What Gen is 2017 Prius V?

Welcome. The Prius v is the same engine/battery/drive train as the regular Gen 3 Prius. I think the gearing is a little lower on the v, though, to help it accelerate better with all the extra weight. It not only has the same HG, EGR, and piston ring issues, the hybrid battery fan is more prone to getting dirty than the one on the regular Gen 3 due to the v having the air intake right down on the floor under the front rear seat, rather than next to the right rear seat back.

 

The v has it's battery cooling intake under and nearly behind the passenger side on the rear seat, not under the front seat.

Every car model has its own issues in the earlier part of the production run.

Early Gen 4 Prius models have leaking exhaust pre-heaters that result in loss of engine coolant.

Even if it is covered by the 80k mile 96 months EPA or 150k 180 month C.A.R.B. warranty, the replacement cannot even be backordered.

If out of warranty, you are out of around $2,500 or more.

 

The v wagon had a refresh in 2015 but remained a gen3 through 2017 in the US. It survived another year in other countries where it was more desirable than Mercedes or BMWs as taxis. The improved load capacity required a higher numerical final drive ratio, reducing mpg to 42 combined. Higher capacity and reliable ac (electric variable capacity) is a plus. Pitch and bounce control and 16" standard tires improved the ride. These factors sold the taxi operators.

The 2017 v wagon is gen3 but benefits from the mid 2014 redesign of the pistons and piston rings. While not conclusive (yet), we don't hear about head gaskets every day on the 2015-17 gen3 v's like we do on the 2010-14 Prii. Many Priuschat pundits seem to disregard this data. Head gasket problems used to appear after 150,000 when the 2010-14s were young; these days 100,000 hg failures are more frequent with the first four years. This points to age and Toyota recommended 10,000 mile oil changes as a factor.

No doubt the 2017 v egr will build up carbon as will the flawed intakes. But it is not a given that a restricted or clogged egr causes hg issues; it is a fact the early pistons after 100,000 often dump excessive oil through the early models. This was acknowledged by Toyota when they offered free piston and ring upgrades under the powertrain warranty. Unfortunately few 2010-14 Prii were burning oil prior to 60,000 miles; even fewer took advantage of the program.

Finally heat, high speed driving and long Ready state idles with the ac are not ideal with gen3s. Frequent 5,000 mile 0w20 oil changes help. I have driven my v 260,000 miles. Don't buy a 175,000 mile or higher model. You can easily incur $10,000 worth of brake boosters, engines, inverters and batteries. Of all the major gen3 flaws, the inverters are still covered with a 15 year unlimited mile warranty. By 2017 the inverter may have been updated at the factory.

 

I would buy a 15k mile 2017v if they did not want $5,000 more than I paid new back in 2012.

Change your oil with quality full synthetic every 5k miles. Everytime the maintenance light comes on.

Do not let it sit for more than three days at a time. The high voltage battery needs some cycling. I would be slightly concerned a 15k 5 year old car has sat unused too much. However you should have a ten year 100,000 mile hv battery warranty.

Plan on changing your tires within a year or two. Tires age out even if the tread is great.

I would consider keeping it for two or three years and then trade up. Right now the best Toyota Hybrid with room is the Rav4 Prime. 40 miles full ev, 302 hp and full hybrid long distance touring. Around town you might not need to buy gas. However they have been very hard to get since they were introduced. Even before this year's shortages. Two or three years from now, affordable Rav4 Primes and a slew of competitors should be available.

 

Geez I don't want to be dogging you all day, but 3 days seems a bit much. To maintain the hybrid battery? I could see that for the 12 volt, and keep our "garage queen" hooked up to 12 volt smart charger pretty much round the clock. But I think the hybrid battery is much more stable, able to weather a month or more hiatus.

We do get out-and-about, once a week at the most, and they're usually longer drives. So far no problems, a 2010 with about 60K miles.

 

My 2012 has only 27.5k miles on it and is over 10 years old. No issues.

I hope the OP's car lived in the South or West out of the rust belt.

 

Oops! Good catch. It is under the rear seat, not the front. Still down on the floor though. And not having it down low dies not guarantee a clean battery fan either. I have seen some real nasty hairballs in regular Gen 2 and Gen 3 Prii.

I would not be afraid. Just take @rjparker's good advice about not getting a high mileage one that may not have been well maintained and also not an old one that's from before the engine improvements. The v is a nice car; I just wanted to point out that it is Gen 3 technology so don't expect it to have the updates of a Gen 4.