The wife and I are getting ready to replace our '08 Prius with a new Prius v Five. Was in the middle of email back-and-forth negotiation with the dealer over a hypothetical 2016 Five w/ATP in gray w/black (hypothetical because we haven't found one with that specific configuration yet) When I suddenly notice that toyota.com is now showing the Prius v as a 2017 model. Must have just changed yesterday because the day before it was a 2016. Same price, same everything except Clear Sky Metallic is out, replaced by "Galactic Aqua Mica". Oh and the 2017 has Siri Eyes Free. Those are the only changes I can find, scrutinizing the PDF brochures. Anyone know any more about this? Other differences? A sense of how long before the majority in dealer inventories will be 2017s? -Tim
If those are the only changes, it would tend to confirm the stories that Toyota is not going to be investing in future improvements to the v line. One would expect that some of the electronic safety systems should change as they are required for the highest safety ratings in '17 IIRC.
My guess is that the early deployment of the 2017 v is an attempt to increase sales before the v is discontinued in line with previous reports in the automotive press.
I noticed the 2017 Prius v has a slightly reduced estimated mpg. 2017 = 43/39; 2016 = 44/40. I hope Toyota does not discontinue the v. My 2013 has been a perfect vehicle for my needs, except for the terrible nav system.
Do you have the latest maps and the latest app. I found that made enough of a difference I no longer need to use my portable GPS. I'd like to have the display in front of me as on some of the Porsche and Audi models I've seen. Looking over and down drags my eyes dangerously away from where I should be looking.
Had fun reading the 2017 Prius v brochure. Like the auto folding side view mirrors. Miss gen 4 improvements. I found this at the very end before disclaimers; "CARS BUILT FOR THE WAY YOU LIVE At Toyota, we build cars for how you live. From building advanced safety features designed to help prevent crashes to driving cross-country to understand how we can make your driving experience better, our work starts with understanding your needs. Building cars for how you live also means thinking about tomorrow—from fuel efficiency and environmental innovations, to things beyond cars, like a bicycle that you can control with your mind. And because what we learn building cars can help improve lives in other places, we do things like help communities rebuild their homes quickly after a disaster and work with soup kitchens to help them serve more people faster. Toyota. Built for how you live. Together we are going places." It got really weird for me in the middle because when I think about tomorrow and things beyond cars I'm thinking jet pack. Also, doesn't your brain control your bicycle via balance. Think right turn .. CRASH? How does building cars teach you to rebuild homes and work with (not in) soup kitchens. I envision some modern times assembly line shenanigans.
Like what? It already offers DRCC, PCS, LDA and auto high beams. Granted, it may not be the TSS-P's set but that may be to keep costs down and to offer something new for 2018. New 2017 EPA ratings.
A trivial change mathematically/financially. A major drop psychologically for potential buyers of the 2017 Prius v at 39 mpg for the highway rating. My other car, a Corolla Eco, is rated at 42 highway. I didn't do the research but there are probably a dozen non-hybrids doing better than 39 highway. The Prius v won't be around for 2018, in my opinion.
I know but eventually they'll all be updated with the new testing (although I noticed the 2016 Camry didn't update their mpg ratings). A Corolla is a tad smaller than the Prius v. Yes the new Corolla has a spacious backseat but I think the v wins the crown for transporting people. I hope the new v is much more competitive. Recall that it came out in 2012 (the current gen Corolla came out in 2014).
You are correct about station wagons not getting 39 mpg. What I've found after owning a Prius v and a Corolla for nearly 3 years, the Prius v station wagon does not add much utility. The interior room is the same for the v and the Corolla. I've loaded both with 5 passengers and luggage and it's a tie and the highway mileage is about the same. The Prius does do much better in the city. I did find the latest sales numbers for the Prius v. The sales for April 2016 were 1322, down 46% from last year. Looks like the Prius v is a sales fail.
I often have room for one passenger, and my cargo. And to be honest I have delicate cargo in the passenger seat. I can get multiple ladders in a v. I can get 2 weeks of luggage in a v. I can get all the gear I need to run my business in a v. it was much tighter in a Liftback. Looking at reviews, 67 cubic feet of cargo versus 13 for the Corolla. 96 ten inch cheesecakes does not obstruct your vision It was tight fitting the ladders in the Liftback Prius. I hated having the dirty end towards the seats, but that is the way the roof sloped.
"...interior room same as a Corolla..." That's a bit difficult to believe. The luggage capacity of the v is outstanding. Even driver head and shoulder room seem larger in a v. Yet discontinued or not...we chose a v because there are few station wagon choices...and we rule out the German brands. Cadillac v would be nice but 15 mpg is a little harsh.
Show me a car with the utility of the v, the MPG in actual numbers, the typical maintenance costs and the price. Can you fit a 6 foot Xmas tree in a Corolla? Or my typical Costco run of $400+? Or even tomorrows recycling run? Don't know why the EPA highway figures are now so low, my last tank included 2 trips at 70 miles per hour on cruise most of the way with A/C auto to 50 miles away with two people and a full trunk. 41.9 MPG.
Hmm, I couldn't transfer a full size Coleman hardcase cooler from the Prius to the Corolla (2014) because it trunk opening wasn't large enough. The trunk could hold the cooler of course so I ended up putting it sideways and prayed the melted water didn't leak out (placed cases of water against the lid to prevent the lid from opening). It was not an elegant solution, especially since the cooler could fit upright in the Prius. Also, I've carried adult mountain bikes at the back with the hatch closed and without removing the front wheels in the Prius. This is the shorter Prius Liftback and not the larger Prius v with an extra 6" of length. I can see the mileage being the same with a full load since they both have about the same power but the Prius v is a bit heavier and will strain a bit more but I disagree about the utility being the same.
Seems like all major corporations have been taken over by activists lately. Toyota's main raison d'etre is now soup kitchens...
