On November 28, 2011 GreenCarReports.com announced that it was selecting two members from the 2012 Toyota Prius family of vehicles, the 2012 Toyota Prius V wagon and the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid, as its choice for the “Best Green Car to Buy 2012” award. The Prius family was able to pull out a win when matched out with a list of environmentally sensitive cars that included the Fiat 500, Honda Civic Hybrid, Infiniti M35h, Mitsubishi i, and Volkswagen Passat TDi. Beginning with the upcoming 2012 model year, the Prius will expand to a family of four vehicles, including the third-generation Prius Liftback, the Prius v, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, and the Prius c.
The “Best Green Car to Buy” award recognizes mass produced, environmentally sensitive vehicles that are available for under $60,000. For the selection process of the “Best Green Car to Buy 2012” award, GreenCarReports.com editors took into consideration new technologies, the practicality of the vehicle and their impact on the environment. Utilizing the TheCarConnection’s ratings as a starting point for their evaluation, the GreenCarReports editorial team applies their criteria to select the winner that will carry the environmental message of “Best Green Car to Buy 2012”.
When asked about the Prius, John Voelcker, Green Car Reports Editor stated: “The Prius is more than just one car this year…With a new Prius v and the Prius Plug-In Hybrid, it’s now a family of vehicles with some of the highest gas mileage on the market today, and the Prius name is likely to help encourage buyers to take the plunge into plug-in vehicles."
Now let’s take a look at the two lucky winners!
2012 Prius V wagon
Up first we have the 2012 Prius V Wagon. Toyota should see a lot of interest in the 2012 Prius V wagon. It's taller, it's longer, it has way more loading space and a new and improved rear seat that is more flexible than the standard 2012 Prius hatchback. The Prius V received an EPA rating of 44 mpg city and 40 mpg highway, for a combined 42 mpg rating. That compares to the hatchback's 50-mpg combined rating.
These improvements in size mean that now Prius owners will have 34 to 40 cubic feet of load space behind the rear seat, or 67 cubic feet with the seat down. The rear seat of the Prius V also slides back and forth quite a few inches, expanding and contracting the load bay as needed.
By comparison, the five-door hatchback Prius offers 22 cubic feet with the seat up. This means that now Prius drivers won’t have to choose between taking their suitcase or their family on the next family vacation.
For a more in dept look at the Prius V, check out our full review at http://takeyourpriusonvacation.blogspot.com/2011/12/hey-kids-load-up-theprius.html
2012 Prius Plug-In Hybrid
Want to know a secret? The best way to tell that the 2012 Prius Plug-In Hybrid is any different from a standard Prius hatchback is the second round opening on the right-rear fender, which holds but a J-1772 socket for a standard 120-Volt or 240-Volt recharging cable and not a gasoline filler.
Compared to the Nissan Leaf, which starts at $35,200 for the 2012 model, the Prius Plug-In starts at a lower $32,760. Most plug-in Toyota buyers will be able to qualify for a $2,500 Federal tax credit while Leaf buyers will receive $7,500. Even though the Leaf comes out a little cheaper, there is much less range anxiety with the Prius, while the leaf see’s its driving range affected by everything from traffic conditions to even the ambient temperature.
When compared with the $39,995 2012 Volt, the plug-in Prius is significantly cheaper even after their particular tax credits, but most importantly, the Prius Plug-In Hybrid is able to hold five passengers and has far more cargo space than the Volt extended-range electric vehicle.
The Prius Plug-In Hybrid will be available in 14 states starting next March: California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia. During 2013, the Prius Plug-In Hybrid will be made available out nationwide.
Come to Jerry’s Toyota at 8001 Belair Road Baltimore, MD 21236 to check out our great selection of Prius’. Also check out our website at http://jerrystoyota.com/.
