Toyota Prius V 2012 Review
Toyota lands Australia's first seven-seat hybrid as third member of Prius family arrivesLocal Launch
Sydney, New South Wales
>> Clever seven-seat packaging in a compact MPV
>> Keen pricing
Not so much?
>> Disconcerting CVT whine
>> Key convenience features missing?
>> Dull handling doesn’t match refinement strides?
?
Think of the Prius v as the hybrid for families who’ve outgrown their Prius hatch. Combining seven seats with the same tried-and-proven Hybrid Synergy Drive system offered in the five-seater Prius hatch, the ‘v’ – for ‘versatile’ – is Australia’s first petrol-electric people-mover, as well as the third member of Toyota’s expanding Prius model range.
As such, although it shares no body panels with either the compact Prius c or small Prius hatchbacks, the Prius v bears a remarkable family resemblance to both models and – unlike the Prius c, which shares its underpinnings with the Yaris light-car - rides on a stretched version of the existing Prius MkIII platform, which first became available in Australia in mid-2009.
The Prius c is also Toyota Australia’s fourth hybrid model, which includes the locally built Camry Hybrid, and will play a small but valuable role in boosting the Japanese giant’s hybrid vehicle sales locally, where hybrids have not attracted the same following as they have on a global scale.
Worldwide, Toyota this month notched up four million hybrid sales, aided in no small part by the regular Prius, which remains the globe’s top-selling hybrid. Locally, Toyota expects to sell only about 100 Prius v vehicles a month, as well as 600 or 700 examples of the Camry Hybrid a month, plus at least 1200 examples of the Prius c and about 1000 of its upgraded MY12 Prius hatch this year. At least 60 per cent of all Prius v buyers are forecast to be private – rather than business – customers.
PRICE AND EQUIPMENT?
Until it is bolstered by a flagship i-Tech version that will arrive by December priced around $45,000 - and bringing extras like leather trim, satellite-navigation and a sunroof - the single Prius v variant comes standard with a six-speaker sound system with 6.1-inch touch-screen and USB/Bluetooth connectivity, automatic air-conditioning, energy monitor, head-up display, keyless entry and starting, automatic headlights, LED daytime running lamps and cruise control.
The v also comes with 16-inch alloy wheels with plastic wheel covers (and a space-saver spare wheel), plus rear side sunshades, electric driver’s seat lumbar adjustment, rear side privacy glass, front/rear foglights and a reach/rake-adjustable steering wheel with Touch Tracer audio, climate and trip computer control.
MECHANICAL
As in previous Prius models, the 2ZR-FXE engine features twin overhead camshafts, intelligent variable valve timing (VVT-i) and cooled exhaust gas recirculation, plus an electric water pump, air-conditioning compressor and power-steering assistance. Instead of an alternator, a DC-DC converter supplies 12-volt power for vehicle ancillaries like lighting and sound, while the number one motor-generator replaces a conventional starter motor in another unique fuel-saving move. As with other Prius models, three selectable drive modes are available: EV, Eco and Performance.
However, the most family-oriented member of the Prius trio breaks new ground in terms of its petrol-electric drivetrain, which draws its power from a lithium-ion battery pack positioned under the centre console between the front seats, making it Australia’s first Toyota model to employ the latest Li-Ion battery technology.
Smaller and lighter but offering similar storage capacity to the older-school nickel-metal hydride batteries used in Prius hatch and Prius c, the v’s more advanced Li-Ion battery is claimed to have minimal impact on either passenger accommodation or cargo space. Indeed the V's capacity is claimed to rival many (compact) SUVs thanks to the ability to fold down both the rear and centre seats.
The bigger body comes at the expensive of weight and fuel efficiency, however, with a 1565kg kerb weight making the Prius v 135kg heavier than the regular Prius and bringing ADR 81/02 combined-cycle fuel consumption to 4.4 litres per 100km.
Although the Prius v sets a new efficiency benchmark for a vehicle of this size and capacity, it is 0.5L/100km thirstier than the Prius and Prius c, and also emits at least 10 grams of CO2 more per kilometre than either model, at 101g/km, which is enough to gain a five-star rating from the federal government’s Green Vehicle Guide . Weight distribution is 60/40 per cent front/rear and weight-saving measures include an aluminium bonnet, while economy is aided by low rolling resistance tyres and a relatively slippery aerodynamic drag coefficient of just 0.29Cd.
Toyota says a shorter (3.7:1) final drive ratio cancels out the extra weight of the Prius v body, with claimed 0-100km/h acceleration matching that of the Prius at around 11 seconds. The Prius v is covered by a fixed-price service campaign, with each scheduled service costing $130 for the first three years or 60,000km.
PACKAGING
Combined with an 80mm-longer (2780mm) wheelbase under a body that is 135mm longer at 4615mm in length, 30mm broader at 1775mm wide and 100mm taller at 1590mm high, the Prius v makes good use of its larger footprint by adding some 785mm of interior length.
