Toyota Prius V weighs in

January 2011

It's 13 years since the Prius first appeared, shaking up the establishment and inspiring a glut of hybrids from rival manufacturers. But it's not until today, at the Detroit Motor Show, that an all-new Prius model has been introduced.

As a reaction to customer feedback demanding more practicality from a Prius, the Prius V is a more spacious, family-orientated version of the hybrid that outsold every single car on sale in its home market of Japan last year.

Five inches longer and an inch wider than the standard Prius, there's more leg and headroom all five passengers - it also offers up to 971-litres of loading space - that's 50 per cent more.

Under the skin the Prius and Prius V both share the same platform and powertrain - the familiar 1.8-litre engine working in tandem with an electric motor - but here thanks to the extra weight combined fuel economy will be 48mpg.

Available to order, and a Toyota-first, is a resin Panoramic View moonroof with retractable sun shades. The innovative material delivers a 40-percent reduction in weight as compared to conventional glass roofs of the same size, and excellent heat insulation performance.

Four driving modes (Normal, Power, Eco and EV), a Smart Key System with Push Button Start, an electronic shift lever, Hill Start Assist Control (HAC), and a back-up camera are standard. Available options include energy-efficient LED headlamps, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control with a Pre-Collision System (PCS), and Advanced Parking Guidance System.

Also making its debut on the Prius V, available to buy in the UK from early next year, is the cutting-edge Entune multimedia system. It offers the ability to download apps, upgrade your navigation system, use the latest voice recognition software and throws in an HD digital radio too.

Also on Toyota's stand was the new Prius C Concept and the Prius Plug-in. The latter is capable of driving 13-miles, up to 60mph, on electric power alone before the range-entending petrol engine kicks in. It's the most efficient Prius to date, can be fully charged via a 240V socket in an hour and a half, and will be available to buy in the UK from early 2013.