2012 Toyota Prius c Review - The Affordable 60 MPG* Monster

I'll admit it. I was skeptical of the Prius Family concept. Over the years, the Prius nameplate has attracted an insanely loyal, albeit non-traditional, customer and enthusiast base. Would Toyota ruin all that goodwill by producing a Prius on steroids that gets under 50 MPG? Not so; the Prius v wagon has been a resounding success. In the 3 months since it hit the market, it has easily exceeded Toyota's sales projections, just as I said it would in my glowing review back in May 2011. The Prius c has been a bit of a folk hero on the PriusChat forums since the concept version of the car was originally shown in 2011 at the Detroit Auto Show. There was hope for a compact Prius that would achieve 60 MPG, packed with lithium batteries, that would tuck you in at night with a kiss. Oh yeah, all for under $19k. The production Prius c was revealed in January at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, and reaction amongst Prius enthusiasts has been mixed, mostly due to lofty expectations. But starting under $19,000 while sipping fuel at 53 MPG in the city makes an attractive package for many buyers out there looking at a horizon of $4.50 gas. So, does the Prius c have what it takes to proudly wear the Prius badge, or is it just another pretender in a land of subcompact econoboxes? I'm happy to say that somehow Toyota has (again) found enough magic HSD dust to engineer a car that's not only worth the asking price, but, more importantly, worthy of the Prius name. This Prius c review is more than a "Thumbs Up" or "Thumbs Down" article; it's a story about packaging, timing, and a glaring problem in the EPA MPG test. Read on for the whole story. Exterior & Interior Just last month I called the Prius c, "Not Prius enough," but after having some face time with the car it's easier to see the family resemblance. I asked the Prius Family lead engineer and Chief Engineer for the Prius c, Satoshi Ogiso, about whether designing the Prius c for the North American market and the Toyota Aqua for the Japanese market (same car, different name) led to design compromises and resulting in the less-Prius-y Prius c. His answer made total sense. The idea behind the design of the Prius c is to remove many of the traditional barriers of entry into the Prius family. In other words, there are specific reasons people haven't bought into the Prius lineup yet. Features that Prius owners have grown to love, such as the joystick shifter are replaced by a more traditional gear shifter in the Prius c. Another feature most Prius owners can't live without, Smart Key, has been a turn-off for some buyers. So the idea behind Mr. Ogiso's design has more to do with bringing additional people into the Prius family than it does making current Prius enthusiasts feel at home. The c is like the iPod Shuffle of Prius hybrids - get the owner hooked into the Prius ecosystem with a lower cost and simpler version of the car and then hold onto that customer for life with future Prius liftback, v, and Plug-in sales as they evolve into the Prius nerds that most of us have become. The Prius c is a different car in person than it is in the photos you've seen so far. While coming off "cute" in photos, the c (which Toyota says is for "city") also comes off cheap-looking. In person the compact Prius' design is fun, agile, and aggressive. The interior has been panned as being made of too many hard plastics and, again, cheap-looking. In person the interior totally works. Sure, the dash is made out of hard plastics, but given the segment of the market the Prius c will be competing with, hard plastic is the norm. I found the dash to actually be quite attractive, especially with the swirl design elements etched throughout it. The swirl design is carried over to the seats, and the whole feel just works when you sit in the cabin. I wouldn't call the feel "cheap"; I would call it economical. The interior keeps to the Prius family ethos of efficient space utilization. There are storage trays in front of the passenger, and there's even a brilliant storage tray behind the steering wheel. Actually, the only space wasted in the car is down where Toyota decided to put a traditional shifter instead of the Prius joystick shifter. A storage tray would have been nice in its place, but how much do people really need to carry in a subcompact car? Chew on these numbers for a minute: With 87.4 cubic feet of passenger volume and 17.1 cubic feet of cargo volume, the Prius c interior is larger than the Honda Insight while having a smaller exterior. The Insight, in case you forgot, is/was a car marketed to battle the Prius liftback. It has now been bested by the Prius' sub-$19k little brother in every worthwhile category - price, MPG, and interior space. As I said on Twitter last week, Toyota just put the final nail in the Honda Insight's coffin. Shut down production. It's dead. Driving & Performance For years, the mainstream (lamestream?) automotive media has assaulted the Prius for not being "fun to drive". A subjective measurement for sure coming from writers who just flew in from test driving the latest Mercedes sports coupe on a track in Sweden. My mini-rant aside, the Prius lineup has never been focused on giving owners a feeling of driving