2015 Toyota Prius V Five Wagon Review

2015 Toyota Prius v Five Wagon Review

Pros

Massive Cargo Space

Comfortable Front Seats

Good Value for Money

Cons

Torsion Beam Rear Suspension

Too many buttons in the Interior

So-so Steering Wheel feedback

80

The Toyota Prius is the most successful Hybrid car in the United States and around the world. It doesn’t matter where you go, because sooner or later, you will spot a Prius. Based on the success of the standard Prius, Toyota, in the last few years, has added new members into the Prius family and among these is the Toyota Prius v Five Wagon. The Prius v wagon was launched in America in late 2013 as a 2014 model, and for 2015, Toyota has done some minor nip-tucking to the front and rear fascias of the Prius v.

What’s New For 2015

2015 Toyota Prius v Wagon Options

Interior Features

Engine and Fuel Mileage Specifications

Driving Dynamics

Conclusion

2015 Toyota Prius v Wagon Photo Gallery

What’s New For 2015

The model we’re driving is the top-of-the-line, 2015 Toyota Prius v Five Wagon. This car, err... I mean wagon, has a lot of features available as standard. Aside from the new headlights, grille, hood, clear-lens taillights, front and rear bumpers, the Prius v has not changed much from 2014.

2015 Toyota Prius v Wagon Options

Since this is the top-of-the-range model, there aren’t many features that are optional, but once you select the Advanced Technology Package for $3,335.00, you get the following features on top of everything else standard in the Toyota Prius v Five Wagon.

Some of these additional features include Entune Premium JBL Audio with navigation, dynamic radar cruise control (DRCC), Pre-collision System (PCS), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), Auto high beam (AHB), panoramic view moon roof with power sliding sunshades. Safety Connect with emergency assistance, stolen vehicle locator, roadside assistance, and automatic collision notification are all available through a subscription, which is included for one year.

The starting MSRP for the 2015 Toyota Prius v Five wagon is $30,935 and when you add in the only available package mentioned above, the out of the door price for a fully-loaded model is $35, 490, which includes destination but does not include tax, title, and registration.

At this price point, a fully-loaded 2015 Toyota Prius v Five wagon is a good value for money.

2015 Toyota Prius v Dashboard

Interior Features

If you love standard features inside your car, then the Prius v Five wagon is for you. When you step inside, you are welcomed into a cabin filled with buttons, which for some can be really confusing and may take a while getting used to – believe me when I say it.

The list of standard interior features is long so I am going to list just some of them to give you an idea of what you are getting as standard for $30,935.

– Entune multimedia bundle– Entune Premium Audio with Navigation– HD radio– Integrated back up camera– SofTex-trimmed heated front seats– 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar– 4-way adjustable fold-flat front passenger seat– 60/40 split and reclining rear seats– Cruise control– 4.2-inch multi-information display with odometer, clock, climate control settings, fuel economy, and history indicator.

2015 Toyota Prius v Engine

Engine and Fuel Mileage Specifications

Regardless of what trim level you choose, all 2015 Toyota Prius v wagons come standard with a 1.8-liter aluminum DOHC, 16-valve four-cylinder motor, and a battery pack. When combined, it generates 100 kilowatts or 134 horsepower. The 1.8 L motor alone in the Prius V generates 98 horsepower @ 5200 RPM and 105 lb.ft. of torque @ 4000 RPM with a compression ratio of 13.0:1.

Aiding this gasoline motor is a permanent magnet electric motor, which generates 80 horsepower and 153 lb.ft. of torque. Connecting these two power plants in the Prius v is a sealed nickel-metal traction battery, which generates 36 horsepower max.

All of the power from these three sources are channeled to the front wheels via an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission.

Since this a hybrid, the fuel efficiency of the 2015 Toyota Prius v Five Wagon is very high. The EPA rates the Prius v at 44/40 city/highway and 42 combined. Its high fuel efficiency ratings rank it as an SULEV or Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle.

Even with the hybrid system taking the majority of the space in the car’s floor pan, there is still enough room in the car to fit a 11.9-gallon fuel tank, which can be filled up with regular unleaded gasoline, a positive bonus.

2015 Toyota Prius v Right Rear

Driving Dynamics

The 2015 Toyota Prius v Five wagon is a people mover, not a random hatchback. The vehicle is primarily designed to carry a lot of people over long distances while using the least amount of energy. The suspension up front consists of independent MacPherson struts with stabilizer bars. Out back, the suspension setup consists of a torsion beam and live axle instead of the more traditional, multi-link setup found in other passenger cars.

Compared to the standard Prius, the Prius v is much larger, but interestingly, the brakes in both models are exactly the same. On the front axle, the brakes are power-assisted ventilated disc units and at the back: solid discs with integrated regenerative braking via the Star Safety System.

The steering in the Prius v is an electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion, which reacts positively to every steering input but lacks the feel most people are used to. Of course, you will only notice the lack of feel in the steering wheel when you are pushing the car to its outer limits. Yet, while cruising on the highway or while trotting through city streets, this should not be an issue whatsoever as the Prius v provides a very comfortable, yet stable ride.

2015 Toyota Prius v Right Side Profile

Conclusion

Overall, the 2015 Toyota Prius v Five wagon is a very comfortable and roomy vehicle that offers superb fuel efficiency and a good vehicle to drive around town or down the highway. But, the major question is “does the Prius v belong in the Prius family?”

And the answer is an absolute “yes.”

This car is primarily designed for people who have a large family or haul a lot of materials but want to do all of this without harming the environment. This Prius v is a good alternate vehicle when compared to its compact SUV rivals.

I am personally not a huge hybrid fan in general but I am a real sucker for wagons and this car touched that particular string in my heart. However, if your next car has to be a Toyota SUV with a hybrid system, then you have the Highlander. But, a well-equipped Highlander can easily cross the $50,000 mark and this may turn off many of the value-oriented consumers.

Instead, if you want a people carrier that has room to haul five and their cargo over long distances while providing the driving dynamics of a car, then you should really put the 2015 Toyota Prius v Five wagon on top of your shopping list. At $30, 935, this car is a great value for your money and on top of that, think how much more you will save at the gas pump.

In the end, don’t judge the 2015 Toyota Prius v Five wagon by its cover like I did. I am not a huge Prius or any hybrid fan, but after driving the car, I was truly surprised with all the things it had to offer.

2015 Toyota Prius v Wagon Photo Gallery

2015 Toyota Prius v Rear Cargo Space

2015 Toyota Prius v Engine

2015 Toyota Prius v Right Side Profile

2015 Toyota Prius v Rear Seats 2

2015 Toyota Prius v Family

2015 Toyota Prius v Rear Seats 1

2015 Toyota Prius v Left Front

2015 Toyota Prius v Dashboard

2015 Toyota Prius v rear right