On the last leg of my 2,500 mile trip from California to Tennessee, via US-40. Allow me to share a few observations on my fully loaded '13 v. With 4200 miles, I had the 5,000 mile service done, which is just a tire rotation and fluid check - no oil change. Yes, the seats suck. You know those model homes that have all the posed furniture and flowers, and painted cardboard cutouts showing the likely place for a stereo system. Well, Toyota could have put a cardboard cutout of a navigation system for all the use it is. The pros - it DID give me alternate routes around Little Rock, AR, congested traffic and construction. It does warn you of accidents and construction ahead, and seems to be fairly reliable. The cons - it does not show my 7-year old development or street in my new home in Tennessee. The installed maps version is 2012, so, not sure an upgrade is going to be worth it. For a hotel one block away, it wanted me to go down a service road for a mile, get on the highway coming back, take the exit, and turn into the hotel. Points of Interest, particularly hotels, seems selective. For example, LaQuinta is pet friendly, but the nav system will not list any of them. Nor can you page through the list while the car is in motion. Voice recognition is entirely useless. I end up using my iPhone and Siri to find what I am looking for, then pull over, manually input the address into the nav system, and hope it recognizes the street address. for alot of US40, I set cruise to 80mph, and seemed to average about 38MPG. I did not nurse it at all, and used the power button for any hills or passing situation. I had alot of power when I needed it - never felt underpowered in a passing or hill situation, and the car was loaded with luggage, me and dog. You get knocked around some in any significant crosswind, but better than my old Ford van. Interior noise at those speeds is significant. XMRadio volume level was up in the 40's to hear over the roar of the tires. Did I mention the seat was uncomfortable? When using cruise control with no cars ahead of you to the horizon, I like to place my feet flat on the floor. There is no flat floor behind the accelerator pedal, you have to shift left, and that twists your hips and spine. Love the LED headlights. driving lights need re-aiming, too low If you travel with a dog, they can step on your power selector on the center console, shifting you from econ to power and back and forth. Not sure what would happen if liquids were spilled on those recessed buttons. My Prius v is black, and in the full sun of the South, I can feel the heat around my head from the poorly insulated headliner and moonroof. I have to direct an AC vent at the ceiling to keep it comfortable. Oklahoma and Arkansas drivers love the left lane no matter how slow they go, but will mosey on over after 10 miles or so. To summarize, the seats suck. I really expected better electronics from Toyota, and this is very disappointing.
I added a lumbar cushion to the drivers seat and it makes all the difference. My wife likes it better without it. It's probably something to do with individual body shapes. I have no problems with the voice navigation, but you do have to be exact. Leave out the zip. For example "Destination 1440 West Landa, New Braunfels, Texas" will work. It's better to be fast than slow as you pronounce the address. Agreed that the contrrol blocks while moving is irritating; however understanding and using the voice commands is the key since they work while underway.
Welcome to Tennessee! I haven't seen many v's on the road here yet. I have never gotten the voice command to recognize anything I say.
pretty much the same experience on our trip from okla. to florida and back.....back was killing me most of the journey
A cardboard cutout would be better than the navigation system. At least it wouldn't send you down a hazardous route. Last week, I was wanted to navigate to the Philadelphia Premium Outlets. The outlets have been there for over six years. The navigation system found them but tried to route me down someone's dead end dirt driveway. Glad it was daylight and I was able to clearly see that there was no road there. I thought this might be a glitch in the computer and gave it another chance on the way home, it tried to send me down the same nonexistent road.
Boy, it sounds like you should get rid of the car since you're so unhappy with it. Maybe try a CMax? But you won't be happy with the mileage. I did love hearing that you can cruise at 80 and still get 38 mpg! As far as the dog pressing your console buttons - well I think you know the answer to that. The dog should be in the back seat in a harness or with a barrier put up for theirs and your safety - never in the front. I find the seats more comfortable than my previous Prius IV. In that car, I installed some washers under the front seat mounts to raise the front for more thigh support. That made the seats much more comfortable, and I'm thinking of doing the same to my new v. It's too bad Toyota couldn't put in the power seats they now include in the Four and Five Liftbacks. Yes the NAV is not that great but I rarely use it, especially around town. My first road trip this fall will be to NY where I've been before, so I'll see how it works in getting me to my destination versus my normal route.
The C-Max just got rated worst quality of any single nameplate by J.D. Power, something for the OP keep in mind and research first. Here's the story: J.D. Power ranks hybrid as worst car for quality
I guess maybe I should have said I wasn't truly serious about making the switch to the CMax. Maybe a suggestion to look at the Passat TDI or Jetta Wagon TDI would have been more appropriate. My belief is the primary reason why most Prius owners buy a Prius is that gas mileage trumps everything else. Comfort is important and is subjective based on the individual. I think the Prius v or Liftbacks are truly well rounded vehicles that satisfies the majority of owners with a combination of space, utility, comfort, durability, and economical driving.
Space plus MPG plus general quality and availability of service. You did vary the lumbar support on the v seats? Yes I wish I had the Avalon's seats and sound deadening in the v but then I'd pay in weight and MPG. I've done 300+ miles one day and back the 300 the next day and never found any issues with a 6'5" 300+ lbs son in the passenger seat. I can get the radio comfortable to these old ears. I like paying for regular gas fuel and not the diesel prices my VW diesel driving friends pay. Though they love theirs.
there is always someone who gets their little feelings hurt when you complain about the same kind of car they own....maybe you should quit the forum if you can't stand the criticism....now go drink a warm milk and try to nap
My Prius is a daily commuter not in the car more than 30 minutes at a time. For that the Prius is a comfortable car. I did take a 2 hour drive when I first got the car and yes it hosed up my back. Never had that problem with my other car.
I took the v for a 100-mile shake-down cruise. Half way through I pulled the headrest and turned it backwards. No more back ache on the way back, but of course no whiplash protection either. That headrest either gets replaced by something different or it goes completely.
My feelings weren't hurt. But sometimes the whining can get to you... or me in this case. And really, complaining about how the dog can press the buttons in the car? Seriously?
Just drove 1500 miles in the past 5 days and I found the seats to be comfortable. It must be body type / personal preference, but I'm good with the seats. I found the GPS to work quite well too. The coolest feature is the radar cruise control - it works very well. Yes, it sacrifices mileage, but makes it much safer to go high speeds.
Rdgrimes: Instead of reversing the headrest, just raise it up several notches, in its correct position and you will notice a big difference.........and it is safer than reversing it ! That is why the headrest is adjustable vertically. Length of torsos make the head position different for different folks.
I've tried it all, its a useless arrangement for me. Only removing it or turning it backwards yields any degree of comfort. Even in the highest position my head still hits the top part of the rest. This is a very bad design for anyone over 6' tall.
I think the leatherette seats in the v are quite comfortable. the cloth seats aren't as much. Going to do the conversion to leatherette eventually.