a Austin-Healey. The fun for Prius owners has always been more in line with the self-competition of achieving higher MPG than your last tank. The Prius c is no Austin-Healey, but the Prius c checks the "Fun to drive" box for me. The turning radius is extremely tight and translates into some fun city driving. I found myself doing donuts for no reason on a residential street in the c (something I suggest you all do on your test drive), just for the fun of it. City parking is simple. The suspension feels a bit stiff at times (potholes, speed bumps), but it also responds nimbly when needed. The Prius c is powered by a modified version of the 1.5-liter engine that proved rock-solid and reliable in the 2nd Generation Prius. This version of the 1.5-liter is beltless, which translates into less maintenance for the owner. The engine does an admirable job, proving responsive and efficient. I never felt like I needed any extra power than what it gave me while driving up mountain roads and passing at speeds close to 80 mph on the interstate. The CVT transmission might make the car feel like it needs more power, but in reality in most cases it doesn't. Toyota published a 11.5 second 0-60 time, but freeway acceleration feels much quicker. There is no PWR mode in the Prius c, but I don't think anyone will miss it. The ECO and EV buttons are present for your use, though. Just as in the Prius liftback and Prius v, ECO mode modifies throttle response and air conditioning output, but in most cases you won't notice a big difference in the performance. Pressing the accelerator pedal to the floor will still result in the maximum amount of power available being output, just as in the other two members of the family. All in all, the Prius c definitely takes the fun to drive quotient up a notch for the Prius family. The drivers and passengers seats are both surprisingly comfortable, with Toyota employing a "new generation" seat in the Prius c Two trim and above that has previously only been seen on the new generation Toyota Camry. The seat is considered an upgrade from the ones in the Prius liftback and Prius v. It definitely feels like it. After riding for hours in both front seats, I wouldn't have any problem taking the Prius c on a road trip. The back seat in the c is surprisingly roomy, with ample leg and head room. Rear visibility is great, especially if you don't have any rear passengers and can remove the backseat headrests. I did notice a blind spot in the rear passenger side corner, but that could have easily been due to my inexperience with the car and not being confident with where the Prius c ended. Overall the Prius c's cabin was quiet on both city and freeway driving. I did notice, however, that when you drive with the windows down there is a whistle that comes across the side mirrors. Once I folded the mirror in the whistle went away. My colleague, Russell Frost from the What Drives Us podcast, was not able to hear the whistle, so it could have just been something my ears were sensitive to. Packaging One of the big stories with the Prius c is the packaging of the car. No, I'm not referring to the sheet metal. I mean the features that it includes for the price. The Prius c is able to range from $18,950 for the Prius c One to $23,230 for the Prius c Four. That gives customers a decent range of trim levels while keeping pricing competitive with the rest of the subcompact market. More importantly, the pricing doesn't encroach upon the Prius liftback's territory. Let's be honest, the Prius c One is a marketing gimmick. It gives Toyota the ability to advertise the car under $19,000, but it comes with a weak stereo system and lacks many basic features like cruise control, a 60/40 folding rear seat, and a center armrest. But my first car didn't have any of those features, either, so I could be condemning the Prius c One trim level from the perspective of a 32 year-old instead of the eyes of a 17 year old who really wants to get into a hybrid. The Prius c Two comes with the upgraded front seats mentioned above, a better sound system (though still pretty weak), cruise, and many other features. The Prius c Three comes with the Display Audio system with Navigation and Entune, 3-door Smart Key, and Touch Tracer, along with a few other features (see the full list below). The Display Audio system that Toyota has brought into their mid-range trims starting in the 2012 model year is great. The screen isn't the highest resolution, but it has Navigation built in, XM, and Entune. The system also gives you access to more MPG information, which is always a welcome addition. I actually find the Display Audio system more responsive and easier to use than the "premium" JBL audio system found on the Prius v and the refreshed 2012 Prius. The Prius c Four adds some nice alloy wheels, fog lamps, and SofTex-trimmed heated front seats. Based on my time in the Prius v, I actually prefer the SofTex material to Toyota's leather. It feels more durable and comfortable. The leather in my 2010 Prius was starting to fall apart after only 18 months, so I am big fan of the synthetic SofTex. You can also add some optional 16-inch alloy wheels to the Prius c Four for an even tighter turning circle and improved suspension. You can check out the full list of features below:

