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Toyota Prius v. Yvette's Review.

  • Last day then, return the car.... Wanted to dive into the sunset....and not to Toyota.....he he he

    I was one of the privileged mums to test drive the Toyota Prius V for 10 days! Today was my last day. I had to return the car after my fantastic 10 day test drive.
    :(
    There are so many things that I’m going to miss from the Toyota Prius V……
    The H.U.D (head up delay) ((my favourite thing))
    Keyless entry
    The little button on the boot that I found 2 days go, to lock the car and not have to press a button on the key
    Push start button to start the car
    Reverse camera
    Large GPS/NatSav
    Bluetooth connectivity
    iPod connectivity
    IPA (intelligent park assist)
    Great seat configuration for my family of 2 adults, 4 kids and the occasional friend/s tacked on
    Fuel efficiency
    Seat comfort
    Heat seaters
    And…the kids are going to miss the double moon roof

    Well after listing all my likes, I think all I can about the Toyota Prius V, is OH WHAT A FEELING! Loved driving it. Want one, and fingers crossed may get one…..one day….hopefully sooner rather than later!

    Flexible storage &
    seating
    Comfort &
    Convenience
    Fuel Economy &
    Performance
    Stylish Exterior &
    Interior
    Driving Pleasure

  • OH WHAT A FEELING.....ALL 4 KIDLETS IN SCHOOL......

    Ok I haven’t posted anything for a couple of days. Had some finishing touches to do with getting everything ready for school. So my challenge today, seeing I am now child free, as my youngest started prep today, is to try out the IPA (Intelligent Parking Assist). This is where you can, I’m hoping, easily reverse park or just reverse your car into a parking spot with just a touch of a couple of buttons…..no hands, just keeping your foot in the brake to gently ease into the parking spot. The challenge is set….I’ll give it a good hard go…..to keep everyone entertained whilst trying master this, hope you all have a good laugh at my photo taken this morning before we headed off to school. My eldest starting high school, and my youngest starting Prep. What more can I say than…. OH WHAT A FEELING!

    Flexible storage &
    seating
    Comfort &
    Convenience
    Fuel Economy &
    Performance
    Stylish Exterior &
    Interior
    Driving Pleasure

  • Happy chappy's all round....seats 7 with ease....love it!

    Has a busy day today. Had our niece and nephew stay last night with our 4 munchkins before school goes back this week. Was happy to say we could drop them off in the afternoon, with 7 seats in the Prius V. Now how would I cope with 6 kids in the car? (hubby went for a ride on his bike)……as you can see in the photo attached….EASY, and everyone happy! All the kids loved the car, easy to put them all in, 2 in the boot area, 3 in the back seat, biggest one in passenger set. All were excited when I opened the double moon roof. Nice to have on a nice sunny day. Bluetooth for my iPhone was terrific! Phone calls made easily and songs on my phone played by the kids sounded great in the car. The reverse camera was also great getting on our way. The boot section was sufficient for the two bags and scooter! But not much more room to fit anything else in. But love this car, and would love to keep it.

    Flexible storage &
    seating
    Comfort &
    Convenience
    Fuel Economy &
    Performance
    Stylish Exterior &
    Interior
    Driving Pleasure

  • Love it, want it, an I keep it please!?

    Went at picked up the car this morning from Toyota. Was extremely happy with the handover from Bill, going through the gadgets and gizmos in the car. Love the keyless entry and start. Push a button off for the brake, then push start and you’re off! It’s so quiet I didn’t think it was on.

    After picking the car up, I went with the family in tow in the other car, as I needed to get there somehow, to Costco. Thought I’d see how the boot compared to our current car, in terms if boot size. Was very surprised how much we could fit in it. There would have been a photo, but everyone was too excited to unpack and go for a drive….so next time! My youngest loved the seats in the second row, so much so, he fell asleep on the way home. The front seats are very comfortable, my eldest just loved that can be heated, mind you it wasn’t cold today but had to try them out. Very impressed with the car,evn though only Avignon it for a day. Maybe for my fortieth this year hubby can buy me one. He he he…..

    Flexible storage &
    seating
    Comfort &
    Convenience
    Fuel Economy &
    Performance
    Stylish Exterior &
    Interior
    Driving Pleasure

  • It's a car for a family like us

    The Prius v is a car for a family like ours. I wish I had seen it when we were looking to downside our 7 seater 4WD (it was just too big for city driving/parking and as a one income family the fuel and servicing costs were too much). We looked at a few different 7 seater cars but none of them fit the bill.
    If you were thinking you had to buy an SUV for room for the family I think you should definately head to a Toyota dealer to see the Prius v – it is spacious like a SUV but also offers amazing fuel economy, more maneuverability and versatilty at an affordable price.
    The Prius v is where style meets practicality.

    Flexible storage &
    seating
    Comfort &
    Convenience
    Fuel Economy &
    Performance
    Stylish Exterior &
    Interior
    Driving Pleasure

  • Great first impression!!!

    Well, our much anticipated family visitor has arrived and she is quite a looker!! My very first impression was how sleek & stylish the Prius v is, especially for a seven seater. Jack & Lauren were quick to jump in & explore as soon as Nikki got out…….pressing as many buttons they could find, then making their way over to the back…….”lots of room back here Mum”. Then it was off on our first drive to drop the lovely Nikki back into the city for her next appt. Feels great to drive……has the classic Toyota feel, easy to maneuver, good grip on the road and ohhh soooo quiet. Looking forward to putting her through her paces over the next ten days, and reviewing specific aspects of the Prius v along the way. 6036km on the clock now & a full tank to start with……..lets goooo!!

