The compact Prius c joined the Prius lineup in 2012 alongside the regular Prius, Prius Plug-In and Prius V. C stands for “city,” and the car is a small, affordably priced hybrid that seats five and gets an EPA-estimated 53/46 mpg city/highway. The Prius c is a four-door hatchback that’s available in four trim levels — One through Four. Competitors include the Honda Insight hybrid and high-mileage subcompacts like the Hyundai Accent, Ford Fiesta and Chevrolet Sonic.
New for 2013 Prius c Two and Three models add a black SofTex dashboard panel while the Four trim gains a SofTex-trimmed steering wheel. Exterior Despite being 19 inches shorter than the regular Prius, the Prius c still inherits traditional Prius design themes. The front end has familiar Prius-like headlamps and a big trapezoidal grille. From the side, the Prius c has the appearance of a traditional subcompact hatchback. Exterior features include:
Standard 15-inch steel wheels with covers; 15- or 16-inch alloy wheels optional
LED taillights
Rear spoiler
Available power tilt/sliding moonroof
Available push-button start
Available fog lights
Available heated power side mirrors
InteriorInside the Prius c cabin there’s a surprising amount of room including 17.1 cubic feet of cargo space. The digital dashboard features a standard 3.5-inch customizable display that shows fuel economy, hybrid system operation and intuitive Eco Score/Eco Savings data. Interior features include:
Standard CD stereo with MP3 jack, iPod connectivity and Bluetooth streaming audio
Standard automatic air conditioning
Standard tilt/telescoping steering wheel with audio and climate controls
Available upgraded stereo with touch-screen navigation system and Entune entertainment system
Available heated front seats
Available 60/40-split folding backseat
Under the HoodThe Prius c features a 73-horsepower, 1.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine matched with a 60 hp electric motor. Mechanical features include:
