Toyota’s least-expensive hybrid model, the $18,950 (excluding a $760 delivery and processing fee) 2013 Prius C, is the latest car to be tested by Consumer Reports magazine.
Unfortunately for Toyota, the product-testing magazine asserted that the Prius C is not good enough to be recommended.
“This subcompact hatchback, which is related to the lackluster Toyota Yaris, suffers from a stiff ride, very noisy cabin, slow acceleration, and cheap-looking interior trim,” said Consumer Reports.
“In Consumer Reports Ratings, the Prius C’s overall test score puts it slightly under its chief competitor, the mediocre Honda Insight, and is too low for us to recommend the model. We do expect it to have very good reliability,” the magazine added.
Nevertheless, Consumer Reports did find some positive things to say about the sub-compact hybrid model, including “its tiny dimensions and easy parking make it a natural for urban driving”, and more importantly, that it “delivers excellent fuel economy of 43 mpg overall” and 37mpg in the city, which is the best of any vehicle tested by the magazine.
You can watch Consumer Reports’ review of the Prius C in the video that follows after the break.
VIDEO