    Flexible storage &
    seating
    Comfort &
    Convenience
    Fuel Economy &
    Performance
    Stylish Exterior &
    Interior
    Driving Pleasure

  • Bluetooth.....hands free..... touch free telephony in car....What a bonus!

    One of the things I haven’t really investigated whilst having the Prius v was the Bluetooth function in regards to phoning someone whilst driving. How easy it was! No need to upload your contacts into car’s computer. Great!

    Getting tea for the tribe tonight, 2 wanted pizza, 2 wanted fish n chips. Ordered the pizza at home, then on the road decided to see if I could phone for fish n chips by the Bluetooth function and could I access my phone contacts in my iPhone. Pushed the speak button twice, and said “call fish and chips”….a prompt on the Nat Sav screen told to wait, then the number came up in the screen. A voice said there was 3 options but could just continue with that number displayed or one of the other 2, spoke clearly “continue”…and I was putting in my order, on the road without having to pull over to talk. Pressed the hang up button and was off the phone, order was in, without even touching my phone. It’s safe to use whilst driving and easy to use. I didn’t even have to look up the manual! Fantastic! :)

    Flexible storage &
    seating
    Comfort &
    Convenience
    Fuel Economy &
    Performance
    Stylish Exterior &
    Interior
    Driving Pleasure

  • Pre-Christmas running around.......too easy!

    We spent most of the time today zipping around doing a few last minute Christmas errands. Am loooooving the fact I don’t have to struggle with keys whilst juggling bags, & shopping & holding kids hands. As long as the keys are in my bag we just need to pull the handle & we’re in…..don’t even need to press any buttons. Then when we get out just a one finger tap on the driver door handle & we’re all locked up…..can it get any easier???

    Parking is a breeze in the Prius with the reversing camera. We have one in our Kluger, so it’s no longer a novelty. It makes getting into those squishy city parking spaces all that easier (no more driving around searching for a park that looks easier to get into & out of…….they are all easy now). Mind you it did not stop one silly man from darting out behind me, without looking, in a car park…..so over shoulder checks are still a must!!

    I found the centre-of-dash information screens a little weird to get used to at first (am so used to looking through the steering wheel for this driver info), but it is actually easier to view quickly once you are familiar with the screen layout. The head-up speed display that projects onto the base of the windscreen was also a little disconcerting at first. I thought it might be distracting when I was driving but am amazed how it just seems to disappear if you are not consciously checking your speed…….it is not distracting at all & is far easier to check your speed whilst driving without taking your eyes off the road. The height & reach adjustment for the steering wheel along with all the controls & switches being within easy reach makes city driving easier & safer.

    We had a bit of a play with seat configurations today……toooo easy, but will report back on this topic once I have been a passenger in every row, and not just the driver……..hmmmmm I suppose that means I will have to give my husband a turn behind the wheel ???

    Flexible storage &
    seating
    Comfort &
    Convenience
    Fuel Economy &
    Performance
    Stylish Exterior &
    Interior
    Driving Pleasure

  • Ok I think I've mastered the IPA (Intelligent Parking Assist)...it's a long review...but I liked it....handy...

    Managed to squeeze in a moment today to try out the IPA (Intelligent Parking Assist), in the Prius V, minus my 4 kidlets having started school today (the attached photo taken by my daughter after I had practiced a few times and after school pickup, the kidlets thought it was very clever).

    One little thing was the instructions weren’t in the manual, but fortunately found a great tutorial on You Tube! Well it was really easy to use after finally figuring out what the button was for.

    There are 2 settings : Press once for parallel parking. Press the button twice to reverse into park between 2 parked cars.

    To parallel park: Press the IPA button once before you get to the park you want, drive slowly past the spot you want to park in. A diagram displays on navigation system how far to slowly keep going, then you brake, adjust where the parked car is if needed, then put the gear in reverse, take your hands off the steering wheel, slowly release your foot on the brake and the car parallel parks for you. Great if you’re not sure or uneasy to parallel park.

    To reverse in a car spot: If you see a spot to park, press the IPA button twice before you get to the parking spot. Slowly drive past the park and veer out ready to reverse, till a little beep lets you know it’s time to center your steering wheel. Adjust where the parked cars are that you’re parking between, put into reverse, take your hands off the steering wheel , slowly release your foot off the brake and let the car do all the work.

    I must admit I found the reversing option a little more difficult than the parallel parking option. Or it could have been my error trying to do it at the local shop car park.

    So not an all 5 star rating, as it wasn’t in the manual, but overall, loved it, and would be great for those who are uneasy on parallel or reversing parking. Thumbs up from me.

    Flexible storage &
    seating
    Comfort &
    Convenience
    Fuel Economy &
    Performance
    Stylish Exterior &
    Interior
    Driving Pleasure

