Toyota Prius C 1.5 Auto Review: Vitamin C supplement

What we like:

Fuel sipping nature

Toyota dependability

well-packaged interior

reasonably priced

What we dislike:

Lacks refinement

uninteresting looks

hard materials and plastics on the inside

short on performance

Like in the Prius, there’s a minimalist look to the Prius C’s driving environment. The digital instruments are placed high in the middle on the dashboard next to the 3.5-inch colour LCD multi-information display. The latter features an energy monitor system that is so synonymous with hybrid models, a short to long term fuel consumption chart, fuel consumption records, trip computer as well as an eco scoring function with the menus accessed via the right button on the steering wheel. The driving position is spot on but the front seats are just too flat and lack any form or under thigh and lateral support.

Thanks to the cleverly packed battery pack and fuel tank, rear passengers will find uncompromised levels of legroom in a compact model like he Prius C but headroom is a tad short, as the seat bench is placed higher than normal to clear the batteries underneath. There’s a fairly sized boot at the rear with a full sized spare underneath, which is a rarity in a hybrid model due to the typical space constraints.

The Prius C’s mass-market nature means that the interior lacks the quality and perceived luxury levels of more expensive models. The exposed surfaces throughout the cabin feel hard and brittle to the touch while the switchgear just look plain and simple. On the other hand, everything feels well put together for a solid and reassuring feel overall. The reassuring feel is further helped by the Prius C’s high levels of safety – the Euro NCAP five-star rated Prius C features seven airbags, ABS, VSC stability control system, traction control, hill assist and so on as standard.

The high COE prices might not be in its favour, it might lack refinement and looks unimaginative but the Prius C’s fuel sipping nature during a time when fuel prices are rocketing upwards once again could well be more than enough to overcome its shortcomings.

Credits: Story by Mark Yeo Photos by Raymond Lai