Inside, there are three independently sliding, reclining and folding second-row seats and a 50/50-split folding third tier, behind which is 180 litres of cargo space (including a 41-litre under-floor compartment), expanding to 485 litres with the third row stowed. The middle-row outboard seats slide across 180mm, while the central seat slides across 165mm. All three can be reclined to 18 degrees, with the third row tilting to eight degrees.??
Toyota says there are 64 different seating configurations and that every seating position in the Prius v offers more space than in the regular Prius, with 1625mm between the front and middle seats, and 965mm between the middle and rear seats. It says the front seats can accommodate adults up to 190cm tall, with the second row good for 180cm people and the third row capable of seating 170cm occupants.
Compared to the standard Prius, the v offers 25mm front headroom extra (1006mm) and 23mm more second-row headroom (977mm), while the rear door openings are 1105mm wide (95mm wider than the Prius) and luggage space is 75mm longer at 985mm. Toyota says the v is 50mm wider than the Prius, in part due to its concave door trims, while knee room is partly increased by employing thinner seat backs.
Storage solutions include five cup-holders, 500ml bottle holders or A4-sized map holders in all four doors, two additional 500ml bottle holders in the rear interior trim, an 8.5-litre glovebox, 4.5-litre passenger-seat upper box and a 2.0-litre centre console box capable of holding eight CDs.
The Prius v tailgate opening is 95mm wider than the Prius’ at 1105mm and with a load floor length of more than a metre with the third row stowed there is space for four golf bags. Fold the second row and that extends to 1.65 metres, while the cargo area is also fitted with a luggage cover and 12-volt power outlet.
Other safety-related equipment includes a clever head-up display, automatic headlights, LED daytime running lamps and LED tail-lights with emergency stop light signalling. There is an impact-absorbing pedestrian-friendly bonnet and seatbelt warning sensors for all seating positions, while the v also gains larger front brakes with increased pedal pressure.
Toyota says the Prius v bodyshell’s torsional rigidity has increased by 18 per cent compared to the standard Prius, through the use of more high-strength steels. It expects the Prius v to achieve a maximum five-star independent safety rating.
Its most obvious rivals are other compact seven-seat passenger cars like Kia’s Rondo 7 (from $25,990), the diesel-only Citroen C4 Picasso (from $39,990 drive-away) and Volkswagen’s Caddy Maxi Life (also from $39,990, plus ORCs), while Proton will soon join the compact people-mover segment with its first fully in-house model, the Exora.??However, Toyota believes the Prius v will also attract buyers of mid-size sedans and wagons like the Citroen C5 and Peugeot 508, as well as compact SUVs like the Skoda Yeti, Mitsubishi ASX and Hyundai ix35, and even commercial van buyers.
ON THE ROAD?
In fact, without even trying, we averaged fuel consumption of just 4.1L/100km over the 150km-odd launch drive from central Sydney to the NSW southern highlands and back, which is outstanding for any vehicle this size and even undercuts the official combined figure of 4.4L/100km despite a good mix of city, highway and rural road use.
Yes, as in Toyota’s other two Prius models, the continuously variable transmission still sounds like a slipping clutch and remains the most disconcerting aspect of Toyota’s unique hybrid driving experience. Without the aid of a faux-manual mode, it is still the Achilles Heel of all Prius models, because the Prius v offers reasonably spirited electrically assisted performance during heavy throttle applications, even if it’s still accompanied by overwhelming protest from the 1.8-litre petrol four.
Of course, the v offers all of the regular Prius’ now-familiar party tricks, like the ability to zip off the line – and for up to 2km anytime in EV mode, depending on the battery’s state of charge - in glorious silence, at least until the petrol engine fires into life with a noticeable transition to conventional IC engine power.
Indeed, what surprised us most was the drastic reduction in cabin noise in the Prius v, which seems far quieter than either of its hatchback namesakes, thanks to close attention to a number of wind and road noise suppression measures. The V-shaped centre stack might be the biggest change inside, but anyone who has driven a Prius hatch will be more surprised by the bigger model’s new-found serenity.
Combined with far more soft-touch surfaces than in either Prius hatch model, the v is a much more pleasant place to be, and the high ‘command’ driving position is likely to appeal to many people-mover buyers that have drifted into SUVs.
Of course, the reason for the v-Prius’ being is its seven-seat capacity and although its third row is not nearly as commodious as that in the Avensis or Tarago, the rearmost pew does offer more space than in, say, a Dualis +2 or Kia Rondo. That’s not saying much, however, with limited head, leg and foot room making the back two seats a decidedly kids-only zone.
There are more unforgivable oversights, however, including rear air-conditioning outlets, a one-touch indicator function and anything but a foot-operated parking brake.
The Prius-based v was never going to set new dynamic benchmarks in any class, but surprised with a well-sorted ride/handling package that is commensurate with the seven-seater’s position at the top of the Prius tree.
Price is perhaps the greatest ace up its sleeve, however, with $35,990 being a whole $5000 less than the five-seat Prius pricetag was not long ago, representing outstanding value for money for any vehicle with this much space, refinement and equipment – let alone a hybrid that’s this efficient.
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