By now everybody and their mother who visit car dealerships near Santa Ana like Toyota of Orange know that Toyota sells a vast range of Prius cars. It’s not surprising either, since they are damn good automobiles!
You can opt for the Prius C which is a small hatchback, the Prius which is more common to everyone, or you could go for the Prius V, which is the largest hybrid in the range. It may not be the most well-known Prius, but it has a lot of things to offer you!
Driving
Under the hood of a 2015 Toyota Prius V, there is a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor that produces a combined 134 horsepower. The hybrid powertrain is mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).
Similar to the Prius, the Prius V has three modes. There is the EV mode that allows the car to drive solely on battery power. This mode is perfect for short distances, slow or even drives in the town. The ECO mode adjusts the vehicle’s throttle response and the climate controls to help you get as much mileage out of your vehicle. The Power mode gives a sharper throttle response and gives more pep into the Prius.
Toyota of Orange, one of the car dealerships near Santa Ana tells us that the 2015 Toyota Prius V feels more substantial and stable on the road, especially when it is driving at higher speeds. Surprisingly, the ride is smoother and more comfortable than the normal Prius. Another added bonus is when you have to park it.
The car is so easy to move around in parking lots. The 2015 Prius V isn’t the fastest vehicle to drive, but that isn’t the reason why you buy a hybrid car. It’s the exceptional fuel economy that sucks you into getting one, and that’s a good enough reason to want one!
Its EPA rating is 44 mpg in the city, 40 mpg on the highway, and 42 mpg combined. So, it does fair well against its siblings the Prius C and Prius.
Technology
Just because you found the Prius V at the dealer of used cars serving Santa Ana like Toyota of Orange doesn’t mean that the vehicle is stuck in a time warp. The car has a lot of advanced technological features. The 2015 Toyota Prius V comes with standard features such as automatic climate control, push-button start, and Toyota’s Entune Audio infotainment system, which includes a 6.1-inch touch screen, a rearview camera, a six-speaker sound system, Bluetooth, a USB port, and an auxiliary audio jack.
Other available features that will catch your eye are a panoramic moonroof, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic braking, lane departure warning, and the Entune Premium Audio infotainment system with a higher-resolution 6.1-inch touch screen, navigation, HD Radio, satellite radio, and the Entune App Suite. An eight-speaker JBL sound system is also available.
Toyota’s smartphone app integration system allows you to use the Bind search engine functionality, Pandora Internet radio, and pull up traffic, weather, and fuel price information. These tech amenities come standard on all trims except the base model. All you need to get started with the system is to install an app on your phone and register for an account. It’s very straightforward.
Comfort
The 2015 Toyota Prius V can sit you and your friends easily. It has five seats, which are on standard cloth upholstery. If you want to get fancier then opt for the Four and Five trims to enjoy synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, and an eight-way power-adjustable driver seat. The front seats are more suitable for tall passengers since there is plenty of head- and legroom, and they’re comfy. However, your passengers in the back won’t be complaining because the rear seats are spacious too, and they slide as well as recline. In total, there are about 97 cubic feet of passenger space.
The 2015 Toyota Prius V has 34.3 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in use and 67.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. Many car dealerships near Santa Ana can’t deny that these are fantastic totals. Also, the front-passenger and rear seats fold flat, giving you an even load floor and plenty of room to haul long items.
The functions in the Prius V’s cabin are very user-friendly. The Controls are large, so even if you have chubby fingers, you won’t find the car’s functions a nuisance to operate. Everything is clearly labeled, so you know right off the bat what each control does, and the shift lever is located in a convenient place that’s easy to reach and high on the center stack close to the steering wheel.
The steering wheel is telescopic and there are lots of storage compartments within the car’s cabin. For instance, there are two stacked gloveboxes, and there’s a massive center console bin that has an open cubbyhole underneath the center stack.
Similar to all Toyota manufactured vehicles, safety is important. Th 2015 Prius V is equipped with antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, a driver knee airbag and a rearview camera.
There is even an advanced Technology package that consists of a pre-collision safety system (which tightens the seatbelts and starts braking when a crash is considered unavoidable) and Toyota’s Safety Connect telematics system (which includes emergency assistance and a stolen-vehicle locator).
During brake testing, the Prius V stopped from 60 mph in 122 feet, which is a good distance for a car in its division.
Another feather in the Prius V’s cap is that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2015 Toyota Prius V its highest possible rating of “Good” in the moderate-overlap and small-overlap frontal-offset impact tests. Also, it got a “Good” score for the side-impact, roof-strength, and head restraints, and seat (whiplash protection) tests. So, you are pretty safe driving a Prius V!
Overall
The 2015 Toyota Prius V is a versatile wagon car that has stood the test of time. If you are seeking the performance of a sports car, buy a sports car. The 2015 Toyota Prius V is for serious drivers only who want a vehicle that’s affordable, economical, spacious, and can provide basic transportation. In a nutshell, it’s a highly recommended car!