Overview & Reviews

Capitalizing on the success of the original Prius, the Toyota Prius C is a smaller and more urban-friendly variant. The Prius C's smaller dimensions allow for a downsized hybrid powertrain and a lighter curb weight. These, in turn, result in improved driving dynamics while returning nearly identical fuel economy figures to its larger sibling. As further enticement, a new Prius C rings in several thousand dollars less than the standard Prius liftback.

Sacrifices made in the name of pricing are few, and are generally limited to ride and interior refinement. Considering the Prius C's strengths of unmatched fuel economy, nimble handling (for a hybrid) and hatchback versatility, we think it's a pretty smart choice for an affordable economy car, hybrid or not.

Current Toyota Prius C
The Toyota Prius C debuted in the 2012 model year as a smaller, entry-level alternative to the standard Prius liftback. The smaller size places it in the four-door subcompact segment. As one would expect, the Prius C is powered by a smaller, less powerful version of the hybrid powertrain used in its larger stablemates.

A 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine is paired with two electric motor/generators that combine to produce 99 horsepower. The gas engine both drives the wheels and charges the nickel-metal hydride batteries, while the electric motors augment propulsion and charge the battery under deceleration. Power is sent through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) to the front wheels. The Prius C obviously won't provide much in the way of excitement, but its performance is adequate, and owners will likely find satisfaction with an EPA-estimated 53 mpg city/46 mpg highway and 50 mpg in combined driving.

The Toyota Prius C is available in trim levels that are numbered from One to Four. Standard feature highlights for the Prius C One include 15-inch wheels, automatic climate control, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming and a USB/iPod interface. The Prius C Two adds cruise control, a height-adjustable driver seat, 60/40-split-folding rear seats and an upgraded sound system. The Prius C Three is further enhanced with navigation, keyless ignition/entry, Toyota's Entune smartphone integration system and satellite radio. Finally, the Four adds alloy wheels, heated mirrors, faux leather upholstery and heated front seats. Sixteen-inch wheels and quicker-ratio steering are optional on the Four, while a sunroof is available on both the Three and Four.

While the Toyota Prius C is pretty similar to other Prius vehicles, there are a few distinct differences to be aware of. Taller drivers may find it hard to be comfortable due to a lack of steering wheel adjustment range, while the front passenger's footwell is limited by an intruding glovebox. Backseat adult passengers, by contrast, will enjoy ample head- and legroom. The cabin suffers from an overabundance of hard plastic surfaces, which give the Prius C a decidedly cut-rate feel.

Hybrid vehicles in general, and the Prius lineup in particular, tend to be rather dull and uninspiring to drive. The Prius C, with its more compact dimensions, manages to inject a little liveliness into the mix, with more responsive steering and composed handling. Unfortunately, this added athleticism results in some ride harshness. But considering the Toyota Prius C's miserly fuel consumption and its favorable pricing, these faults are pretty easily forgiven.

Used Toyota Prius C Models
The Toyota Prius C debuted in 2012. Since then, changes have been very minor.

User Reviews:

• 

  Respect the Prius c ! - 2015 Toyota Prius c
  By Rob - April 2 - 1:53 pm

  I have previously driven Honda Fits (07 and 2012) but I didnt care for the new redesign. I never really considered the Prius (was leaning more towards a Crz or Golf) but that was before I saw the c at a dealership one night. It was shining in the moonlight and looked so edgy- futuristic. I test drove it the next day and it was mine within the week! I REALLY ENJOY my c. It hugs the road through messy weather and brakes nicely. The interior is very stylish-blue instrumentation and a touchscreen light the front. The c is so quiet. One foggy night we left the movies and before we hit highway speeds it felt surreal - silently cutting through the fog, the futuristic interior/blue glow, and high powered LED lights- so memorable. The fuel economy is excellent! The acceleration takes some time getting used to but now I know how it handles- its not peppy like a Fit but it isnt a sluggard either. Because it is a Hybrid it is not a powerhouse but I never feel intimidated merging or traveling on the interstate as the engine does have a little kick when needed! The c holds quite a bit too-flatten the rear seats in any combo and it almost gives the Fit a run for its money in storage space. I do wish it had more hidey-holes and cup holders like the Fit though. I truly feel blessed to have and drive such an amazing little car. Respect the Prius!

