The Prius C is an affordable, smaller alternative for those who want a Prius hybrid for less money, starting for less than $20,000. But its harsh ride, noisy engine and cabin, and slow acceleration make it feel more like an econobox than a sophisticated hybrid. It gets the best city fuel economy, 37 mpg, of any car we've tested, and its 43 mpg overall is just 1 mpg less than the regular Prius. The interior is full of cheap-looking materials, the driving position and rear seats are cramped, and there's not much cargo space. Reliability is well above average, but the Prius C scores too low in our testing to be recommended.
A subscription to ConsumerReports.org includes Consumer Reports road test reports (based on over 50 different tests).
Toyota Blog Content
Mid-level 2013 Toyota RAV4 joins our test program
One of the more popular small SUVs, the RAV4 has been a top performer in Consumer Reports tests for years. To see how the new model compares against fresh competitors, we just purchased a typically equipped RAV4 for testing. With...
Who owns which car brands?
The auto industry has a very confusing family tree. The past few years have seen partnerships, sales, separations, bankruptcies, and entire divisions killed off, making it difficult to keep up with who owns which car brands. As automakers slim down...
Government proposes that electric and hybrid cars make some noise
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed a minimum sound standard for electric and hybrid vehicles to help reduce pedestrian fatalities. Electric and hybrid vehicles are very different than their gas-only counterparts in that they are virtually silent...
CES 2013 video: Five top products of the show
The Consumer Electronics Show never fails to bring product innovation and evolution that we can (more or less) predict—and to deliver some great surprises, too. This year's top products are a mix of both. 1. Huawei Ascend Mate smart phone:...
New Toyota RAV4's headlight switch design is not so bright
Toyota's redesigned 2013 RAV4 small SUV has many nice qualities and one head-scratching quirk: Daytime Running Lights that don't automatically run in the daytime. A simple safety measure, daytime running lights (DRLs) make cars more visible during the day by...