  • seat configuration

    The last 2 days have seen us concerntrate on seat configuration. The Prius v offers a 7 seat ride – the driver and passenger seats both fully recline, the 2nd row of 3 seats move like a regular front passenger seat (a feature I really like) and the 3rd row seats fold up and down. It offers amazing flexibilty for the interior of the car. Of course, many families need to have car seats installed and once they’re in it all becomes a little more inflexible. FYI the 2nd row of seats has 3 anchor points.
    For us, we only have 1 car seat installed for Mr4, we have placed that behind the passenger seat. Miss7 sits in any of the remaining seats and has tried them all, she has announced that all are “great” but prefers to sit in the seat next to her brother – for the best view of the road ahead and of the satnav map.
    Yesterday Miss7 turned 7 and we invited 3 of her friends over to play since we have the 7 seater I offered to drive them all home afterwards. 5 children in the car and all very comfortable! Definately fantastic to have the extra seats for times like these. Even if we did need another car seat installed the middle seat of the 2nd row is still plenty roomie enough so you could still have 5 in the car – all the Mums and Dads who came to look at the car were mightily impressed by that, especially those with 3 children.
    Today we did a few jobs, we dropped off some donations for Lifeline, bought a flatpak desk and stopped at the hardware store for supplies. Normally to complete these shopping tasks we’d all go together as a family to window shop then either hubby or I would return to buy the items after we’d dropped everyone back home, as there simply isn’t room in our current car for the family and large shopping items. For extra large items such as the roll of weedmatting we bought we’d usually have to borrow the 4wd from our parents. Not with the Prius v, the flatpak desk was placed in the rear of the car – in what is referred to as extra luggage mode, the weedmat etc we used long luggage mode and the 4 of us could still fit in the car! Thus we saved even more fuel as we didn;t have to make the 2nd trip back to the store – more shopping money!
    (Speaking of fuel, we have travelled 315km and not even used 1/2 tank of fuel. Impressive.)
    For interior flexibility I’d give the car a 10/10, I’d buy this car for this reason alone. You’d think with all these extra seats and space that the car would be large but it actually isn’t much bigger than our current car. It easily fits in to our older style narrow garage, something our old 7 seat 4wd didn’t do and the Prius v fits more into it – is cheaper to run and I suspect cheaper to service…..

    Flexible storage &
    seating
    Comfort &
    Convenience
    Fuel Economy &
    Performance
    Stylish Exterior &
    Interior
    Driving Pleasure

  • Last day then, return the car.... Wanted to dive into the sunset....and not to Toyota.....he he he

    I was one of the privileged mums to test drive the Toyota Prius V for 10 days! Today was my last day. I had to return the car after my fantastic 10 day test drive.
    :(
    There are so many things that I’m going to miss from the Toyota Prius V……
    The H.U.D (head up delay) ((my favourite thing))
    Keyless entry
    The little button on the boot that I found 2 days go, to lock the car and not have to press a button on the key
    Push start button to start the car
    Reverse camera
    Large GPS/NatSav
    Bluetooth connectivity
    iPod connectivity
    IPA (intelligent park assist)
    Great seat configuration for my family of 2 adults, 4 kids and the occasional friend/s tacked on
    Fuel efficiency
    Seat comfort
    Heat seaters
    And…the kids are going to miss the double moon roof

    Well after listing all my likes, I think all I can about the Toyota Prius V, is OH WHAT A FEELING! Loved driving it. Want one, and fingers crossed may get one…..one day….hopefully sooner rather than later!

    Flexible storage &
    seating
    Comfort &
    Convenience
    Fuel Economy &
    Performance
    Stylish Exterior &
    Interior
    Driving Pleasure

  • Bluetooth.....hands free..... touch free telephony in car....What a bonus!

    One of the things I haven’t really investigated whilst having the Prius v was the Bluetooth function in regards to phoning someone whilst driving. How easy it was! No need to upload your contacts into car’s computer. Great!

    Getting tea for the tribe tonight, 2 wanted pizza, 2 wanted fish n chips. Ordered the pizza at home, then on the road decided to see if I could phone for fish n chips by the Bluetooth function and could I access my phone contacts in my iPhone. Pushed the speak button twice, and said “call fish and chips”….a prompt on the Nat Sav screen told to wait, then the number came up in the screen. A voice said there was 3 options but could just continue with that number displayed or one of the other 2, spoke clearly “continue”…and I was putting in my order, on the road without having to pull over to talk. Pressed the hang up button and was off the phone, order was in, without even touching my phone. It’s safe to use whilst driving and easy to use. I didn’t even have to look up the manual! Fantastic! :)

    Flexible storage &
    seating
    Comfort &
    Convenience
    Fuel Economy &
    Performance
    Stylish Exterior &
    Interior
    Driving Pleasure

  • Ok I think I've mastered the IPA (Intelligent Parking Assist)...it's a long review...but I liked it....handy...

    Managed to squeeze in a moment today to try out the IPA (Intelligent Parking Assist), in the Prius V, minus my 4 kidlets having started school today (the attached photo taken by my daughter after I had practiced a few times and after school pickup, the kidlets thought it was very clever).

    One little thing was the instructions weren’t in the manual, but fortunately found a great tutorial on You Tube! Well it was really easy to use after finally figuring out what the button was for.

    There are 2 settings : Press once for parallel parking. Press the button twice to reverse into park between 2 parked cars.

    To parallel park: Press the IPA button once before you get to the park you want, drive slowly past the spot you want to park in. A diagram displays on navigation system how far to slowly keep going, then you brake, adjust where the parked car is if needed, then put the gear in reverse, take your hands off the steering wheel, slowly release your foot on the brake and the car parallel parks for you. Great if you’re not sure or uneasy to parallel park.

    To reverse in a car spot: If you see a spot to park, press the IPA button twice before you get to the parking spot. Slowly drive past the park and veer out ready to reverse, till a little beep lets you know it’s time to center your steering wheel. Adjust where the parked cars are that you’re parking between, put into reverse, take your hands off the steering wheel , slowly release your foot off the brake and let the car do all the work.

    I must admit I found the reversing option a little more difficult than the parallel parking option. Or it could have been my error trying to do it at the local shop car park.

    So not an all 5 star rating, as it wasn’t in the manual, but overall, loved it, and would be great for those who are uneasy on parallel or reversing parking. Thumbs up from me.

    Flexible storage &
    seating
    Comfort &
    Convenience
    Fuel Economy &
    Performance
    Stylish Exterior &
    Interior
    Driving Pleasure

  • OH WHAT A FEELING.....ALL 4 KIDLETS IN SCHOOL......

