On paper, the year 2012 Prius C appears to have driven out small and enrolled in boot camp postpregnancy, such as Toyota claims curb weight of 2500 pounds (our estimate is closer to 2600, but you get the idea). It's lighter than a Mazda Miata, Mini Cooper hatchback, and most of the last car in our test B-segment comparison. That's about 500 pounds lighter than a standard Prius, though below, C is more streamlined than the Prius hybrid Yaris.
Smaller, shorter, lighter,
At 67 pounds, the battery C is 24 lighter than the one in the Prius, and 0.9 kilowatt-hours of capacity is lower by about one-third. Car (19.1 inches shorter) smaller electric motor contributes 20 fewer horses than the standard Prius, and gas-engines are virtually identical to the first powered Prius, the relative shrinking 0.3 liter and puts out 25 horsepower less. System total of 99 horses is 35 less than it's brother. Although more compact, powertrain Prius C constructed in the same way with the Prius, the electric motor is integrated into the CVT.
In many-most-hybrid, the goal is to make a hybrid function as transparent as possible. But not here. C refused to move forward, second-guessing every throttle input. A little pressure on the gas pedal the engine rpm high net but no increase in speed. The car was apparently just to prepare to accelerate. If the voice of the hydrocarbons that are produced at a greater rate does not convince you that you do not need to go faster and farther you push the pedal, CVT revs even more reluctant to allow, and the acceleration that occurs. It's almost invisible, but it happens. Probably lighter than the Prius, but the power-to-weight ratio C, at about 25 pounds per horsepower, just a little better than your writer. With better gearing, he might be able to get to 60 mph in about 11 seconds or more of the same. Driven like a normal car, C is, quite frankly, frustrating.
So we also went through Prius C as hypergreen Prius driver will, continue to peck EV button, speed is so slow that we want our own sounds, and approach stops as if there is a three-inch nail sticking out of the brake pedal. Surprisingly, the transmission shifts to B, which slows the car more aggressive and feed more energy to the battery, turn off the EV mode. Eco mode is also an option, but inside, slipping-clutch feel of the CVT plus the throttle so lazy you would think should be stretching the throttle cable, if only as old as the car has a throttle cable. Do the best eco on 15-mile loop, we managed an indicated 55 mpg. Could have been higher but for the moment affair where we accelerated to 70 under wide open throttle. [Wince.] Up the steep hill. (As a graduate of miles, loyalty is only getting harder.) The good news is that the Prius C is actually capable of accelerating to 70 mph uphill. We're not sure it would be. The bad news is that there is no point during the 15-mile walk snails we do every other driver flash his lights, waved us off, or stick his head out the window and yelled, "Get on, loser!" We will feel better about America if one has
Description: Prius C is Still Able to Compete
Rating: 3.5
Reviewer: Eman
ItemReviewed: Prius C is Still Able to Compete
