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“Perfect” is a hard word to sell in the car industry. But for the Toyota Prius wagon, it’s as good a word as any. A used Toyota Prius V gives drivers plenty of room for storage and family members without sacrificing fuel economy. And if you can find a 2016 or 2017 model, you can this used hybrid to last for years to come.

Another fantastic used hybrid car from Toyota

2015 Toyota Prius V
2015 Toyota Prius V | Toyota

Discontinued in the U.S. after the 2017 model year, the Toyota Prius V is one of the best options to look for when shopping for a used vehicle. Packed with tech and with plenty of cabin space, even six years later it’s a great option as an affordable used hybrid.

Searching for a high-quality used car within a budget can be a headache-inducing nightmare. But if you’re in the market for a reliable and fuel-efficient car with plenty of room, then we’ll make it easy for you: look for a Toyota Prius V.

Part of what makes it a great used vehicle is that the Prius V is roomier and has much more cargo space than a regular Prius. All the while, it can still manage up to 42 mpg. You typically have to sacrifice good fuel economy when you look for bigger vehicles, but not with the Prius V.

And even though production ended in 2017, they’re new enough that you won’t miss many of the latest technology features. So, for a few more years at least, the Prius V is a great option for a used car.

Why did Toyota stop making the Prius V?

Toyota Prius V interior
Toyota Prius V Interior | Toyota

The Prius V came to U.S. markets back in 2011 and was in production here until 2017. However, it has continued on in the global market, especially Europe and Asia. Toyota’s reasoning for discontinuing the Prius V in the U.S. stems from the success of another hybrid: the RAV4.

When the RAV4 Hybrid debuted in 2016, sales for the Prius V took a steep decline. The two essentially were competing for the same customers. As a result, Toyota decided to discontinue the Prius V and instead focus solely on the RAV4 Hybrid.

The Toyota Prius V earned rave reviews from owners

Thanks to its reliability, function, and versatility, the Toyota Prius V earns top marks for owner satisfaction. With 4.5 stars on Edmunds, owners report few issues outside of the typical Prius foibles like acceleration and road noise.

Owners and reviewers alike noted that the acceleration was loud and touchy at times, which is in line with other Prius models. Other areas that were rated lower — though still higher than average — include styling, driving experience, and braking. These were ranked lower by Prius V owners, but in the official road test, there were no major concerns with any of those areas. In our opinion, the Toyota Prius V is about as close to “perfect” as a used car can get.

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