    Ok I haven’t posted anything for a couple of days. Had some finishing touches to do with getting everything ready for school. So my challenge today, seeing I am now child free, as my youngest started prep today, is to try out the IPA (Intelligent Parking Assist). This is where you can, I’m hoping, easily reverse park or just reverse your car into a parking spot with just a touch of a couple of buttons…..no hands, just keeping your foot in the brake to gently ease into the parking spot. The challenge is set….I’ll give it a good hard go…..to keep everyone entertained whilst trying master this, hope you all have a good laugh at my photo taken this morning before we headed off to school. My eldest starting high school, and my youngest starting Prep. What more can I say than…. OH WHAT A FEELING!

    Flexible storage &
    seating
    Comfort &
    Convenience
    Fuel Economy &
    Performance
    Stylish Exterior &
    Interior
    Driving Pleasure

  • Hubby's turn to try out the Prius V

    Another busy day. Had one if my girls’ friends for a play today. Hubby and I decided to go for a drive to a great park with all the kids in tow. This time I gave hubby a chance to try out the Prius v. He loved how comfy the seat was whilst driving. Loved the HUD (head up display) for showing your speed whilst driving. It really makes you take more care of your speed. Loved to be able connect his phone to bluetooth with ease. Having not driven a hybrid car before, the one thing he did was to put it power mode for the drive to give it a boost, especially taking off at lights. Another great day out and about in the Prius V. Overall a big thumbs up for the Toyota Prius V. Fantastic news for me, I might get my birthday wish.

    Flexible storage &
    seating
    Comfort &
    Convenience
    Fuel Economy &
    Performance
    Stylish Exterior &
    Interior
    Driving Pleasure

  • Happy chappy's all round....seats 7 with ease....love it!

    Has a busy day today. Had our niece and nephew stay last night with our 4 munchkins before school goes back this week. Was happy to say we could drop them off in the afternoon, with 7 seats in the Prius V. Now how would I cope with 6 kids in the car? (hubby went for a ride on his bike)……as you can see in the photo attached….EASY, and everyone happy! All the kids loved the car, easy to put them all in, 2 in the boot area, 3 in the back seat, biggest one in passenger set. All were excited when I opened the double moon roof. Nice to have on a nice sunny day. Bluetooth for my iPhone was terrific! Phone calls made easily and songs on my phone played by the kids sounded great in the car. The reverse camera was also great getting on our way. The boot section was sufficient for the two bags and scooter! But not much more room to fit anything else in. But love this car, and would love to keep it.

    Flexible storage &
    seating
    Comfort &
    Convenience
    Fuel Economy &
    Performance
    Stylish Exterior &
    Interior
    Driving Pleasure

  • Love it, want it, an I keep it please!?

    Went at picked up the car this morning from Toyota. Was extremely happy with the handover from Bill, going through the gadgets and gizmos in the car. Love the keyless entry and start. Push a button off for the brake, then push start and you’re off! It’s so quiet I didn’t think it was on.

    After picking the car up, I went with the family in tow in the other car, as I needed to get there somehow, to Costco. Thought I’d see how the boot compared to our current car, in terms if boot size. Was very surprised how much we could fit in it. There would have been a photo, but everyone was too excited to unpack and go for a drive….so next time! My youngest loved the seats in the second row, so much so, he fell asleep on the way home. The front seats are very comfortable, my eldest just loved that can be heated, mind you it wasn’t cold today but had to try them out. Very impressed with the car,evn though only Avignon it for a day. Maybe for my fortieth this year hubby can buy me one. He he he…..

    Flexible storage &
    seating
    Comfort &
    Convenience
    Fuel Economy &
    Performance
    Stylish Exterior &
    Interior
    Driving Pleasure

  • It's a car for a family like us

    The Prius v is a car for a family like ours. I wish I had seen it when we were looking to downside our 7 seater 4WD (it was just too big for city driving/parking and as a one income family the fuel and servicing costs were too much). We looked at a few different 7 seater cars but none of them fit the bill.
    If you were thinking you had to buy an SUV for room for the family I think you should definately head to a Toyota dealer to see the Prius v – it is spacious like a SUV but also offers amazing fuel economy, more maneuverability and versatilty at an affordable price.
    The Prius v is where style meets practicality.

    Flexible storage &
    seating
    Comfort &
    Convenience
    Fuel Economy &
    Performance
    Stylish Exterior &
    Interior
    Driving Pleasure

  • It's a smooth ride

    Still haven’t filled up the petrol tank, 684 km driven so far – amazing.

    During the time we have had the Prius v to test drive we have experienced many different driving situations – rush hour, a long traffic jam due to an accident, regular local running around, scenic driving up the mountain, highway driving etc. To begin with I really noticed the lack of power as you first accelerated and found it a little disconcerting to not being able to keep up with the cars ahead, however it only takes a few more seconds for the Prius v to reach the same speed and after a week I barely notice it. The lack of power was evident as we climbed Mt Coot-tha today but, hey, it’s a scenic drive anyway :-) In summary the lack of power is only slightly noticable starting out from a traffic light change or quite noticable going up mountains.
    I do enjoy driving the car. The steering feels light but the car feels solid on the road and handles corners well, its a car I feel very safe in.
    Safety features of the Prius v include 7 SRS airbags, Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, ABS brakes all which contribute to a smooth, safe drive. I think that the Pre Collison Safety System is a brilliant idea and, although I actually never want to try it for myself, would love to see it in action. The Prius is ahead of it’s time in car safety, I am extremely impressed with the level Toyota has achieved.
    All up the Prius v offers a smooth, comfortable ride in all road and traffic conditions.

