Featured Prius v ends US run, Rav4 hybrid took its sales

unsurprising, but still disappointing.

I still imagine that the lack of 3rd row option was the dealbreaker for many.

A hybrid Sienna has been long overdue.

 

The third row would have been like the one in the Mazda5, and that has gone the same way as the v here.

The Sienna is a large, heavy model. Hybrid minivans in Japan are physically smaller; about midway between the Sienna and Mazda5. A hybrid Sienna would have done as well as the Highlanderh up to this point at best. The costs and fuel economy improvement may have improved to the point to make it feasible now.

 

It's too bad too since the refresh was already in motion, the rest of the world will likely see this

2019 Toyota Prius V Spy Photos | News | Car and Driver

 

No it hasn't. The Mazda5 went into my garage, the V didn't, but it would have had the third-row option had been offered here. I almost bought a Rav4 with third row at the time, but didn't like it as well. Now the Rav4 isn't offered with third-row so it's a non-starter.

I wanted a V for extra butt space, not extra cargo space. The cargo space in the Prius and now in my Prime are excellent and I've brought many, many enormous things home in them including one a couple weeks ago that was 92" x 25" x 15".

 

I bought another Prius and one of the main reasons is you can haul a lot of stuff, especially from the lumber yard. I have a truck but don't drive it half of the year because it is afraid of snow so it sits in the late fall, winter and early spring and only comes out in summer when I need to pull my trailer for mulch and such. My 2006 Dodge Dakota has 7.200 miles on it.

 

Is there a Mazda5 still up on Mazda's site?

 

I was being sarcastic. I bought a 2012 Mazda5 specifically because the V didn't have a third-row. But it was discontinued.

If the RAV4 is the replacement for the V, I wouldn't buy it for the same reason - I need 6-7 seats for that car. I have my Prime for when 4 will do. 5 will basically never do when 4 doesn't.

 

My point was that if Prius v was offered with 3 rows in the US, that would not save it. The third row didn't save the Mazda5. Americans that want three rows, want bigger vehicles.

Will you be getting one with the SkyActiv treatment?

 

I think I just paid $2.35 yesterday. You need to move further south, IMHO.

 

Will you be getting

I meant was Mazda going to give the 5 the SkyActiv treatment, and was Canada getting it?

 

The mazda 5 is dead, if you mean the cx-5, it is sold in canada, and only made with skyactiv-g engines for north america.

The exciting news from mazda the skyactiv-x is running in test mules at 44% thermal efficiency, and mazda is working on skyactiv-3 and hoping to get over 50% thermal efficiency. The skyactiv-x may make it into a mazda 3 or other car at the end of next year.
The Internal Combustion Engine Is Dead? Mazda Has Another Idea With Innovative SkyActiv-X

 

5k miles east, I've paid $1.48 per litre, $5.6 per US gal.

 

In NC gas prices have been rising. Up $.30 in the last 6 weeks. Why?

 

We’re inflating the USA currency.

Bob Wilson

 

The years go by fast don't they?
I still remember being at this very site, when Toyota introduced The Prius v.

Watching video of the Press Conference introduction.

Can't believe it's been 6 years already.

 

Also...
I don't know if it's entirely correct or precise to say the Rav 4 hybrid took the Prius v's sales.
I think the Rav 4 hybrid is earning it's' own sales, on it's own desirability and merit, as really a significantly different product.

I'm thinking back to that original introduction of the Prius v, and my original initial reaction.
The running joke, was with the Prius family the Prius then came simply in Small, Medium and Large size, with the Prius c, Standard Prius, and Prius v..as the 3 main models.

But I remember my original reaction to the Prius v, was wondering what market it was going to reach. The gas mileage at an EPA estimated 44 city and 40 highway was underwhelming in comparison to the standard Prius benchmark of 50 mpg.

And while it does offer more space, I have a lot of respect for the utility and cargo carrying capacity you can create with the standard Prius. I remember thinking at the time, which would I rather own, for most situations? The 50 MPG "regular" Prius, and maybe occasionally have to use a cargo box or hitch to carry more items on a long trip? OR the 44 city, 40 highway Prius v, and to me the answer was pretty clear...Regular Prius.

So anyway, in retrospect, I'm not sure The Prius v wasn't somewhat doomed from inception.
Also not convinced those buying a Hybrid Rav 4 would be considering a Prius v otherwise.

The Rav 4 benefits from NOT being a Prius and not holding direct comparisons to it's own moniker named brethren.
To me, the Hybrid Rav 4 is appealing because it allows you to drive a SUV styled and sized vehicle, and get gas mileage equivalent or better than my sub-compact Honda Fit.

Not to knock the Prius v too much. I know some owners love it. But I was always a little skeptical that it would gain a strong audience.

 

When my son went from hos 2005 Prius to his 2015 Prius v he was hoping to maintain the same economy a his old car, but with more cargo space.