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Toyota Prius c
The new Prius c is almost here! Introduced at the North American (Detroit) Auto Show, it's smaller and less expensive than the traditional Prius hatchback and evokes the Yaris in size and styling. It's supposed to list under $19k US and get ~52 mpg city (but a few less mpg than the Prius-with-no-suffix on the highway).
I am looking for a small, fuel-efficient hatch for my next vehicle purchase, which is at least a year out. I was thinking of getting a Prius-with-no-suffix, used, as one alternative. My desired ceiling before TTL is around $18k. But the Prius c provides an intriguing alternative, as it's smaller (but probably big enough for me) and gets better FE in the city, which is usually where I drive. So I'll have to check it out once it hits the dealers. I am hoping there will be a Prius c at the upcoming Greater Twin Cities Auto Show in March so I can take a good look at it.
What do y'all think about the new c?
I am looking for a small, fuel-efficient hatch for my next vehicle purchase, which is at least a year out. I was thinking of getting a Prius-with-no-suffix, used, as one alternative. My desired ceiling before TTL is around $18k. But the Prius c provides an intriguing alternative, as it's smaller (but probably big enough for me) and gets better FE in the city, which is usually where I drive. So I'll have to check it out once it hits the dealers. I am hoping there will be a Prius c at the upcoming Greater Twin Cities Auto Show in March so I can take a good look at it.
What do y'all think about the new c?
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1. Expecting sales to start late March (Really start of Q2). 35-40k this year expected.
2. Prius C Two, with Cruise, Engine immobilizer, 6-speakers, and split rear seat still under $20k
3. 9 airbags including airbags UNDER the seat cushions, to help keep passengers in best position
4. Primary competitors are subcompacts Ford Fiesta, Mazda 2, Honda Fit, plus Honda Insight
5. Was designed to have a different feel and interior than Prius to attract new, younger customers
Between the Prius, which sold 140k last year, with supply/production issues all year due to the tsunami, the Prius V, which is selling 4k a month, and is the hardest Toyota to find at a dealer, the Plug-In, and the new C, which is basically a 50MPG Prius with a 5k price break, I don't see how Prius family doesn't sell 250k this year, especially with gas prices skyrocketing all winter, and already averaging $3.70 nationally in February...... :confuse:
BD
Unfortunately for Toyota, at just under $20k for a C with even basic equipment, it will not only compete against much less expensive cars like the Fiesta, Fit, Accent, Rio, and Sonic (and Toyota's own Yaris), but also with cars one class up, some of which get excellent fuel economy, e.g. Elantra, Focus, and Mazda3 Skyactiv. All of those are available pretty well equipped for under $20k. And the subcompacts have a $4000 or so price advantage over the C. For someone who drives 10k miles a year and could get 50 mpg in a C and, say, 33 mpg in an ICE subcompact, it would take over 8 years to make up that difference with gas at $5 a gallon. So for me, the C will need to beat the alternatives overall, in ride, handling, seating comfort, interior quality, NVH, etc. FE will not be enough. If it were, I'd rather spend my $20k on a lightly-used Prius.
But if I were in the market for a small car, I don't know if the price premium of the Prius C would be worth it to save $500/year in gas. The Prius C is designed for city MPG, not highway. If someone is putting 15,000 or more miles per year in a car, then they're probably doing a lot of highway miles, in which case they might want to look at something else.
BTW, my other car is an '06 Prius I bought used because when comparing to other cars with about the same interior passenger and cargo space, there wasn't a big price difference as compared to the significant MPG difference. I can't really say the same thing with the Prius C.
Do you own Prius. How does Prius C compare with regular Prius. I bought 2010 accord 2 years back. I am not happy with mpg. Reason for low MPG is short trips in the city. Buying Prius could have been a better decision instead of Accord. So, I am thinking of getting Prius C as a second car when spouse starts working again.
This is me exactly. I do about 18,000 per year, at least 60% highway and the rest suburban driving. You may remember that for a number of years I drove an Echo, in which I averaged about 41 mpg. I recently bought a new Yaris SE in which I am averaging about 38 mpg.