    Flexible storage &
    seating
    Comfort &
    Convenience
    Fuel Economy &
    Performance
    Stylish Exterior &
    Interior
    Driving Pleasure

  • button, buttons, buttons

    Day 5 of our test drive, using the smart entry and smart start is beginning to feel second nature, the key fob hasn’t left my handbag in 5 days. The Prius v senses the fob wirelessly as you near the car, press a button and doors unlock/lock, press a button and the car starts. Very clever and much easier than rummaging around in my bag searching for the keys especially when I am in the car park with small children and numerous shopping bags.
    There are many instruments and controls in the Prius v and it has taken some getting use to them all, in fact even after all this time I am still finding more functions. Today I found the Intelligent Park Assist button but rather wished I hadn’t. Hubby and I read the manual with it’s clear as mud instructions, spent 15 minutes trying to park using it but with no success, quite frustrating. Perhaps I might pop by the dealer and ask them to show me how to operate it…
    I love the HUD (Heads Up Display) which projects a readout of speed, satnav, audio etc on to the windscreen using Touch Tracer controls located on the steering wheel. Makes for easier, safer driving as your eyes stay up looking at the road.
    Today I was mostly the passenger and I used that time to explore the car audio features, satnav, bluetooth, ipod connectivity – I was busy for quite some time as there are many interesting buttons to push! The features themselves are very easy to use, I spent my time going through the layers of menu options. The front passenger of the Prius v i-tech will never be bored ;-)
    In summary, lots of buttons which seemed a little overwhelming at first but now that I know their functions I’m thinking “Wow, what a clever car”
    P.S. 5 days, 514km travelled in ECO mode and we still have 1/3 tank of fuel!! Incredible.
    The other features are seamless to use, satnav very straight forward, car audio the same

    Flexible storage &
    seating
    Comfort &
    Convenience
    Fuel Economy &
    Performance
    Stylish Exterior &
    Interior
    Driving Pleasure

  • seat configuration

    The last 2 days have seen us concerntrate on seat configuration. The Prius v offers a 7 seat ride – the driver and passenger seats both fully recline, the 2nd row of 3 seats move like a regular front passenger seat (a feature I really like) and the 3rd row seats fold up and down. It offers amazing flexibilty for the interior of the car. Of course, many families need to have car seats installed and once they’re in it all becomes a little more inflexible. FYI the 2nd row of seats has 3 anchor points.
    For us, we only have 1 car seat installed for Mr4, we have placed that behind the passenger seat. Miss7 sits in any of the remaining seats and has tried them all, she has announced that all are “great” but prefers to sit in the seat next to her brother – for the best view of the road ahead and of the satnav map.
    Yesterday Miss7 turned 7 and we invited 3 of her friends over to play since we have the 7 seater I offered to drive them all home afterwards. 5 children in the car and all very comfortable! Definately fantastic to have the extra seats for times like these. Even if we did need another car seat installed the middle seat of the 2nd row is still plenty roomie enough so you could still have 5 in the car – all the Mums and Dads who came to look at the car were mightily impressed by that, especially those with 3 children.
    Today we did a few jobs, we dropped off some donations for Lifeline, bought a flatpak desk and stopped at the hardware store for supplies. Normally to complete these shopping tasks we’d all go together as a family to window shop then either hubby or I would return to buy the items after we’d dropped everyone back home, as there simply isn’t room in our current car for the family and large shopping items. For extra large items such as the roll of weedmatting we bought we’d usually have to borrow the 4wd from our parents. Not with the Prius v, the flatpak desk was placed in the rear of the car – in what is referred to as extra luggage mode, the weedmat etc we used long luggage mode and the 4 of us could still fit in the car! Thus we saved even more fuel as we didn;t have to make the 2nd trip back to the store – more shopping money!
    (Speaking of fuel, we have travelled 315km and not even used 1/2 tank of fuel. Impressive.)
    For interior flexibility I’d give the car a 10/10, I’d buy this car for this reason alone. You’d think with all these extra seats and space that the car would be large but it actually isn’t much bigger than our current car. It easily fits in to our older style narrow garage, something our old 7 seat 4wd didn’t do and the Prius v fits more into it – is cheaper to run and I suspect cheaper to service…..

    Flexible storage &
    seating
    Comfort &
    Convenience
    Fuel Economy &
    Performance
    Stylish Exterior &
    Interior
    Driving Pleasure

  • Highway driving, saving many $$$'s

    Today we took the Prius v I-tech up to the Sunshine Coast from Brisbane, it’s a regular trip we make to see family, usually we go through 1/2 a tank (our car is of a similar class) but the Prius fuel gauge has barely moved, we didn’t use even 1/4 of a tank!!!! I am amazed at the fuel efficiency of this car using ECO drive mode.
    Also impressed by the level of car comfort, the front seats are very supportive, they are 6 way adjustable including being equipped with adjustable lumbar support, I felt no driver fatigue during the journey.
    The basic cruise control is very easy to use, I forgot to have a play with it before I left home but it was the same as what we have in our current car. What we don’t have in our current car but is a feature of the i-tech is dynamic radar cruise control – described by Toyota , “This intelligent technology uses millimetre-wave radar sensors to detect the speed of the vehicle ahead, and automatically adjusts your speed to ensure you there’s always a set range between you.” To use you merely press a button on the steering wheel and you don’t even have to worry about maintaining the gap between you and the car in front! Fantastic on the highway when light congestion occurs and everyone returns to correct speed quickly.
    Car performance and features on this type of drive = 9/10

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  • Back to Sydney on 1/2 a tank......now that's showing off !

