2012 Toyota Prius c First Drive – Prius Goes Small with City Version

Posted by Michael Waterman on February 8th, 2012

2012 Toyota Prius c

La Jolla, California — Americans long assumed that bigger meant better. But lately, going small is the new way to go big.

Apple is perhaps the best example. By creating a complete set of tools that range from the large (yet still quite small) iPad to the smaller iPhone down to the tiny iPod Nano and Shuffle, Apple figured out ingenious ways to make essential tools better while constantly making them smaller. In the process, Apple has become one of the largest companies in the world.

Add Toyota to that list of innovators thanks to their impressive Prius family.

Since the debut of the original Prius way back in the pre-iPod era (2000), that little hybrid has fast become the poster child for fuel-efficient driving with more than 1.1 million of the quirky cars sold in America and 2.5 million sold globally.

The Prius is far and away the best-selling hybrid in the land, outselling Honda hybrids 4 to 1, Ford and Hyundai hybrids 5 to 1 and GM hybrids by a whopping 10 to 1 ratio.

For 2012, Toyota projects Prius family sales to exceed 220,000 vehicles.

2012 Toyota Prius c Side

Prius c and v Expected to Generate 30-40% of Prius Sales

Last May we had our first chance to drive the 2012 Toyota Prius v wagon, which we expect will fast become the Prius of choice for families with two or three kids.

In late January, we got behind the wheel of the Prius c for the first time and had a chance to assess the smallest Prius that is designed to appeal to twenty-something hipsters and young couples.

First impression? Once again we’re impressed.

Toyota expects the Prius v and Prius c to represent about 30- to 40-percent of Prius sales this year. That translates to roughly 35,000 to 40,000 of each of these two new vehicles finding a home in American garages this year.

Two Reasons the Prius c Will Become a Big Seller

Between the Prius c and v, we’re confident the Prius c will emerge as the sales leader. Here are two reasons why:

Best city fuel economy of any Prius: The Prius c returns an estimated 53 mpg in the city and 46 on the highway for a combined 50 mpg fuel-economy rating
Lowest starting price of any Prius: The base Prius c starts at only $18,950 (plus $760 destination fee), which makes it only slightly more expensive than a well-equipped Toyota Yaris

Lowest price and best mileage? We can almost hear budget-conscious American car shoppers saying, “Sign me up!”

The features of the Prius c are so compelling and the fuel-economy ratings so good at such a decent price, we wouldn’t be at all surprised if the c pulls sales away from both the Toyota Yaris and the larger Toyota Prius liftback.

In fact, we suspect many customers will enter Toyota dealerships expecting to buy either the Yaris or the standard Prius and will leave the store driving a new Prius C instead.

Prius c vs. Toyota Yaris vs. Toyota Prius Liftback

Nine vibrant paint colors and four trims are available on the Prius c:

Prius c One: $18,950
Prius c Two: $19,900
Prius c Three: $21,635
Prius c Four: $23,230

Customers who are considering the Yaris will quickly realize the Prius c is basically the same size. If you want details, consult the image below or remember that the Yaris is 1.7-inches taller than the Prius c but 3.8-inches shorter. Yet the Prius c gets such better fuel economy at a reasonable price bump than the Yaris that when you stretch that cost over a five-year loan, many will pull the trigger on the Prius purchase.

For instance, the best-equipped Yaris (the 5-door SE model) costs only $1,700 more than the base Prius c. Yet the combined fuel-economy rating of the Yaris is only 33 mpg. That’s 17-mpg less than the Prius c. If exceptional fuel economy is the goal, the Prius c wins this showdown easily.

The Prius Liftback is one-inch taller and 18-inches longer. Without question it’s a larger car. Not surprisingly, it costs more, too, with a base price for the entry-level Prius (Prius Two) starting at $24,000. That’s more than $5,000 richer than the base price of the Prius c One trim.

Here’s where it gets interesting. The combined fuel-economy rating of the Prius Liftback is 51 mpg in the city, 48 mpg on the highway for a combined average of 50 mpg. The Prius c tops that score with 53 mpg in the city and equals the Prius Liftback with a 50-mpg combined rating.

Test drivers may be surprised by how relatively roomy the Prius c feels in comparison to the Prius Liftback and how well it drives. Ultimately, the decision may come down to price and we’ll assume that if money talks loudly enough to many buyers, the Prius c may win its fair share of arguments.

Image comparing Prius C to Toyota Yaris and Prius Liftback

Driving the Prius c in San Diego

We drove the Prius c One and Four trims so we could get a good comparison between the high- and low-end of the models. The engines and fuel economy are the same across all trims. The base Prius One is well equipped with power windows and door locks, automatic climate control, remote keyless entry, Bluetooth hands-free phone controls and USB auxiliary outlets.

Graduate to the Prius c Four and you’ll gain plenty of upgrades along the way, including cruise control, six-way adjustable driver’s seat, 6-speaker audio system, tilt and telescoping steering wheel along with SofTex-trimmed seats, heated front seats, alloy wheels and fog lamps.

2012 Toyota Prius c Four interior and dashboard

2012 Prius c Four offers 38.6-inches of headroom and two-tone seats

2012 Toyota Prius c offers 36-inches of legroom and 50.8 inches of hip room

The Priusc c trunk offers a surprising amount of storage space

58.6 MPG Looks Great on the Small Screen

A gas engine and two batteries generate a 99-net horsepower rating and propel the Prius c. We made multiple runs around the San Diego area and our best fuel-economy reading was 58.6 miles-per-gallon over a 45.5-mile journey through San Diego and back to La Jolla via I-5.

That’s real-world driving—from the suburb to the city to the freeway and back home—and the Prius c tops all competitive cars that don’t plug into an outlet. Impressive.

Here’s a feature that tells that story exceptionally well and will likely sell boatloads of Prius c models in the coming years. Toyota calls it ECO Savings and it allows you to compare the Prius c to any car you like.

We chose a hypothetical vehicle with a 30-mpg average rating (the Chevy Cruze LS, Honda Civic, Fiat 500, Mini Cooper S, Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris are all residents of the 30-mpg neighborhood). We then used $3.99 per gallon of gas as our benchmark.

Then we drove.

After 45.5 miles, the small informational screen displayed the results. What is ingenious is that the ECO Savings trip computer doesn’t just compile your mpg score; it quantifies how much the Prius c saved you compared to your benchmark. In our case, $2.95 even in that relatively short trip.

Now imagine you’re considering trading a truck or SUV for a Prius c (an extreme change, I’ll concede but not out of the question). Now you’re looking at a car that averages about 16 mpg and you can easily double your savings to $6 over a 50-mile trip. That comparison alone may persuade more prospective buyers to trade their big car for a small one than any amount of sales tactics a savvy car salesman can conjure.

Toyota Prius c ECO Score reveals 58.6 mpg and actual cash savings

The Vehix View

The 2012 Prius c is scheduled to arrive in showrooms in early spring. We’re confident Toyota has another winner in this smallest of all Prius family members. It drives well. It costs less than a traditional Prius yet improves on the fuel-efficiency leader’s city mpg ratings. A few fellow drivers described it as “cute” while Toyota understandably describes the c as “stylish.” Either way, it looks good and this small car should make a big impression on buyers looking for new ways and new cars that can help save money on city commutes.

2012 Toyota Prius c