Toyota Prius C

The overall cabin layout of the Toyota Prius C has been completely shared with the sedan counterpart and looks pretty much unique but at the same time, very practical. 

The four-spoke multi-functional steering wheel looks different from its very large centre boss, and in an unconventional manner, the large and wide instrument console is placed at the centre of the dashboard and is slightly pushed back. 

The centre console of the dashboard of the Prius C looks large and broad with its curved design and houses sleek looking AC vents at the top, a rectangular touchscreen infotainment system in the middle and a triangular like panel for the automatic climate control at the bottom.

The infotainment system gets piano black surrounds making the dashboard look premium as well. The co-passenger side of the dashboard looks wide too, with rounded AC vent and scooped cavity above the glove box to store small things in general.

Apart from the immense space, it has at the rear, the Toyota Prius C has a decent amount of features as well, including leather upholstery, push-button start with keyless entry, and retractable rearview mirrors.

While the Prius sedan might be overkill for many in terms of design, the Prius C hatchback feels much more proportionate and eye-pleasing with its chic looks, which clearly has got the ability to attract the onlookers, especially younger generation people.

The Toyota Prius C has got an aerodynamic looking front design with a sloping down bonnet, which ends up in a bulge in the middle just above the large trapezoidal air dam present on the front bumper. This air dam has scooped design for its lower edges and essentially forms the grille of the car too. The fog lamp housings look much more like that of the Toyota Vios sedan, while the teardrop-shaped headlamps look very much inspired by that of the previous generation Ford Fiesta.

The side profile of the Toyota Prius C looks decent with rounded and slightly flared wheel arches above the machined alloy wheels. Another thing that adds to the stylish look of the Prius C is its sloping down design for the roof and rear window.

At the back, the Toyota Prius C has got an almost straight look with vertical tail lamps on sides and a flat design for the boot lid. The rear bumper is large in proportion and protrudes slightly outwards, adding some muscle to the rear in general.

The Toyota Prius C is not a driver’s car in total, with a very light steering setup and softly sprung suspension setup of Macpherson struts at the front and torsion beam at the rear. However, for both short and long drives, the Prius C feels comfortable with good supportive seats on offer.

Powering the Toyota Prius C is a hybrid powertrain, which is a combination of a 1.5-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine coupled to an electric motor. This powertrain, mated to a CVT gearbox, produces a maximum power output of 100 PS and a peak torque output of 111 Nm.

With a decently kitted safety features list comprising of the front, side, and curtain airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, vehicle stability control, traction control, hill start assist and reverse parking sensors with camera, the Prius C feels pretty safe place to be in.

The Toyota Prius C is a commendable effort for the technological prowess it packs in a compact and affordable package. The list of features might not be too long and the uninspiring driving dynamics might be a let down for some. However, the comfortable ride quality and ease of driving make up for a very practical car to live with.