My husband and I purchased this vehicle after our second child was born. We were driving a Hyundai Sonata that couldn't hold a double stroller and kept having recalls and other small problems that required maintenance. We wanted a larger vehicle without compromising fuel efficiency. The Prius V ended up being the perfect fit. It fits two car seats comfortably, while allowing me to occasionally squeeze into the center seat between them when the baby was crying. We could fit an extra large double stroller in the back and still have room for bags or other items we might need for the day. It drives very smoothly and has a power mode button for when you need a little extra oomph to accelerate onto an expressway. We have not had any issues with it in the 18 months we have owned it. The only repair it has required was a windshield replacement due to getting hit by a rock on a road that had recently been oiled and stoned. The only complaint I have is that a rear-facing convertible car seat takes up so much space that the front seat ends up rather far forward. There is still enough room for an adult to sit (I am 5'10" and can sit fairly comfortably for every day driving), but there's definitely not room to stretch your legs out. This could probably be solved with a different car seat model - we just stuck with the one we had.

This is a good looking vehicle that gets 45 mpg. The paint is white with metallic flecks that gives it a pearl appearance. It has aluminum wheels that makes it look a little sporty. The interior is light beige, and the light color makes it seem larger inside. We haven't experienced any mechanical problems. You only have to change the oil every 10,000 miles. (This was a change made after we purchased the vehicle, so the owners manual says 5,000 miles, and the oil change light comes on at 5,000 miles, which is annoying, but you can reset it.) It's keyless, so it's really easy to get in and out, and you just put the key in your pocket, and you are good to go. The vehicle has a lot of road noise, likely because it doesn't have a lot of insulation to keep the weight down and the gas mileage up. We purchased new Michelin tires and that seems to have helped a little, but you still cannot hear the radio very well when driving down a concrete freeway at 65 mph. (The new tires also greatly improved its road handling, especially in rain). The Prius does not have a lot of power, but there is a power mode you can use if you need a spurt to merge into traffic or to pass someone going up hill. The visibility out the back is horrible. We usually have the back seats down so at least they aren't obstructing vision. The leather seats, while they look nice, are hard - really hard. I sit on a pillow, both because the seats are hard and to improve visibility because the seats are kind of low. While there is good head room, my husband complains that there is not room enough for his feet when driving. Another thing we have noticed is that the hatch back does not automatically go up all the way. In fact, you have to push it up manually and you have to push pretty hard. We have bumped our heads because the hatch back was not pushed up all of the way.

This vehicle has been the best one I've purchased so far. It has an amazing color with a superb finish that really shows how much money I would ever spend on a car. It's also a hybrid, which helps me save on gas. It's always reliable and comfortable to be in. The economy is getting worse, and fuel gets expensive, so when I can get 50 miles with one gallon, it really helps my wallet. I loved being in this car, but sometimes it gets a bit annoying. It's great for traveling and long car rides, but it's hard to learn where everything is. I'm a student, and when I ride through the traffic and see parents with their kids, I have a sense of pride. I know that I feel privileged to have this beauty.