Toyota 2014 Prius V

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It may share a name, most of its styling cues, and a powertrain with the more conventional hatchback model, but the 2014 Toyota Prius V wagon is longer, taller, and far larger inside than its Prius Liftback silving. Not only are their interiors entirely different, they don't even share any sheetmetal. Visually, the more vertical tailgate and taller, more slab-sided profile profile of the Prius V differentiate it from the standard Prius. The tailgate has just one window, not the split panes of the liftback model, which improves rear vision.

What the Prius V does share with all other Prius models is very high fuel efficiency. The EPA rates the 2014 Prius V wagon at 42 mpg combined. Now that the Ford C-Max Hybrid combined rating has been lowered to 43 mpg, the Prius V offers more space while returning essentially the same gas mileage--or perhaps slightly better, if real-world averages are to be believed.

The Prius V isn't a competitor for the large segment of compact crossovers, however, because it doesn't offer all-wheel drive. (Nor does the C-Max.) In many parts of the country, that's an essential requirement these days for a family vehicle.

For 2014, the Prius V receives only minor upgrades. All models now have daytime running lights, and Toyota now offers the panoramic moonroof as a stand-alone option on the mid-range Prius V Three trim level.

The standard Prius drivetrain carries over almost unchanged to the Prius wagon, which is a good 300 pounds heavier. But the 98-horsepower, 1.8-liter engine and pair of electric motor-generators seem more stressed in the bigger car, and the Prius V is both slower and more prone to engine howling when maximum power is demanded than the Liftback. We found it to struggle under heavy loads and on steep hills when filled with people and cargo.

Three drive modes can be selected instead of the default hybrid setting: Eco, for better fuel economy; Power, for those steep hills; and EV, for all-electric drive at low speeds. We found the Eco mode almost intolerably slow, and Power simply kept the hybrid wagon up with average traffic. The EV mode worked as promised, though, allowing all-but-silent travel for up to 1 mile.

But the payoff comes in interior volume. A sliding rear seat lets the rear cargo bay expand from 34.3 cubic feet to 40.2, and folding down the seat produces a substantial 67.3 cubic-foot load volume. Toyota is to be complemented for the wide 39-inch distance between wheel wells, meaning large boxy items can be accommodated with ease on the flat load floor.

Inside, the seating position is upright and higher than a conventional Prius. Toyota has dispensed with the "flying buttress" console and provided more accessible rays, cup holders, and cubbies for family oddments, along with a center arm rest topping a storage bin between the seats. Just below the base of the windshield is a display similar to that of the Prius hatchback: a somewhat random array of icons, diagrams, readings, and symbols in full color that's easily outshone by the handsome graphics of the C-Max's more conventional dashboard.

Safety is a strong point, with seven airbags and it's rated a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS, with the top rating of Good for front, side, and roof-crush tests, and rear crash protection--but only Poor on the new, tougher Small Overlap Front Crash test. The NHTSA gives it five stars overall, with five stars for side crash and four stars each for frontal crash and rollover safety.

The Prius V comes standard with fabric seats, a tilting/telescoping steering wheel, and automatic climate control. The standard rear seat slides fore and aft, reclines from 15 to 40 degrees, and has a 60/40 split folding back. Toyota has fitted a vinyl cover to shield the gap between the load floor and the folded seat back when the rear seat is in its forward position, but we still managed to drop more than one item into the abyss.

Toyota followed its Prius liftback system for trim levels, but left some out of the wagon--meaning that you can order Two, Three, or Five (but no One or Four). The base model starts below $29,000 (including delivery) and includes a rearview camera and keyless. Upgrade to the Three, and you get Bluetooth, audio, and climate controls on the steering wheel, plus a navigation system with voice control that displays on the 6.1-inch central touchscren. There's also Toyota's Entune cloud-based infotainment system

At the top of the range is the Prius V Five, at a bit more than $31,000. Inside, that adds a six-way adjustable driver's seat with adjustable lumbar support plus a four-way adjustable front passenger seat, both of them heated and trimmed in SofTex fabric. Other upgrades include 10-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels; fog lamps; LED headlamps; and a smart-key system.

Options are both individual and bundled into a few packages, including the Advanced Technology Package. That pulls together a panoramic view moonroof with electrically powered sunshades, a hard-disc-based navigation system, and dynamic radar cruise control. Toyota also includes one year of the Safety Connect system, which provides drivers with roadside and emergency assistance, stolen-vehicle location, and automatic notification of emergency services in the event of a collision.

The base price for a 2014 Toyota Prius V Two is $27,560, including the mandatory $810 destination fee. At the high end, the Prius V Five starts at $31,205, and a heavy hand on the options list can push the total up to around the $35,000 level.