• 

  Respect the Prius c ! - 2015 Toyota Prius c
  By Rob - April 2 - 1:53 pm

  I have previously driven Honda Fits (07 and 2012) but I didnt care for the new redesign. I never really considered the Prius (was leaning more towards a Crz or Golf) but that was before I saw the c at a dealership one night. It was shining in the moonlight and looked so edgy- futuristic. I test drove it the next day and it was mine within the week! I REALLY ENJOY my c. It hugs the road through messy weather and brakes nicely. The interior is very stylish-blue instrumentation and a touchscreen light the front. The c is so quiet. One foggy night we left the movies and before we hit highway speeds it felt surreal - silently cutting through the fog, the futuristic interior/blue glow, and high powered LED lights- so memorable. The fuel economy is excellent! The acceleration takes some time getting used to but now I know how it handles- its not peppy like a Fit but it isnt a sluggard either. Because it is a Hybrid it is not a powerhouse but I never feel intimidated merging or traveling on the interstate as the engine does have a little kick when needed! The c holds quite a bit too-flatten the rear seats in any combo and it almost gives the Fit a run for its money in storage space. I do wish it had more hidey-holes and cup holders like the Fit though. I truly feel blessed to have and drive such an amazing little car. Respect the Prius!

• 

  Prius C One - The ultimate Econo-box - 2013 Toyota Prius c
  By tk1971 - March 19 - 9:57 am

  Most people see the C as a downgraded Prius. I see it as the ultimate Econo-box. Even in the basic trim (One) this car has built in bluetooth, turn signal indicators on the side mirrors, mp3/usb, a digital speedometer, and that 4" color screen chock full of information. Best part? 49-50mpg with A/C blasting in the summer and the heater blasting in the winter while driving it like a regular car (from stop & go to FWY speeds). Feels about the same as my previous car, a manual transmission Yaris Hatchback with a way more modern / techy feel and design. Price-wise, the cheapest C is comparable to the highest trims of the Yaris or Fit. Looking @ newspapers, Ive seen the One advertised for ~$17k.

• 

  Great economy car - 2013 Toyota Prius c
  By jptuck1962 - December 5 - 5:44 am

  Picked this up as a lease - save more each month in gas than the payment is vs the Rav 4 I drove before. With snow tires had no problems this winter. Surprisingly agile its fun to drive and the sound system beat the Alpine I had in the Rav. If the Leaf could actually do over 100 miles or the Tesla was only say 40k then something to consider. Until then the Prius C is very hard to beat.

• 

  GOING HYBRID - 2012 Toyota Prius c
  By choferon54 - November 24 - 3:47 pm

  Purchased this vehicle after doing homework on it for almost a month.I kept looking for positives reviews but all I found was the negatives,most were resentful of the fact that this is a Gas saving machine and doesnt have the muscle of a V8 or V6. One Friday afternoon, I was going home traveling North on the 5 FWY merging onto the 14 to Palmdale when on my left side observed a white Prius C speeding his way on the carpool lane going baldly about 80 miles per hour and said to myself all those comments about how fast these cars move on the FWY were just opinions not based on facts.That very same weekend went for mine and I am satisfied with the deal I got from Hamer Toyota at Mission Hills.

• 

  Join the Hybrid Team :) I love my little prius - 2015 Toyota Prius c
  By venezuelan86@hotmail.com - November 18 - 10:59 pm

  I originally wanted a Scion Tc but since I care A LOT about the environment and I really dont need a sports car, I figured why not? I LOOOOVE how the car drives. OBVIOUSLY you wont hit 65MPH in 3 seconds because its a small engine, but it drives SUPER SMOOTH/ SUPER QUIET, the seats are comfortable, the radio is awesome I LOVE XM RADIO BPM/AREA, it also comes with USB/AUX and the NAVIGATION comes in handy if you loose reception on your phone or your phone dies. The color I got was metallic grey and I LOVE IT! The car looks small from outside but yet IT HAS SO MUCH SPACE INSIDE. Great job whoever designed that car!!!! Also I like how its a hatchback because since I got the Hybrid C option 3 the backseats can fold and I can go to IKEA and buy a lot of stuff comfortably lol. You can comfortably have 4 people and 1 dog but 5 people is a tight squeeze. The car looks amazing inside, almost like you are driving a super futuristic car!!! I honestly have no complaints on my car. I LOVE IT!!! I STRONGLY RECOMMENDED you wont regret it :)

• 

  Join the Hybrid Team :) I love my little prius - 2015 Toyota Prius c
  By venezuelan86@hotmail.com - November 18 - 10:59 pm

  I originally wanted a Scion Tc but since I care A LOT about the environment and I really dont need a sports car, I figured why not? I LOOOOVE how the car drives. OBVIOUSLY you wont hit 65MPH in 3 seconds because its a small engine, but it drives SUPER SMOOTH/ SUPER QUIET, the seats are comfortable, the radio is awesome I LOVE XM RADIO BPM/AREA, it also comes with USB/AUX and the NAVIGATION comes in handy if you loose reception on your phone or your phone dies. The color I got was metallic grey and I LOVE IT! The car looks small from outside but yet IT HAS SO MUCH SPACE INSIDE. Great job whoever designed that car!!!! Also I like how its a hatchback because since I got the Hybrid C option 3 the backseats can fold and I can go to IKEA and buy a lot of stuff comfortably lol. You can comfortably have 4 people and 1 dog but 5 people is a tight squeeze. The car looks amazing inside, almost like you are driving a super futuristic car!!! I honestly have no complaints on my car. I LOVE IT!!! I STRONGLY RECOMMENDED you wont regret it :)

• 

  Persona Prius C - 2016 Toyota Prius c
  By Ulyses Villasin - November 11 - 2:08 am

  Great car and reliable for city driving!!!!

