The
Toyota Prius c is not a Yaris with gas-electric hybrid powerplant, and
it’s not just a shortened-up Prius. It is a Prius with a
gasoline-electric hybrid powerplant that was mechanically
cross-pollinated — for lack of a better term — with the compact
four-door hatchback Yaris.
The Prius c has no direct hybrid competitors, but in this price range
you’ll find the Honda Fit, Chevrolet Sonic, Ford Fiesta, Hyundai
Accent, Kia Rio and Volkswagen Golf diesel. Some come close to the
highway mileage of the Prius c — but none match it in the city.
Walkaround: The Prius c looks like a conventional
hatchback. After all, there are only a few ways to position an upright
rear end, four doors and the hood on a 13-foot-long vehicle. However,
the Prius c is easily recognizable as a Toyota.
A character line flows from the lower edge, up over the dual grilles,
culminating at the Toyota badge in the center. Triangular-shaped outer
corners house fog lights on the top models, and the projector headlamps
are molded smoothly into the sheet metal.
The front door’s relationship to the door cutouts and roofline mimic
the regular Prius with its high point at the B-pillar. However the
roofline is taller, resembling the Prius v.
At the rear, the sheet metal above the centerline angles rearward,
with arches that carry over the wheels and around the rear resembling a
motorcycle fender. While the Prius c uses LED-lit brake lights,
conventional bulbs illuminate taillights and amber bulbs behind a clear
lens for signals.
Cargo access is straightforward and a temporary-use spare is under
the floor. Any flat tire will go in the well but the cargo floor won’t
be flat.
Model Lineup: The 2012 Toyota Prius c comes in four
models, called One, Two, Three, Four. All share the 99-horsepower
gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain, power steering and brakes, and
four-door hatchback configuration.
Safety features on all Prius c models include dual front, dual
front-side, dual front-seat cushion, front and rear side-curtain and
driver-knee airbags, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force
distribution, VSC electronic stability control, traction control, brake
assist, Smart Stop Technology, tire-pressure monitors, and a proximity
notification system for pedestrians and cyclists. A rearview camera is
not available, however.
Interior: There’s nothing groundbreaking, but some
unusual design, and level of standard features. Materials are mostly
plastic with a few padded soft-touch panels. There’s a tilt/telescoping
steering wheel with redundant controls, though the range of the
telescopic function is very short. The floor-mounted shifter is standard
with PRNDB settings — with B for battery. Eco and EV mode switches are
adjacent the handbrake.
The front seats are roomy enough for 6-footers, comfortable enough
for medium-length drives, and on most models the driver’s seat adjusts
for height.
Although the rear seats are configured for three adults, two adults
or three kids is about it with any degree of comfort and room. The rear
seat folds to increase cargo area, and on all but the One model, and has
a flexible 60/40 split.
A power port sits below the climate panel, and the USB/auxillary inputs are in a tray above the glovebox.
Instrumentation features a digital speedometer, and fuel level, while
a multi-information display provides fuel and energy data with
numerous views.
Bluetooth and steering wheel controls are standard on every Prius c,
while the top two models get Entune — Toyota’s telematics system. It
comes with Bing, Pandora, sports, stocks, traffic, weather, iHeartRadio,
MovieTickets.com and OpenTable. Sirius/XM and HD audio with iPod
connectivity and iTunes tagging come with Navi/Entune vehicles, along
with Bluetooth streaming. Entune access is complimentary for three years
— 24 to 33 months longer than most similar services.
Under The Hood: The Prius c is all about fuel
economy and low emissions, with the highest EPA ratings of any car
without a plug. The basics of the propulsion system are the same as the
standard Prius, but on a smaller scale.
Power is courtesy of a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine
coupled with a pair of electric motors and a 144-volt, 0.87-kilowatt
hour battery pack beneath the rear seat. Each of the electric motors
serves a different purpose and the computer that runs it all sends a
maximum of 99 total horsepower to the wheels, with a power-to-weight
ratio similar to the larger Prius.
The Prius c will run up to 1.5 miles on battery alone while staying
under 25 mph with a very light foot, although acceleration or speed
engage the gas engine much sooner.
An electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT)
doesn’t work the way most CVTs do but the results are similar. To keep
engine and electric motor speeds in the most efficient range for the
required performance needs, the speeds are variable.
EPA ratings peg the mileage at 53/46 mpg City/Highway, or 50 mpg Combined. We averaged 50 mpg in mixed driving.
Behind The Wheel: Prius c shares some platform
features with the Yaris and rides and handles much the same as most
compact cars. The Prius c has a pretty solid ride, only seeming bouncy
on bad roads. It’s relatively flat in corners because the weight from
the battery positioning gives it a low center of gravity for
predictable handling.
The brake pedal triggers regeneration while the drivetrain uses the car’s momentum to recharge the battery pack.
Whines: No model offers adjustable height shoulder belt anchors and tall passengers end up with the belt across their upper arm.
Bottom Line: Strengths of the Prius c are the best
mileage of anything without a plug, good maneuverability, electronics
for the tech-savvy, and relatively low pricing for an eco-friendly
hybrid. With moderate purchase and operating costs, it’s an ideal
urban vehicle.
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