The Prius name has been around since the very first Prius sedan back in 1999, but for quite a while Toyota's flagship hybrid was a single-model range.

The Prius C subcompact and Prius V changed that, and we've put together a guide on the latter to help you make the right decision when choosing your next vehicle.

With a large, spacious body the Toyota Prius V opens up the familiar hybrid range to customers who might not have considered a Prius before--reducing fuel bills and pollution, while enjoying traditional Prius virtues like a smooth powertrain and great reliability.

 

What is the Prius V?

Much of the Prius V is little different to the regular Prius we know and love.

Under the hood there's a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder, Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine, paired with an electric motor through a planetary gearseat, which Toyota terms e-CVT. As the name suggests, it acts just like a continuously-variable transmission, but it can also choose between gasoline or electric propulsion--or both--depending on driving conditions.

The EPA rates the Prius V wagon at 42 mpg combined, 8 mpg less than the normal Prius. City mileage is a competitive 44 mpg, and it'll do 40 mpg on the highway.

Pricing starts from $27,575, including Toyota's compulsory $825 destination fee.

 

Driving the Prius V

It's fair to say that the Prius V drives pretty much like you'd expect a larger Prius to drive. If you'd like a little more detail than that summary though, you'd be best to check out our full review of the 2014 Toyota Prius V, or check out some of the links below.

For something a little different, you can also read our review of the Toyota Prius+. That's what they call the Prius V in Europe, but over there it also gets two more seats and a few tweaks to the battery. Is it any good? Head over to the article to find out.

 

Buying the Prius V

Interested in buying a Prius V? You'll be joining plenty of others then, as Prius V sales have helped the Prius range soar to new sales heights. You might be interested in our comparison with the Mazda5 too, which isn't as economical, but offers an extra seat in its three-row interior. Need more info? There's plenty below.

 

2014 Toyota Prius V

2014 Toyota Prius V

Pre-launch information

We knew the Prius V was coming for quite a while before it actually arrived, so there was plenty of pre-launch speculation. You can read the pre-launch info by clicking on some of the links below.


Offbeat, social media and further details
Any information not contained in the sections above can be found here.

For further information on the Prius line, check our our ultimate guides to the regular Toyota Prius Hybrid, and the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid. We now also have a full guide to the Toyota Prius C subcompact.

You can read a full review of the 2014 Toyota Prius V at The Car Connection.

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