The Toyota Prius V - gets two more seats to become the Toyota Prius+ for Europe
Toyota are bringing the new, bigger Prius V from Detroit to Geneva. But it’s renamed the Toyota Prius+ and gets two extra seats.
We’re still not sure we see the point of simultaneously growing the Prius badge in to a sub-brand of Toyota and adding hybrid running gear to the existing Toyota model range. But that’s Toyota’s way forward and we’re going to see more of it at Geneva in a few weeks time.
The Toyota Prius V debuted at Detroit last month and Europe will get its own debut at Geneva. But the Prius V gets renamed the Toyota Prius+ and gets an extra couple of seats. Yes, this is a seven-seater Prius.
Even though the Prius+ is designed to take seven it does seem like it will still get the same 1.8 litre Atkinson Cycle petrol lump with some batteries and an electric motor producing a maximum 134bhp. And the CVT ‘box. Which feels arthritic in the regular Prius. The prospect of seven on board and an overtaking manoeuvre doesn’t bare thinking about.
But maybe Toyota will beef up the Prius+ to cope with the extra bodies on-board? But somehow we rather doubt it. Still, as we said when we reviewed the Prius before Christmas, it is a remarkable transport appliance, even if it is a very unremarkable car.
And there is no doubt a market for the Prius+. Such as the big family who’ve outgrown their regular Prius and need room for their ever-expanding brood. A brood raised on diet of Fair Trade Lentils, smothered in factor 50 to save them from the ravages of winter sun and unable to walk to school because of early stage rickets. Pile ’em in the Prius+.
For them, the Prius + is perfect. It’s a people-carrier but with an Eco halo. Even if it will struggle to best 40mpg with seven on-board if you want to make any sort of sensible progress. Still, with a pile of kids to ferry around, 40mpg is a small price to pay.
Big family and environmentally aware. Is that the second oxymoron of the day?
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