Toyota Prius V

Toyota added a third variant of its petrol-electric Prius range to its line-up in May 2012 in the form of the seven-seat Prius V people mover.

The Prius V (the V stood for versatile) was available in one specification only, with the promise of the better-equipped i-Tech model arriving later in the year.

The second row of seating in the Prius V featured three independent sliding, reclining and split-folding seats. The third row sat slightly higher than the second with its 50:50 split folding seats.

Powering the Prius V was a 73kW, 1.8-litre petrol engine that was matched with a 650-volt electric motor that produced 60kW, with a combined maximum output of 100kW.

Claimed fuel economy for the people mover was 4.4 litres per 100km on the combined cycle, slightly more than the regular Prius and Prius C light car which both recorded figures of 3.9 litres.

The Prius V hybrid was mated to a continuously variable transmission.

While not as roomy as other people movers like the Kia Carnival and Honda Odyssey, the V was slightly larger an all areas than the standard Prius hatch. This was helped by a space-saving battery pack that was located under the centre console to allow for more room in the rear of the vehicle.

The third row had limited leg room and was only useful for small children on occasional trips rather than daily use. Putting the third row upright diminished the cargo space to 180 litres.

The standard features list for the Prius V included 6.1-inch audio display, automatic air-conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels, head-up display, keyless entry and ignition, automatic headlights, cruise control, USB/iPod/auxiliary connectivity, Bluetooth, reversing camera, rear side window sunshades, and hill-start assist.