Toyota’s fun and funky Prius C gets the job done
Road Test: 2016 Toyota Prius C
In the auto world, the price of stamping body panels and screwing everything together is a relatively small expense in the overall cost of a car. The truly big bucks — and they can easily reach well into the multi-millions — go into engineering and development. So, to amortize that investment, automakers try to spin off as many vehicles as possible.
All of this brings us to a car that’s essentially a mash-up of Toyota’s Prius hybrid and its subcompact Yaris hatchback. In Japan it’s known as the Aqua, while in North America, it’s the Prius C. Introduced for 2012 along with the Prius V wagon, it was the first time more than one model had been offered under that hybrid nameplate. The Prius receives a makeover for 2016, but the Prius C soldiers on as it was.
That gives you a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine with fuel-saving Atkinson technology. On its own, the engine produces just 78 horsepower, but in combination with the hybrid powertrain’s electric motor, it’s capable of a peak of 99 hp. You have to expect tepid acceleration, but on the other hand, you’re not buying it to make a name for yourself at the drag strip.
As it does on the bigger Prius, the hybrid system switches automatically and continually between gasoline, electricity or a combination of the two, depending on what’s needed. Come to a stop and the engine shuts off, although all functions such as lights, stereo and climate control continue to run. The hybrid battery recharges through regenerative braking, harnessing otherwise wasted energy when slowing down, or via the gasoline engine if necessary; the car can’t be plugged into a wall outlet.
The Prius C has an EV (electric vehicle) button like other Prius models, but I’ve never figured out why. Hit the button and the car runs solely on its battery at low speeds, such as when you’re prowling the parking garage looking for a space. But it usually does that at low speeds anyway, button or not, and if you exceed the limit of about 40 km/h, the EV system shuts off and the car returns to regular hybrid mode.
Although it’s smaller than the Prius, the C actually gets worse mileage. The difference is minimal — a combined city/highway rating of 4.7 L/100 km for the C, versus 4.5 for the Prius — but don’t expect proportionately smaller fuel bills just because the C takes up less real estate.
The C’s buy-in is lower, ranging from $21,235 to $26,890, against the larger Prius’ price of $25,995 to $29,330. I also like driving it; despite a lack of steering feel and a widerthan-expected turning radius, I still find it more fun to pilot than its larger siblings.
The interior, while functional, is showing its age. There are too many mismatched textures on the dashboard, the panel gaps are uneven and I’ve never been a fan of the centrally mounted instrument cluster. But the buttons and dials are large and easy to use, and the steering wheel uses two circular switches, originally designed to mimic an iPod controller, that give quick and easy access to the stereo, climate control and information screen.
The front seats are quite comfortable, as are the two outboard rear seats. Technically there’s an additional seat in the middle rear, but only for those desperately in need of a ride. The second row pulls down in all models to increase the cargo area, but it folds as a single unit in the base trim level. If you want a 60/40-split folding seat, you have to choose the Upgrade Package or the top-level Technology Trim.
All models include air conditioning, Bluetooth, USB connectivity, keyless entry, heated mirrors and intermittent wipers, along with nine airbags and whiplash-reducing front seats. The Upgrade Package adds variable intermittent wipers, driver’s seat height adjustment, cruise control, cargo cover and a rear-view camera. The Technology Trim includes those and adds navigation, satellite radio, voice recognition, push-button start, sunroof and heated front seats.
Whether it’s the right car for you comes down to whether your priority is saving the planet or your wallet. Natural Resources Canada estimates that it costs $1,025 a year to fuel the Prius C, while it costs $1,591 annually to gas up a Yaris Hatchback. But even if you bought the most expensive Yaris trim level, it would still take you four years before those official fuel savings caught up with the sticker price of the cheapest Prius C trim.
Still, if you want a hybrid, this is your starting point, since everything else on the market starts a buck or two shy of $26,000 and goes up from there. It’s definitely not a great car, but it’s fun, it’s funky and for those who want the gas-electric experience, it gets the job done.