Prius c One – $18,950​

• Standard equipment only (see standard equipment below)​

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Prius c Two - $19,900 - adds –​

• AM/FM CD player with MP3/WMA playback capability, 6 speakers in 6 locations, auxiliary audio jack, USB port with iPod® connectivity, auto sound leveling, hands-free phone capability, phone book access and music streaming via Bluetooth® wireless technology​

• Variable intermittent windshield wipers​

• Fabric-trimmed two-tone front seats, 6-way adjustable driver’s seat; 4-way adjustable front passenger seat and seatback pocket​

• 60/40 split fold-down rear seat with adjustable headrest​

• Cruise Control​

• Center console with armrest and storage compartment​

• Cargo area tonneau cover​

• Cargo area lamp​

• Engine immobilizer​

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Prius c Three - $21,635 - adds-​

• Display Audio with Navigation and EntuneTM- includes 6.1-in. touchscreen, AM/FM CD player with MP3/WMA playback capability, 6 speakers in 6 locations, SiriusXM Satellite Radio capability (includes 3 month trial subscription to XM Select Package), HD RadioTM with iTunes® Tagging, auxiliary audio jack, USB port with iPod® connectivity and control, vehicle information with customizable settings, hands-free phone capability, phone book access, advanced voice recognition, and music streaming via Bluetooth® wireless technology​

• EntuneTM- includes BingTM and Pandora®; real-time info including traffic, weather, fuel prices, sports, and stocks. Apps available spring 2012 at no charge include iHeartRadio, MovieTickets.com and OpenTable®. Access to EntuneTM services is complimentary for three years. See Toyota.com/entune for details.​

• Color-keyed outside door handles with touch-sensor lock/unlock feature​

• Tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio, climate, Multi-Information Display, Bluetooth® hands free phone and voice command controls​

• Touch Tracer Display​

• Smart Key System on front doors and liftgate with Push Button Start and remote illuminated entry​

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Prius c Four - $23,230 - adds-​

• Color-keyed heated outside power mirrors with turn signal indicators​

• 15-inch 8-spoke alloy wheels with P175/65R15 tires​

• SofTex-trimmed heated front seats; 6-way adjustable driver seat; 4-way adjustable front passenger seat with seatback pocket​

