I'm driving the Toyota Prius c in Florida and thinking about lunch, and the gorgeous stretch of beach off to my right, and also the fact I should hit the gym because beach season is almost here. Basically, I'm doing exactly what most owners of the Prius c will do—not think about the driving dynamics. The smallest member of the Prius family tree allows you to focus on other things, like its 53/46-mpg average during city and highway driving—or how to gain six-pack abs in time for summer.
The Prius c is approximately 18 inches shorter and 500 lbs. lighter than the standard Prius. While the styling is contemporary and kind of cute, this 4-door hatchback doesn't exactly stand out in a crowd. It's the hybrid for people who don't need the world to know they're driving a hybrid. It might not earn you green street-cred in the Whole Foods parking lot, but that's probably okay for most people. And apparently it is, since Prius c sales were red-hot in March, with 4,875 sold in only its first month on the market.
Room onboard is spacious for a car in this segment, and a split folding rear seat bumps the cargo capacity when you need more than the 17.1 cubic feet on offer. Plastic—far too much of it from the cheap side of the automotive spectrum—is the dominant ( and pretty much only ) theme inside. Frankly, the Prius c materials feel a step below the competition. The gauge cluster, mounted in the middle of the dashboard, proved especially annoying; in particular, the miniscule screen that relays fuel economy and gas savings is way too small. I wear pretty thick glasses, granted, but at 33 years old, I shouldn't have to impersonate Mr. Magoo when checking my MPGs.
Ride and handling are fine, the Prius c is reasonably nimble in town—although it did feel less planted during a short stretch of the highway. Other online reviews have labeled the car as feeling 'sporty.' Sorry folks, not sure what you've been driving lately, but I don't see it. The Prius c is fairly well-mannered and easy to park, that's pretty much par for the course in this segment. The 1.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine and electric motor work seamlessly, earning the Prius c major points for powertrain refinement. But it sure isn't quick: the run from 0-60 mph takes about 11 seconds. Top speed is 105 mph, in case you really take top speed into consideration when buying a hybrid.
The Prius c meets most driving expectations, drops the ball big time in terms of cabin appointments, and claws its way back with impressive fuel mileage. The starting price of $19,710 is pretty steep, especially when the base price of the standard Prius is $24,760. That's a savings of $5-grand, however, a Chevrolet Sonic or Ford Fiesta hatchback both start around $15,000, while averaging 35-mpg ( Sonic ) and 38-mpg ( Fiesta ) on the highway. It'll take a lot of mileage before your Prius c makes up that kind of price difference based on savings at the fuel pump.
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