    An added bonus for us this trip was being able to meet up ‘Nanma & Poppy’, who just happenned to be in Dubbo, from Lightning Ridge. Of course we just had to take them for a spin, in the Prius v, so the kids were relegated to the 3rd row and we all went out for dinner…….once again, something we would not be able to do in one car if we didn’t have that 3rd row……..it’s almost a necessity these days if you want to be able to offer a ride, or pick up extras.

    The next morning we repacked the car and headed east while Nanma & Poppy headed back to The Ridge. This time we made it home on 1/2 a tank !! When looking at the average fuel consumption for the round trip, I was surprised to see that we averaged 4.9litres/100km. I thought it would be higher having gone over the blue mountains twice and with the amount of highway driving…..just amazing!!

    The other little thing that I got to fully appreciate on the trip home were the retractable shades on the rear door windows. The sun was blistering leaving Dubbo, & stayed that way for the majority of the drive, but the kids were both comfortable with the shades up. I wish I had these when the kids were babies, instead of constantly struggling ill fitting sock type shades, or ones that sort of suctioned on to the window, or the common last resort of using a baby wrap tucked over the top with the door shut. Inbuilt, retractable window shades……pure genius !!!

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  • Shhhh......so quiet on safari....

    Given the weather was so hot in Dubbo, we decided to drive the Prius v around the zoo rather than hire one of the open safari cars. This ended up being a very wise decision as poor Jack was unwell and we ended up having to leave after only a couple of hours. We got to cruise in air conditioned comfort then jump out when we wanted to have a closer look at things. As the speed limit was only 10km/hr around the zoo, we pretty much crept silently from one area to the next. It was quite hilarious to see the looks of surprise on the faces of those doing a walking safari, when they casually glanced behind and saw us…….omg….where did they come from?

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  • FUEL ALERT....and still 25km to Dubbo......did we make it ?????

    Haaaaa, of course we did ! I wasn’t worried at all…..ok, well……maybe just a little. I don’t know about you but as soon as that little red petrol pump light comes on I am always a little anxious until I drive into a Service Station.

    We had decided to refuel as soon as we got down to one bar on the fuel gauge. We didn’t want to risk conking out on a country road with tired, grumpy kids and a greatly diminished snack supply. Unfortunately when we finally did hit one bar on the fuel gauge the service stations were few & far between…….no, make that non-existent…….on the route we chose to take.

    When the fuel alert came on we were still 25km out but were pretty sure with the CVT (continuously variable transmission) we would be ok, as we were mostly going at speeds less than 100km/hr due to roads and were constantly changing between petrol & electric power.

    One of my favourite things in the Prius v is the graphical display where you can actually see where your are drawing your power from. It really helped me understand CVT, and it was comforting being able to see at a glance when we were on electric power (especially when the fuel alert light was on).

    Soooo, we made it, right to our motel, then popped around the corner to fill up! Here are our final stats:

    Darlington to Dubbo = 393km on just over 1/2 tank of fuel
    Total distance on one tank of fuel in 7 days of combined city & highway driving = 612km
    Cost to refill with premium unleaded fuel = $60

    We are really impressed & think the numbers speak for themself.

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  • Manages mountain roads with ease....

    We enjoyed our journey through the Blue mountains in the Prius v. The visibility is great & the kids had no problems seeing as we pointed things out along the way. As expected she didn’t have the ‘pick up’ that we are used to in our Kluger but managed well when in Power mode. The winding roads were easy to navigate and the car felt sure-footed & safe on the bends.

    We made a quick stop at the “The Explorers’ Tree at Katoomba, but unfortunately it was all roped off as it was damaged in an accident earlier in the year so we couldn’t even get a snapshot :( I bet Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth would have loved a Prius v to help them through the mountains in 1813 !

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  • Darlington to Dubbo in the Prius v

    So far all our driving has been zipping around the city (& mighty fine it is too) but we really wanted to give the Prius v a good run so we decided to have a pre-holiday, mini get away, before heading to Qld for Christmas! Yes…..madness…..I know, right? But we have this amazing car & a few spare days so why not squish in a whirlwind trip to the Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo. It’s around about 390km from our place to Dubbo so that will give the Prius v a great workout……..EXCITED!

    Ok then……all packed…. luggage, Christmas gifts for family, books, snacks….oh, & kids. We’re off……starting with the fuel gauge at 1bar over half a tank. We haven’t filled up since the Prius v arrived a week ago so fuel economy has been great around the city. I expect once we are at highway speeds we will have greater consumption……but want to see just how far we can get before refueling.

    Keith is driving the first drive leg and with the current speed limit of 110km/hr says she feels lovely & smooth. Looking forward to seeing how she handles driving through the Blue Mountains. Jack and Lauren both comfy with loads of room in the middle row, as am I as the front passenger.

    Must say though, we are a little disappointed at the “cup holder status” of the Prius v. All doors have a space for an average size water bottle, but for kids in booster seats in the 2nd row, these are too hard to reach. We have already had water bottles dropped in car seats and some minor spillage which of course lead to tears! Cup holders in the front centre console & 3rd row only fit small diameter water bottles, & most cups/bottles/kids drink bottles these days are larger than this :( We were surprised as we have never had this issue in other Toyota vehicles. In any case it is a minor issue…….everything else is spot on.

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  • 3rd row lowdown......grownups fit, but best for kids

    I finally got my chance to be a passenger in the 3rd row today. Firstly it was relatively easy to get in & out, but taller or larger people might struggle. The seat itself was actually more comfy than I had imagined, even though it was less bolstered than the front & middle rows. I sat next to Lauren in her booster seat & felt I had plenty of room seat wise although I felt a little closed in with less head room. Easy row of the Prius v sits slightly higher than the row in front. A great idea to ensure every passenger gets great visibility but if you are tall your head gets closer to the roof as you head toward the rear of the car…….I am 5,9″ so I imagine Keith, at 6,3″ could even be hitting his head on the roof if we went over any big bumps……hmmmm not sure if I should test that?