• Integrated fog lamps​

The real star of the Prius c: The color Multi-Information Display One of the big stars in the Prius c package is the standard 3.5-inch color MID (Multi-Information Display). It's exactly what Prius enthusiasts have wanted for years. It's bright, colorful, and, most importantly, provides a ton of useful information. One screen incorporates the HSI (Hybrid System Indicator) that we've grown to love in the 3rd Gen Prius and the Prius v and adds an "ECO Score" to grade drivers on their acceleration, cruise, and braking techniques. Another screen offers the driver the opportunity to compare their fuel costs to another car. You can put in any MPG you want to compare to. Want to show a buddy how much you're saving in gas money compared to his Hummer on a road trip? Just input 9 MPG and the price of gas, then watch your friend's jaw drop. You can also compare your monthly MPG to a previous month and even a previous year. The MID will even show you how you did on that trip when you turn off the car, presenting the driver with a summary screen. If Toyota is looking to get drivers hooked on the Prius lifestyle, the color MID is going to do it. The MID in the Prius c has now set the standard for MPG information and presentation that the rest of the Prius family has to live up to. Unfortunately, this system didn't make it into the mid-cycle refreshed 2012 Prius, nor did it go into the Prius v. Hopefully Toyota is already working on how to get a more badass version of it into the 4th Gen Prius, but that's at least 3 years away. It really is great, and I'm actually underselling it. Timing I mentioned Timing as being one of the storylines with the Prius c, and as I type this review articles are bouncing around about gas going up at least $0.60 by Spring. That means much of the country will see $4.25/gallon gas prices shortly after the Prius c hits the market in mid-March. We've gotten used to $3.50 gas, but $4.00+ is an entirely different mindset for the American consumer. Prius c to the rescue! Japanese response to this car has already been so huge that while Toyota expected to sell 12,000 cars a month in Japan, they received over 120,000 orders in the first month alone. I was actually standing with Chief Ogiso when he was shown the news on a colleague's Blackberry. His pride was hard to contain. Also starting to get a good bit of press is the lackluster real-world efficiency of the latest round of subcompact "eco" cars. At a time when other subcompacts on the market touting 40 MPG numbers are having difficulty actually reaching that coveted number, here comes the Prius c to blow them all out of the water. MPGees Last fall I started to hear rumors that the EPA fuel economy test had not gone the way Toyota had hoped and internally there was some scrambling over what to do. There was talk of delaying the Prius c to tweak the car to perform better in the EPA's tests. In the end, it appears that no changes were made to the car and the EPA tests came back as 53 MPG city, 46 MPG highway. Most of the online world was hoping for the magic 60 MPG number, and even those of us not drinking that kool-aid were a bit disappointed by the 53 MPG number. Prius fans were asking themselves: Did Toyota finally hit a ceiling with what their HSD hybrid system was capable of? Who would buy a car smaller than the standard Prius that only gets 3 MPG more? Cast your doubts aside, my friends. The Prius c has the capabilities to be an MPG monster. You can read my previous reviews of the 3rd Gen Prius and the 2012 Prius v and get the idea that I'm not a hypermiler or even someone who usually reaches the EPA estimates. There's a certain irony in the fact that my driving style doesn't fit well with driving a Prius. But, over a 31 mile trip, I averaged 60 MPG across city streets, interstates, and winding mountain roads - without even trying. I was averaging 64 MPG before a long steep hill knocked my average down to 60. On the interstate, where I was supposed to be averaging 46 MPG, I was achieving 57.8 MPG going 73 miles per hour. I was shocked by the efficiency numbers I was able to pull down. It was easy. Simple. Other trips brought about similar results. So, something must be off in the MID's calculation, right? My colleague, Wayne Gerdes (CleanMPG.com), calculated the different between computed and actual (hand calculated) MPG and found less than a 1% difference. As a former owner of an early production 2010 Prius where the difference was often 15%, I can certainly appreciate an accurate computer. This all leads me to the EPA test. Back in 2006 the EPA changed the methodology for calculating fuel economy estimates; mainly in response to hybrid vehicles such as the Toyota Prius. Fast forward to 2012 where many manufacturers have apparently figured out how to game the new EPA methodology in order to achieve the 40 MPG highway numbers you see advertised on TV. Check the EPA's database to see if people are actually achieving those numbers in their Hyundais and Fords. You won't find many. I am willing to bet that 75% of drivers will achieve over the EPA rated 53/46/50 numbers. One apparent result of this change is the Prius c getting a bad rap amongst die-hard fuel misers. Does the fuel economy test need to be changed? Probably not. The Prius c is simply an unfortunate casualty in the EPA's testing methodology. Wrap-up Put simply, with the Prius c you get a lot for a little. With a starting price under that of the first generation Prius, more interior space than the Honda Insight, and a compelling list of features, the Prius c is hard to beat. Just as with the Prius v wagon, Toyota again expects to only add 15-20% incremental sales to the Prius. I again think they are severely underestimating this number. With record-breaking gas prices coming and a rebounding automotive economy, I can only hope that Toyota's production facilities will be up the challenge of keeping pace with demand for what is sure to be another blockbuster addition to the Prius Family. ----- For more Prius c coverage, check out this link for our full list of stories. Check out over 220 Prius c photos on our Facebook page. "Like" us while you're there! PriusChat | Facebook *As always, YMMV. Don't sue me if you don't get 60 MPG.

 

You know, I looked at that afterwards and tried to figure out how I was in EV for so much of the trip. I think that EV in this situation refers to "Engine off" and not to me engaging the EV button. But still, 33% is a lot for the type of driving I was doing.