• 

  Judge Me By My Size, Do You? - 2015 Toyota Prius c
  By Joshua - October 10 - 11:14 am

  Im a 20-something college graduate who works in the film industry and drives across the country regularly. My priorities are functionality and pragmatism. My 2014 Prius C (lovingly appended "-3P0") was the first *new* car I ever bought, and in the 12 months I owned it I had put 45,000 miles on it driving from Albuquerque to Los Angeles, Seattle to Oklahoma City, and more. Its not a luxurious cruise, but I always felt safe, and the vehicle consistently performed as expected (a massive boon to the long drives is the flawlessly integrated bluetooth system). If you take care of this car as instructed, and I dont mean hand-polishing your paint job once a week, but simply driving smart and providing regular maintenance, itll work very hard for you. Lets talk about size for a moment. Inside, the fold-down seats provide you with substantial storage space for a vehicle in the class. Transporting grip equipment like tripods and steadicams, is generally no problem as long as you organize your cases appropriately. And as for my *favorite* aspect of this car, PARKING, I am simply smitten with the profile of this vehicle. Maybe its because Im a European living in the states, but I cant imagine driving a car larger than this and still being able to find parking in downtown LA--or almost anywhere in LA--on short notice during any given day. Now for some exaggerated criticism. Ive had friends tell me that driving this car is not unlike riding a large turtle (I for one happen to respect the longest-living mammal on this planet). Merging onto the highway? Either slam on that gas pedal and listen to your engine scream as the acceleration meter runs red, or stay in the green and ignore the scowls of zooming passerbys blaring their horns. This isnt a threat. More of a warning. At the end of the day, I loved my little C-3P0 and dont for one second regret choosing him over the Yaris, Fiesta, Sonic, or Dart. But as it looks like Ill be driving a lot less in the days to come, I decided to trade him in for a fresh start, and after perusing all the new 2016 models of the aforementioned selections for which I am obviously a target consumer (including a very frisky crimson Scion iA whispering my name) I drove off the dealership with another Prius C. I have no regrets (I mean, just look at that gorgeous front bumper). Now I just have to find a good name...

• 

  Judge Me By My Size, Do You? - 2015 Toyota Prius c
  By Joshua - October 10 - 11:14 am

  Im a 20-something college graduate who works in the film industry and drives across the country regularly. My priorities are functionality and pragmatism. My 2014 Prius C (lovingly appended "-3P0") was the first *new* car I ever bought, and in the 12 months I owned it I had put 45,000 miles on it driving from Albuquerque to Los Angeles, Seattle to Oklahoma City, and more. Its not a luxurious cruise, but I always felt safe, and the vehicle consistently performed as expected (a massive boon to the long drives is the flawlessly integrated bluetooth system). If you take care of this car as instructed, and I dont mean hand-polishing your paint job once a week, but simply driving smart and providing regular maintenance, itll work very hard for you. Lets talk about size for a moment. Inside, the fold-down seats provide you with substantial storage space for a vehicle in the class. Transporting grip equipment like tripods and steadicams, is generally no problem as long as you organize your cases appropriately. And as for my *favorite* aspect of this car, PARKING, I am simply smitten with the profile of this vehicle. Maybe its because Im a European living in the states, but I cant imagine driving a car larger than this and still being able to find parking in downtown LA--or almost anywhere in LA--on short notice during any given day. Now for some exaggerated criticism. Ive had friends tell me that driving this car is not unlike riding a large turtle (I for one happen to respect the longest-living mammal on this planet). Merging onto the highway? Either slam on that gas pedal and listen to your engine scream as the acceleration meter runs red, or stay in the green and ignore the scowls of zooming passerbys blaring their horns. This isnt a threat. More of a warning. At the end of the day, I loved my little C-3P0 and dont for one second regret choosing him over the Yaris, Fiesta, Sonic, or Dart. But as it looks like Ill be driving a lot less in the days to come, I decided to trade him in for a fresh start, and after perusing all the new 2016 models of the aforementioned selections for which I am obviously a target consumer (including a very frisky crimson Scion iA whispering my name) I drove off the dealership with another Prius C. I have no regrets (I mean, just look at that gorgeous front bumper). Now I just have to find a good name...