Feb 12 2012

2012 Toyota Prius C

Last year, Toyota’s group vice president for U.S. sales, Bob Carter, said he expects the Prius to be the automaker’s number one nameplate by 2020. Sure, the Prius continues to sell well in green car circles and has been the best selling car in Japan for a year and a half, but for Carter’s statement to come true, the Prius family would have to outsell the almighty Camry. Think about that. Think about the ambition – and challenge – behind those words. This is the equation that the Prius C needs to solve.

Still, in the C, focusing on fuel economy means that three of the car’s all-important numbers are 53/46/50. Those are the EPA estimated city/highway/combined mpg ratings, and we’ll gladly eat our Prius C swag hat if they aren’t the three numbers that pull heaps of people into Toyota dealerships across the U.S. when the C becomes available in March. Add in the low, low starting MSRP of $18,950 and it’s easy to see that the math works out. The high-end “4″ trim line will start at $23,230, though these prices do not include Toyota’s $760 destination charge.

Another number comes to mind when driving the Prius C: 11.5 seconds. That’s how long Toyota says the C will take to reach 60 miles per hour, but the little hybrid doesn’t even feel that quick. Thanks to the battery pack hidden under the rear seats, the C has a low center of gravity that’s supposed to help with handling, but this is still a Prius and drives that way. The 1.5-liter aluminum four-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine can often be heard struggling, especially up hills, as it spits out its 99 horsepower. This isn’t particularly bothersome, especially if you’re used to a normal Prius, but we’re curious to see how newcomers to the fold will feel when they get in the driver’s seat.

Source: AutoBlog