    Leg room wise it wasn’t too bad, but I had no one in the seat in front of me so it wasn’t an issue. You definitely couldn’t have 3 tall people down one side of the car. With Keith driving, he has the driver seat pretty much all the way back so the leg room for Jack, sitting behind him in a booster seat, was also a little tight.

    All this being said, the third row is still more than adequate for short trips, but really best suits the kids, or those who are a little more vertically challenged. The overall leg room throughout the whole car is also easily managed by rearranging seating around the specific heights of the occupants (although if you are all tall, then things could get tricky).

    (Have added a snap taken from the 3rd row……you can just make out my knees in the bottom of the pic)

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  • Cool & comfortable in the heat.....but Spider-Man & Barbie's cars are better!

    After much running around over the past two days we celebrated our Sydney Christmas & Keith’s birthday all in one….today!! Would have loved to slapped a big red bow on the Prius v and said “Happy Birthday & Merry Christmas Baby”…….oh how I wish…… but he was more than happy with a few less impressive pressies. I did manage a cooked breakfast for the occasion but then I was off with the kids to dance classes & my darling husband was left in charge of the Christmas dinner.

    It was a hot one in Sydney today so it seemed like we were reverting to petrol power the majority of the time, as we were relying heavily on the aircon. The kids had decided they were travelling in the 3rd row today (just to mix it up a bit…..as is their want) but by the time I was lovely & cool in the front they were saying they were still hot….though not so hot that they would move to the middle seats :)

    After dancing it was off over the bridge to pick up Nan & Pop & then head home for “Christmas”. This was Nan & Pop’s first drive in the Prius V & they were impressed with the amount of room & were amazed that there were 7 seats. Of course we had to call Keith on our way back, blue tooth & hands free of course, & all sing Happy Birthday!! (Keith said it was really clear his end too). What was most impressive with this was that my phone was in the dance bag right at the back of the car. Once Bluetooth is activated & phone paired, as soon as you get in you are connected for calls & music regardless of where your phone is in the car, and all operations can be made through the steering wheel controls…..just love it!

    We talked about getting a pic of Nan & Pop with the Prius v, but alas they said they were too camera shy. So for this post, I have attached a Christmas snap of Jack & Lauren who, unlike Keith, actually did get a car each this Christmas. I’m sorry Prius v, but I think you have been outshone by Spider-Man’s super awesome “wheels” & the Barbie glamour car……(well, at least in Jack & Lozzie’s eyes). Merry Christmas everyone :)

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  • View from front following our IKEA shop.....

    Just adding another snap showing seat configuration to enable carrying of larger or more awkward loads.

    IKEA….tick……..now, I wonder if there is anything I need from Bunnings????

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Article Buon Appetito! A Busy Mum’s Guide To Memorable, Simple Summer Entertaining

Buon Appetito! A Busy Mum’s Guide To Memorable, Simple Summer Entertaining

I fondly remember slow, summer afternoons with family and friends gathered around a table of delicious finger-food during my childhood – the adults chatting and laughing, the kids pretending they understood the jokes. My parents had continued their Mediterranean traditions long after settling in Australia – and the simple joy of an effortlessly elegant gathering was one of my favourites.

What I don’t remember is my parents ever being stressed about the gatherings. It all just seemed to ‘come together’. Ah, how times have changed!

There’s something about the Italian style of entertaining that’s still so alluring in our fast-paced family lives. The idea of La Dolce Vita: a sweet life surrounded by family, friends, food and minimal fuss. Which is why we’ve enlisted the help of the entertaining experts at Sandhurst to share easy tips for elegant, memorable summer get-togethers.

We also asked our community of mums to share their tried and true, easy summer entertaining ideas, and we can’t wait to share them with you!

Euro-Inspired Entertaining

Sandhurst

Before we dive into the delicious world of sumptuous, simple summer entertaining, it helps to know a little about the inspiration behind our guide. And that’s the concept of Italian entertaining – where time is taken to lovingly grow ingredients, before enjoying them with those you love.

Established in 1988, Sandhurst was born from the time-honoured traditions of generations of the family behind the brand – a proud Italian Australian family passionate about quality produce sourced from world’s best growers.

At the helm of Sandhurst are brothers Mimmo and Ray Lubrano, who live and breathe the impeccable ingredients that become the centrepiece of so many gatherings in Australian family homes.

“Tradition is what we stand for. We’re custodians of Italian values,” explained Mimmo. “When we go to Italy we see it in our grandparents, our parents came from Italy in the 50s. The tradition is a set of values: honesty, teamwork, participation, family – all the things you would associate with Italian family are the values.”

And it’s these beautiful values that make summer gatherings in Australia an extension of the European table.

Easy Summer Entertaining Starts With … Time Saving Secrets!

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A sweet summer of entertaining doesn’t need to be stressful. In fact, it shouldn’t be. It’s a chance to spend time with loved ones. To press pause on life and make memories. And it can be simple! So here are some really easy tips for making your home the place where everyone wants to gather this summer.

Create An Entertaining Kit

Whether it’s pre-planned or you’ve had friends or family drop-in, having a few things ready to go immediately melts away any stress. Here are some things to include in a summer entertaining kit:

  • A red table cloth: It instantly says festive!
  • Some platters and serving dishes
  • Candles
  • Some quality antipasto ingredients that simply need to be decanted and enjoyed!

Many Hands Make Light Work

As mums, we tend to be our own worst enemy when it comes to delegating tasks. But remember, a summer of entertaining is about creating memories – not perfection. So let the kids help, and accept offers from your guests who’d like to bring something along to share.

