2017 Toyota Prius c Review

The One is indeed very basic, but Bluetooth and USB cover your phone and music connections, a folding seatback aids cargo flexibility, and LED headlights and auto climate control are nice touches. We think the Two is the best combination of price and features as it adds cruise control, a height-...

Toyota's hybrids are built around a stepless continuously variable transmission that's butter smooth. It sometimes doesn't sound that way as the motor cycles on and off, though.

The Prius C is not speedy, but it gets up to freeway speed adequately and holds its own in city traffic. It's about what you would expect from a car that can deliver up to 50 mpg.

The brake pedal comes across as reassuring thanks to a solid feel. In light use there's a faint whine as the hybrid system turns braking energy into electricity for the battery.

Generally steering is responsive and direct. Smaller tires and wheels allow the One, Two and Three trims to make tighter U-turns than the top-of-the-line Four model.

The Prius C is well-balanced and agile, but its fuel-saving low-rolling resistance tires don't have lots of grip. It's competent but rarely impressive in this area.

Toyota's hybrids are built around a stepless continuously variable transmission that's butter smooth. It sometimes doesn't sound that way as the motor cycles on and off, though.

The Prius C is a small car that rides bigger than you'd guess by looking at it. The seats are also surprisingly comfortable despite their basic adjustments and cloth upholstery.

They don't come across as plush, but the seats are comfortable enough for putting in long hours behind the wheel.

Better than you might expect from a small car with tires designed for mileage over comfort. At times, it even seems more settled and less up on tiptoes than its older brother, the regular Prius.

At or slightly above the class average in terms of wind and road noise. On the other hand, the hybrid system emits characteristic noises at unpredictable intervals.

It's a fairly spartan arrangement, with essentially one large dial for temperature control and a handful of buttons for mode, fan speed, recirculation and defrost functions. A pretty clean setup.

The simple, well-placed controls make the C easy to live with, and its long wheelbase opens up usable cabin room for occupants. Trunk space starts off modest, but with seats folded, the hatchback adds versatility.

Unlike in other Prius models, the C's shifter is conventional. The automatic climate controls are elegant and easy, and there are numerous useful steering wheel buttons.

The front doors open wide, and there are no obstructions. The rear is similar but not as well suited for those taller than 6 feet.

Plenty of front seat space for tall guys, and the steering wheel tilts and telescopes for the proper fit. Rear seat space is a bit tighter, though.

Slender pillars and lots of glass add up to good forward and rear side visibility, but the rear roof pillar is thick and the rear window is small.

Hybrids are more expensive than their conventional counterparts, but Toyota hasn't scrimped to offset the hybrid premium. It feels more substantial than typical subcompacts and cheaper non-hybrids in the same size class.

The base model features a fold-down rear seatback, which is handy but not quite as handy as the 60/40-split folding rear seat on the Two trim level and above.

It's a nice surprise to find a single cupholder that flips out from the back of the center console. Two or more rear seat passengers might need to fight over it, but it's there nonetheless.

There's enough space behind the rear seats for groceries (17.1 cubic feet), and a large suitcase just fits. Fold down the rear seats and this small hatchback becomes fairly voluminous.

The Prius C has one of the easier touchscreen interfaces to work with, and it's standard across the board. Intuitive functions and menu structure, crisp graphics. Even the base model comes with Bluetooth and voice commands.

The audio system tops out at six speakers. It's nothing memorable, but it does the job. An integrated navigation system comes at the Three and Four trim levels and works well.

Entune is Toyota's smartphone app package, offering the ability to connect with apps such as Pandora, Yelp and Facebook while on the go. Also aids navigation system with real-time traffic information and re-routing.

Toyota's Safety Sense package comes standard on all models, and includes forward collision mitigation, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and automatic high beams. It's a pretty generous and uncommon offering at this level.

To learn more about the Toyota Prius C of this generation, read our updates from a full year of living with a 2012 Toyota Prius C Three. We cover everything from seat comfort to real-world fuel economy. Please note that the 2017 Toyota Prius C differs from our long-term Prius C in that it includes n...