With the Toyota Prius topping the hybrid sales charts for the past decade, it should come as no surprise that Toyota announced the Prius range will expand. This has now been done in 2 different capacities with the 2012 Prius V which was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in January, and the smaller city car: the Prius c. When you think hybrid, we immediately think of the Prius, so why not offer a few different models catering to a broader range of car buyers. The “V” in Prius V stands for “Versatility” as this model is larger with more passenger and cargo room then the regular model.

In terms of style, the familiar wedge shape is evident and the Prius V just looks like a Prius on steroids. But upon further inspection we see the roof line is slightly higher, but the overall aerodynamics remain the same, and especially the teardrop shape is maintained. The rear end is larger and this should come as no surprise since the purpose of the V is to make the car more convenient, so with more interior space. The overall design is very Japanese, especially with clear lens LED lights.

When you open the door, you can appreciate how easy it is to enter the vehicle. The seats are quite high, so it is easy to enter and exit the vehicle. The instrument pod in the center is hit or miss depending on your tastes. The controls are simple and easy to access with a beautiful presentation. The dashboard is furnished with many textures from hard plastic to soft faux leather. The rear seats offer plenty of clearance and the fact that they are on a slider means the cargo area volume can change based on your needs. Of course the seat fold flat giving you 67 cubic feet of cargo area. Toyota has said that you can put an eight-foot kayak, four golf bags, two bikes, two rickshaws, in the vehicle but of course not all at the same time!

Toyota did not just inflate the old model to make the Prius V; instead several changes have been made. The suspension got a drastic upgrade. A new system allows the control of movements which reduces bumps and absorbs imperfections when driving on bad pavement.

For the engine, the 1.8-liter four-cylinder is the same as on the regular model. The 138 horsepower comes via the engine and the electric motors. You can feel the added weight though. For normal everyday driving, the engine delivers. On the rare occasions where you will have the whole family and assorted luggage packed in you will notice more lag. Of course this vehicle is designed to be fuel efficient and the Prius V manages a great fuel economy rating of 44 MPG in the city and 40 MPG on the highway. The reduced figures compared to the 50 MPG regular Prius are due to the increased curb weight for the most part.

Toyota has come up with a product that has its millions of followers and the Prius V model will appeal to those looking for a more spacious hybrid car. The car may be a bit underpowered but it’s hard to argue with such great fuel economy figures. The 2012 Toyota Prius has a base price of $26,550.

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•  License: Creative Commons image source
•  License: Creative Commons image source
•  License: Creative Commons image source

The Prius has been one of the best selling cars in the world for the past decade. And with that success Toyota looks to cash in on a wide range of car shoppers. See more great cars at my website.