I saw one in a parking lot today and was mildly interested. Did a quick search while inhaling a sandwich at lunch and curiosity was piqued. I have been thinking of Mazda2s and Honda Fits, and this thing appears to have about the same power, weighs 2500-ish pounds, and they are cheap cheap cheap on the used car market. And the rated fuel economy is absurd. Quick Googling says it basically has the Prius drivetrain but with some tweaks for higher efficiency in electric mode.
So what am I missing here? It looks like an awesome ride, and the used-car price is comparable to a first generation Fit, but with a lot better fuel economy.
According to other people's reports they have driveability issues. Weird annoying stuff. I didn't notice anything weird on my less than 5 minute test drive 5 years ago.
The drivetrain isn't the same as the Prius. Its like a 1/2g engine, updated (belt-less), paired to a newer hybrid drive system. I don't know much about the C, but I find it hard to hate them for use as an appliance.
I think new, they didn't (don't?) do well as the standard Prius is larger, more powerful, faster, and gets better mileage while not being significantly more expensive.
EvanR
SuperDork
6/10/17 2:33 a.m.
See my test drive here.
Basically, it's one of the worst cars I've ever driven. (And I've driven some awful cars.)
It's actually #2 on my list of worst new vehicles currently being sold.
Just no.
Brian
MegaDork
6/10/17 6:41 a.m.
In reply to EvanR:
I was thinking about that thread when I saw this. Basically the worst parts of sub compact and efficiency oriented vehicles combined.
My parents love theirs. When I drove it, it did OK. Very appliance. And then the freeway. The freeway was exciting in all the bad ways. But for old people who drive around town, my parents car tracked average speed driven (23 mph when I picked it up), it's just fine. Any place that you would expect a senior citizen to use a golf cart, you could potentially use a Prius C.
When you say 'freeway is bad', how bad?
One of my most fun cars had a top speed of about 70-80mph depending on uphill or downhill* and any curve had WOT as maintenance throttle. So I think of that as kind of a minimally acceptable power level. I can tolerate a lot for 50mpg, it's the patriotic thing to do.
Asterisk: On one looong downhill I hit 103 after I kept it matted all the way to the bottom. I refuse to reset the max speed telltale on my GPS, to commemorate this.
The Aqua / Prius C reminds me of some sort of 70s/80s penalty box hatchback. The one I rented didn't even have cruise control!
How about the Prius V? Is it more like the regular Prius?
EvanR
SuperDork
6/10/17 3:25 p.m.
Knurled wrote:
When you say 'freeway is bad', how bad?
My 67hp '77 Mercedes 240D felt safer during merges.
In reply to EvanR:
As a fat man, I'd probably feel safer on 50cc dual sport.
One amusing thing that did occur to me when driving the C is that the ergonomics and outward view were almost identical to my 1997 Honda civic that was my DD attitude the time. Prius C is a very small car.
Its faster than a 1G prius, which I have never had an issue merging with.
How cheap are we talking?