I was interested in this Prius C, so I test drove one, and I have to lament/wonder why it is that no hybrid being designed and built today can be even remotely fun to drive? The C is no exception, not surprising given the tiny high-profile LRR tires, electric steering, etc. I must say that by contrast the Yaris is a barrel of fun to drive (and decently fun on its own merits). That's before I even get to the lack of a stick shift, which my Yaris has, and which adds such a measure of pleasure to the drive for me.
So the Yaris is rated 30/38, I'm getting 38, and I bought it for $16,5. By contrast the Prius C is rated 53/46 so I would probably get about 46, and it costs $19,5 for the most basic version. That's $3K more for a car with a few extra doohickeys like auto climate control, but also without rear disc brakes, any semblance of handling or acceleration, and a noisy whining CVT (and it is a noisy little bugger, more so than the regular Prius). And an annual gas savings in my case of about 70 gallons or so, so around $350 with gas at $5/gallon. That's about a 10-year break-even period minus whatever value you assign to keyless start and auto climate control (maybe $300 for the keyless start in my case, $0 for the auto climate).
I'm glad they have made a Yaris hybrid, and I think it will pull some people into the hybrid camp, but it will never approach sales of the other Prius models I don't think. OTOH, for anyone thinking of getting the el-cheapo Insight, the Prius C is definitely worth a long hard look IMHO. Yes, it's a bit smaller, but better in lots of little ways (including mileage).
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
BD
1. On 8/31/12, the vehicle would not turn on and all the lights went on, however I could not shift gears...30 minutes later it turned on. On 9/10/12, I took the car for the 5000 mile check up at the Toyota La Puente Dealer and the intake person said it was nothing, that it happens all the time, he brushed it off and did not document my concern nor told mechanics to look into problem.
2. On 9/12/12, approx. 2 weeks later as I was driving the vehicle's alarm went off and I was not able to turn it off! I pulled over and tried turning off the alarm and the car, but neither turned off. Finally it turned off and 5 minutes later it all happened again. On 09/13/12, I took it to the Toyota Corona Dealer where I purchased the vehicle and was told they could not find anything wrong...the car was there until 9/18/12...they decided to replace the alarm system because they thought that might be the problem. I confirmed with the KARR alarm company that the alarm was replaced.
3. On 10/3/12, the same problem as of 8/31/12--but this time the gear was able to shift to reverse HOWEVER it rolled FWD not reverse. The cars warning lights were all on and the vehicle would not operate. Waited 45 minutes for Roadside Assistance and then the car turned on---On 10/04/12, the car was taken back to Toyota Dealer in Corona-still pending outcome.
I think the LEMON LAW applies, I have contacted Toyota and was told that someone will contact me by today 10/08/12...still waiting for call. I am scare to drive this vehicle, I bought it for its reliability and peace of mind and it has cost me to miss work and more importantly putting me in a dangerous situation.
http://oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/lemon
but you are definitely setting everything up right by notifying the manufacturer of the problem. The 9/2 incident doesn't count because they were able to fix the problem. It only applies to a problem (or several problems) that the dealership has tried multiple times to rectify without success.
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As for the current Prius C it can be vastly improved in handling by simply disconnecting the front antisway bar (not removing) to reduce the enormous understeer dictated by lawyers rather than suspension engineers. And the current mazda 2 being prepped for B racing class have shown significant ability to be a leading class winner.
Yes, I got my Prius C, promptly imporoved its handling and proved it on track. Its no competitor for even a Civic sedan, not the Si, but it is comfortable and fun to drive. There are clips on youtube. And yes, I've taken two long trips more than 500 miles and got 48 mpg at an average speed of 65 mph for the entire trip.
I vote the Prius C the car of the year and most assuredly when the Prius C on mazda chaasssis and a high performance version is released I have my order prepped for my dealer. Congrats Toyota, we recommend the Prius C highly for today's driving errands, long or short distance.
cheers.
PS I've had more than my share of McClarens and Corvettes but today they don't offer much except on track.