“It can be overwhelming, so just delegate, and prepare. I do one dish prep per day and pop them in the freezer. Then they just need to be heated up. Let the kids do the decorating for you – plus keeps them busy!” – MoM Member Kirsty

Decorate With Happiness

There’s no need to pull out your finest crystal to pull off an elegant get together. Take a look around your home and garden to see what will bring your table to life. A bowl of lemons is a gorgeous addition, as is a bunch of gum leaves. Keep it simple and understated.

Sandhurst

Finger Food For The Win

Nothing says simple summer elegance more than a charcuterie board (or three!). When my friends and our families get together, it’s our go-to – every family is asked to ‘bring a board’. Some do savoury and some sweet, so we’re covered for a long afternoon of catching up.

“Food wise, I keep it simple by doing cold deli meats, cheeses, fresh fruits and veggies.” – MoM Member

But just because boards are easy to put together, doesn’t mean they can’t ooze elegance. And that comes down to including quality ingredients. Choosing Sandhurst products is the easiest way to guarantee the highest quality ends up on your table. We love the premise behind the brand: from our family to yours – it invokes that nostalgic feeling of shared stories, history, gatherings and family.

How To Put Together A Charcuterie Board 

Sandhurst article image

There are no right or wrong ways to create a charcuterie board, but to ensure a balance of textures and flavours try to include:

La Dolce Vita!

A summer of sophisticated entertaining doesn’t have to be hours and hours of work. We don’t want it to be! By grabbing some beautiful ingredients to fill your pantry next time you’re shopping, you’ll know that at a moment’s notice you’ll have everything you need for a Euro-inspired gathering. No fuss, but plenty of substance and style!

Sandhurst

Ready to host your own summer gathering? Choose Sandhurst’s quality produce and look for the red lid.

Mouths of Mums is proudly working with Sandhurst to bring you this article.

We may get commissions for purchases made using links in this post. Learn more.

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  • Sandhurst products are my go to for great healthy and tasty snacks, especially after school.

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  • Great information! Loved it. You can see https://reminiiapp.com/

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  • Looked so good I couldn’t wait – Dove in off the end of my bread baton and swirled around in a couple of cheesy dips only to finish up at the Sandhurst stackers and sun-dried olives, who needs a Holiday when there is one in the kitchen, I can take any day.

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  • I have been buying Sandhurst Kalamata Olives, Sandhurst Semi-Dried Tomatoes, Sandhurst Baby Capers, Sandhurst Sicilian Green Olives for years as our kitchen staple adding that extra flavours to our dishes. I buy Sandhurst products for Gift Baskets as presents for family and friends and they love this idea as I add a chopping board and a knife and crackers and cheese for a celebration of flavours.

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  • Great ideas for entertaining guests and love that brand I buy it all the time

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  • i buy this for family they love the brand and the taste of sandhurst and the different flavors and range to choose from and i find it great value for money, i re-use the jars when im done with for small items in the house.

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  • I have been a purchaser of Sandhurst goods ever since they first appeared on supermarket shelves and still buy it to this day. The Sandhurst brand is the best without a doubt. This year I have not been able to find the Sandhurst cheese stuffed baby capsicums anywhere. I have tried to get on the Sandhurst site, but no luck with what they make. Help – these are such a wonderful addition to a salad.

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  • Fantastic Article

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  • I Love a good charcuterie board. I Love all the different options all on the one board. I love to do a chocolate board when we have guests over, it’s a fun way to do dessert after dinner. The kids love seeing everything layed out so they can pick and choose.

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  • This is great for the grandchildren they love them as they use them as finger food and make up their own meal and use plenty of ingredients including meat and cheese on the dips and crackers. We keep it simple with the Sandhurst’s products as it is a meal in every jar and the kids love them.

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  • This looks like the perfect relaxed way to have a picnic! I am loving the idea of this! Just bring along lots of fillings and plenty of cheeses and breads and of course a little alcohol and you’re all set. This sounds like the perfect way to catch up with friends!

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  • I hate being taken to a third party page to enter comps.

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  • Certainly most welcome for summer, and would be wonderful for the festive season. I can see this platter on the table Christmas Eve, when we get together with our neighbours.

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  • Love the look of the olive on creamy fetta

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  • This is timely and helpful, thanks – I aspire to entertain more and tips to make it less stressful are very welcome.

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  • Charcuterie boards are the absolute best! We do these so often in the warmer months because there’s something for the whole family. People pick and choose what they like and there’s no complaints because there’s so many different options to choose from, everyone is happy. It’s such a simple stressful way to make dinner.

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  • I absolutely adore finger food and this style of feeding people when we have family and friends at our home; or when we go out for a picnic, bbq or get together. These types of food are so easy to source and to buy and to prepare and to happily eat.

    • Yes I agree, finger foods are easy and yummie ! And you can assemble a healthy enough plate (certainly when you add salads, cheeses, nuts, fruits, boiled eggs, olives and rustic breads) that it can certainly can replace a meal (either lunch or dinner). Everyone happy and no hours of preparation in the kitchen :)

      • Also; the other bonus is less mess to clean up when cutlery is not needed. Finger food is the best for laid back and relaxed get togethers. There is always such a clam and relaxed feel to a finger food meal without the need for any fancy and stuffy table settings.

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  • The simplest way to entertain.

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  • I love the looks of different finger foods. I don’t think it is hard to put something together and I had many afternoons hanging out with many mums and all the children at the Cul the sac we then lived. At times I had 8 mums coming with over 40 kids. Many sweet memories indeed

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  • Love the visuals of the chatcuterie board

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