#PriusV

Okay, the “V” stood for “versatility,” but the largest Toyota Prius family member’s obvious usefulness hasn’t earned it a lasting place in the American automotive landscape.

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Toyota is considering shrinking the Prius family. 

Safety should be an important consideration for anyone buying a new car, but it’s probably your top priority with a family to haul around.

Toyota’s Prius has become the go-to vehicle for people looking to save money at the gas pump. Sure, it looks like an alien science project gone wrong and its driving dynamics are less fun than a trip to the ER, but this car’s groundbreaking combination of high technology, phenomenal fuel economy and unimpeachable reliability have made it a perennial favorite.

The Prius V joined the expanding Prius lineup in 2011 as a 2012 model. For the North American market the “V” is basically a wagon version of the regular Prius. In other markets the Prius V is sold as a three-row multi-person vehicle, which means all versions worldwide include second row seating set on adjustable rails. This cargo flexibility combined with 50 percent more interior volume compared to the regular Prius gives the Prius V a sizable utility advantage.

Power for the Prius V comes from the same 1.8-liter Atkinson cycle four-engine gasoline engine paired to an electric motor as found in the regular Prius. Total system power is rated at 134 hp which is adequate for the 3,274 lbs. hybrid wagon. Since its introduction in 2011, not much has changed for the Prius V other than minor shuffling of the features available in each trim package.

Shop Used Car Classifieds: Used Toyota Prius V for Sale

Whether they come in the form of a subcompact hatchback or a full-sized pickup, hybrids are some of the most technically advanced vehicles on the road today. Blending the best of internal combustion and electric propulsion these cars and trucks can save drivers major dollars at the filling station thanks to their Star Wars-grade technology that’s advanced enough to make Han Solo jealous. “Traveling through hyperspace ain’t like dusting crops, boy!”

Toyota’s Prius hybrid is the target of a new class action lawsuit alleging that the automaker misrepresented its pre-collision warning system in the Prius V. 

Over 60 percent of the hybrids on the road in California sport a Toyota emblem, the Japanese automaker has revealed.

According to a new study from a social analytics company, the Toyota Prius was the most talked about hybrid vehicle online.

Coming off record sales last year in the U.S., the Prius family might not reach its 2013 target and the blame, says Toyota, lies squarely with dropping fuel prices

Toyota was proud to announce that it had reached global sales of 4.6-million hybrid vehicles, with 1.02-million hybrids sold this year alone up to October 31, 2012.

Toyota and The Audubon Society want to encourage drivers to take the scenic route this summer. Its “Exit the Highway” campaign highlights scenic drives to natural attractions in over 60 cities and offers the chance to win a free Prius V.