2013 Toyota Prius v consumer reviews

This is our 2nd Prius - we still own the first - a 2004. This replaced a 2002 Lexus RX 300. The "v" is a crossover type Prius. It's combo mpg is 42. I do better than the advertised mpg on the freeway, but lower in the city (mainly b/c we live in the foothills). We wanted a car with cargo room, but that still got great mpg. My Lexus had 75 cf of cargo room with the backseats down - this car has 67 cf. BUT, it gets about 20 mpg better. The seats are a big improvement from 2004 - but still don't come close to the quality of the Lexus' seats. I'm not crazy about the console styling - but it's not a reason not to buy the car. Our biggest complaint is the solar powered sunroof that's offered in the regular Prius is NOT an option for this Prius v. :-( The only option offered is a NON-opening moon roof. Why? I can't rate any of the Entune features - basically computer access via the car - because they require a cell phone and although I worked in Info. Tech. for 40 years I don't have one. :-)

The Prius V has been the most entertaining car I've ever owned. It can be used daily as an appliance, drive it and fuggedaboudit; or it can be used a drivers car. Instead of wringing every rpm out of the motor, a driver can instead wring every volt of power out of the battery. "Hypermiling" is the phrase coined to describe this, and it is a hoot. A light foot rewards you with battery power "Electric Vehicle only" mode (EV) up to 40-45 mph, but the electric motor is not strong, so the driver is always kept busy setting up hills and corners to be taken at speed, without bleeding off too much energy. For braking you have a genuine truckers "jake brake" on the shifter "engine braking" which you can shift in and out of at will, only this jake brake slows the car while also recharging the battery. I liken hypermiling to playing a video game, you have the motor's feedback on the dash (plus a slew of other driver information screens on the nav/audio screen) plus the overall computer in your head to get the car up to speed and keep it there over hill and dale while maintaining the most economical feedback from the instruments; but the ultimate reward for winning this game is not some meaningless number on a video screen, it is the REAL dollars savings you enjoy at the gas pump! PS, runs just fine on regular 87 octane and i've averaged 45mpg on the first two tankfuls. Other aspects of the car: Interior, surprisingly large for a small car. Rear cargo and cargo with the seats folded down is very close in sq to the FJ cruiser it replaced. Seats are firm, more firm than a 1998 MB E320 and a 2008 Toyota Avalon. The seats have been more comfortable for a 10 hour road trip than $800 option "sport seats" in a previously owned 2007 Porsche 997. My wife prefers the wider seats of our 2012 Toyota Tundra, but only because she likes to keep her pocketbook in the seat beside her. Comfort: frim ride, road bumps are well controlled and muted, but not as bone rattling or jarring as either Z06 or Z16 corvettes I own, nor as smooth as the Tundra. (my wife calls the Tundra on the interstate our "first class" travel.) Interior noise: MUCH quieter than the two Corvettes, some motor noise at interstate speeds but not objectionable. Not much wind noise at speed. Handling, Safe, predictable, and perfect at all legal highway speeds. Plenty of granny controls (anti skid, handling, tire pressure monitoring) to keep you out of trouble. Speed: I've only rated this average, but then my personal frame of reference includes a 505hp motor. However, the PV has a 3 button performance option: EV, Economy and Power. In the POWER mode both the electric motor and gas motor are switched on, and when you do so, acceleration is totally adequate for fast merges from the interstate on-ramps. You can switch in and out of modes at the push of the buttons. Heater works well in the current winter conditions, but it bugs me that the AC light switches on when I press the Auto climate control button on, so i have to manually push the ac button off. Fit and Finish, Ichi-ban (No. 1) Perfect; exceeds both the Corvettes, and the previously owned US-built Avalon and current US-built Tundra. Little nits to pick: The mirror is not day/night auto adjusting and no compass. Really? an old-timey manual-flip mirror on a $28K car? No hydraulic/automatic hood struts. The air deflector over the rear window is useless, dust quickly adheres to the rear window. Please lose the outside rear roof Sat/nav antenna Rear view camera - why put guide lines on the camera to show where the rear bumper is on the screen, only on the more expensived-option car? Isn't this a safety issuer? Same issue for the fog lights: why only available on the most expensive-optioned car, but not available AT ALL on the lower priced models? In night driving the high beams are nice and bright, but those low beams are so low it looks like Toyota was aiming to shine them down a mine, not down the road! One of the tow-bolt covers on the front bumper just popped off while on a car trip (Assume it will be covered under warranty) Lastly, dust is too easily sucked into the door sills. It dosen't get past the rubber seals of course, but after going through the car wash to get the salt off, the car looks nice and clean...until you open the doors and see the ugly black dirt spots on the sills. These are minor nits on a car with which I am very impressed!

I got the Prius V five model. The car comes equipped with leatherette making it easier to keep it clean if you have children. I have back problems and was concerned that the car might be uncomfortable, but I have been pleasantly surprised by the seat comfort, lumbar support, and the heated seats. The technology in the prius family of cars is excellent. I can listen to iheart radio, sirius, and pandora. The car is also equipped with navigation and a back up camera. Additional technology enables the driver to search for the cheapest gas, track selected stocks, purchase movie tickets, and make restaurant reservations. These are a few of the perks with this car. I have not spent more than $28 to fill up the gas tank and I get approximately 430 miles per fillup. All in all, the techonology, ride, and styling of this car is great. The designers event went so far as to include card holders and a cup holder in front of the vent which should come in handy during the summer. I love this car.

This car is quiet yet rides like a sports car. We wanted a car that would be large enough for a big guy 6 foot 8 inches tall to drive. There is plenty of head and knee room and so far we are pleased with our new car.

My Prius V is a great car for the value. It looks good, feels great, has a smooth ride, great steering and handling, and using eco mode, I am getting 67.2 MPG city driving. Wow you cannot beat that. The keyless entry takes an old foggie like me a little time to adjust to, but I love it. It is roomy and seats 5 adults comfortably. So far I only have 200 miles on it, but I know I made the right choise. I wanted fuel efficiency and eco-friendly emissions, reliability, comfort, and value for the buck. I like the backup camera and the fuel efficiency history on the navigation screen too. I still have to try Bing, Panorama and the other apps that came with it, but I think I will enjoy all the apps available. I feel I got more than everything I wanted with this vehicle. I know I made the right choise.

This is my first Hybrid. I love it. I have owned at least 10 new cars, and I can truly say I am completely satisfied with this purchase. I decided on a Toyota PriusV Hybrid for the promised 40MPG and storage area. I've had it for at least 1 month and I can go 10-12 days without filling up. When I do go to the gas station, it costs about 36.00 dollars. So I've spent about 100.00 compared to 264.00 (old car). The storage space is enough to accommodate my grocery and household shopping without having to go home and unloading. The ride is comfortable and my family has adjusted to a smaller car compared to a Honda Odyssey Van. I get no complaints. We are a happy family.

I love my prius v. I ordered the advanced tech package because it comes with the radar cruise,which is amazing to me. The car easly replaces our 07 camry hy,has the room of our rav-4, and nearly the milage of a prius. Hence 3 in 1