach 1.8 (1,190 mph, 1,915 km/h).
■ Rate Of Altitude Ascent (i.e. Hill Climb): 50,000 ft/min (254 m/s).
■ Fuel Economy: 0.2± MPG.
■ Combat Sortie-Mission Endurance On One Fuel Up/Tank-Top-Off: 2 hr―15 min.
■ Maximum Range To “Dry Tanks:” 1,800± nm (2,000 km)
■ Propulsion Provided By: Twin F414-GE-400 Turbo-Jet Engines, Each Delivering 22,000 Pounds Of Thrust.
■ Fuel Quantity & Type Requirements: 1900-gals (24,300 lbs) of JP5 Jet Fuel. [1420-gal (14,500 lbs Internal In Wing Storage) + Two 480-gal Wing Station Tanks (Total Additional 960-gal/9,800 lb)].
■ Combat Radius, (Unrefueled): 390± nm (720 km) For A Typical “Hi-Lo-Lo-Hi” (Unrefueled) “Combat Commute” or 410± nm (759 km) For Air-Air Sortie-Mission. The Maximum Combat Point-To-Point Range (“Clean” Configuration): 1,275± nm (2,346 km).

Compared to you, I am a “Flat Lander” driving in “Hybrid Paradise.” I drive “Hybrid $mart.” I consistently am able to maintain 125±% of Official EPA MPG, and have never had my overall running MPG-FE Average drop below 50 MPG.

Happy Hill Climbing.

 

Two observations on the recent posts.

While view to the rear is excellent, to the front (defined as the ability to figure out where the front corners are) is not for this 6 foot driver.

I hit the power button on my V for the first time the other day needing to squirt out ahead of oncoming traffic and was shocked/pleased at how well it accelerated. I wasn't looking at the fuel consumption at the time. Yes passing at 70MPH with a mind to fuel consumption takes a bit of getting used to but the aero makes it lots easier. In my other cars, I'm regularly surprised at the speed of the Prius passing me. This from a ex-Porsche driver.

 

Hi Catgic and other "Big Guns" who have commented on this thread:
Excuse me, I don't want to try to, is the word, pirate this thread.
Comments about "Hill Climbing" with a "v" led to this entry -
We live in Bishop CA, in the Eastern Sierra, and at the bottom of a ten-mile-6%-grade on the way to skiing at Mammoth Lakes, CA. We are averaging 48 MPH with our 2012 Prius v/3, itching to make it 50.
Yes, the "v" CAN climb that ten-mile-6%-grade with 5 people and ski equipment and do it in style. We have done it with cruise control at 65, the speed limit.
Downhill without braking, vehicles will exceed 85 mph and pick up tickets very frequently. But, I love the way our "v" with cruise control set at 67, descends using no gas, no brakes and protects me from "the bears". That is a marvelous feature. Thanks, Floyd

 

Is the 48 MPH supped to be 48 MPG?

 

ReidFM (Floyd) – Thanks for chiming in with your Eastern Sierras-Bishop, CA data point, which puts the 1.8-Liter I-4 Powered Prius v in a more favorable light with regard to its “Hill Climbing & Hill Coasting” performance. Oh, and you putting in your 2¢ is not “Pirating.”

Let me extend a belated “Welcome To The Hybrid ‘Hive’.” Congrats on your “We are averaging 48 MPH with our 2012 Prius v/3, itching to make it 50” in your “Caddy In A Kimono.” Your 114% of EPA MPG-FE numbers are evidence that you are driving “Hybrid $mart” there in the Eastern Sierras. 50 MPG Or Bust!

Let me invite you to visit and consider joining the Vee’erz Group at caddy_in-a_kimono : Prius v ("vee&quot

 

I drove both the v and the Camry hybrid. If the Camry was a wagon, I would have selected it all day long. The minor fuel savings of the v (especially here in WV) doesn't make up for the ride comfort, NVH, and fun advantages of the Camry. The wagon aspect was the deal maker for me.

 

"MPH or MPG" Yeh!!, if we drove 48 MPH we could exceed 48 MPG ... have to work on that. Floyd