Since its introduction to the market in 2012, the Toyota Prius became more and more expensive.
This is why Toyota decided to launch a more affordable version: Prius C.

Toyota experience in the hybrid segment is undeniable. Their commitment to this trend ran strong over the years and one after another, the car-manufacturers started their own hybrid vehicles. The main downside of a hybrid car is the price. Regardless of the fuel-efficiency, the acquisition price it was high. Not for the Prius C, that started under USD 20.000.

The Prius C sat on the subcompact Toyota B-platform, also used for the Yaris.. Thus, the production costs were kept low. The hatchback vehicle was 4-meter (157.4”) long and due to its limited wheelbase of 2550 millimeters (100.4”), the rear legroom for the passengers wasn’t that great. But the main reason why Prius C was launched was to attract more people to the hybrid side and lure it with a low acquisition price.

There were four trim levels named simple: 1, 2, 3, and 4. The top-spec had 16” light-alloy wheels, body-color rearview mirror, and better upholstery. But regardless of the trim level, these had the same powerplant. A 1.5-liter engine, an electric motor paired to a CVT automatic transmission and a NiMh battery pack. The air-conditioner was available from the base level. On upper trims, the car had a navigation system and a nicer infotainment system.