2017 Toyota Prius V vs. Its Competition

John Voelcker

The 2017 Toyota Prius V hybrid wagon has a pair of new and effective competitors sitting next to it on the floor of Toyota dealers.

First is the RAV4 Hybrid, new last year, which provides the desirable SUV label and standard all-wheel drive, neither of which the Prius wagon offers.

Then there's the latest Prius Liftback, totally redesigned last year as well, whose polarizing styling belies a far more normal driving experience, better roadholding, and much improved noise suppression—not to mention EPA ratings of 52 or 56 mpg combined.

Beyond that, the Ford C-Max Hybrid has less interior volume, and its fuel-economy ratings have been lowered twice (they're lower than those of the Prius V), but it's nicer inside, more powerful, and quieter on the road.

Competing with the RAV4, the Ford Escape is a more traditional compact crossover, but the fuel economy of its EcoBoost engines in real-world use can go as low as half the Prius V's.

Finally, the VW Golf SportWagen is one of few remaining traditional compact wagons.

It provides startling interior volume for people and cargo, but its high-efficiency TDI diesel versions are off the market, so you're stuck with a turbocharged gasoline engine and average fuel-economy ratings.