Loving the 2011 Prius3 i-tech so much that thought it would be worth looking at a prius v to replace our Kia Cranival (Grand Sedona in US speak). Now the Kia is a brilliant car for a family of 3 young kids and a dog, but now the kids are 6/4/4 and the dog has stopped eating interior parts, we no longer double buggy space and a place for the dog cage. The gas consumption on the Kia is horrific, we don't need the 3.8 v6 and there's no other petrol engine options over here. So I thought the v might be an excellent downsize, giving us everything the v does but with a bit more space and the facility to carry extra kids when the need arises (which is rare). So I went to the stealer and looked at a 2012 v with 6k miles in silver with fabric. It was the base model (up spec s-tech and i-tech are rare here). First up the exterior, didn't like it but didn't hate it, but silver isn't my colour so will hold off final judgement until I see one in another colour. The front and looks better than the Prius3, but the back end looks worse. Ground clearance, which is a bugbear on the Prius3 looks to be higher on the v. I like the 3 seat 2nd row option. very practical and means no argument over who sits in the middle. 2nd row seat width wasn't great but will take our 3 car seats ( they fit in the prius3 with a little space left over). 3rd row seats are OK, but I did expect slightly more legroom. Up front was where it all went downhill. I like the flying buttress style centre console of the P3 and the main dash readout. The v dash and centre console felt like a poor cousin - too much information in too little space. Yes I get that the battery is in the centre console but I think they could have done a better job tying the dash and console together, and why didn't they fit the P3 dashboard in there instead of the squarer smaller one they put in. My absolute huge problem with the v is the indicator stalk/ On every Toyota I've been in the indicator is on the right, but for some reason on the v they've put it on the left. Every time I went to indicate I wiped the windscreen. Why why why - that one thing killed it for me. I'm going to have a look at another one because it make so much sense financially to swap out the Kia for a v, and maybe with lower expectations this time I'll come to a different view. So my question: does anyone know if the indicator stalk can be swapped over, say by using prius3 parts instead?
Sounds like the turn indicators and lights are on the left like they do in all our USA cars (and probably all left hand drive cars). I found the display unusual at first but now find that it works well.
Interesting that you like the flying bridge. Most folks seem to hate them, and praise the v design more. When we were trying to decide between the v and the HB, we did not like the flying bridge design at all in test drives. Salesmen said they get that a lot. But to each their own. I'm guessing you'd get used to the v pretty quickly.
Yep on RHD the indicator stalk is on different sides in the v (lowercase v) compared to HB. I'm used to this as we have a Renault, but when you're in the Renault you know it's a different car and you adapt. Having 2 cars so similar as vand HB, it's going to be problematic If the stalk is on the left in the LHD HB then maybe I can shift the HB stalk to the left Im a fan of the flying bridge, but it would be nice to have a knee rest pad on it. Fully understand some would hate it Link to the one I looked at Toyota Prius v Hybrid 7 Seater Platinum Wa... 2012 | Trade Me
On the RHD UK Prius Plus, the indicator stalk is on the left of the steering column, same as the Gen3 and Gen2 hatchbacks. Maybe you can fit a stalk assembly from another Toyota
Thanks for that. So looks like the easiest way would be get get a set of UK stalk for the HB and convert that. Over here all the Toyotas have indicator on the right - well all except the Prius v, lowercase v. Mum's going to be looking at a Prius c - will be interesting to see what side that's on.
