Toyota Prius C - Features explained

If you are talking about hybrid cars, there is no way that you don’t discuss the Toyota Prius C. Unlike its elder and larger sibling, the Prius C is in the form of a hatchback and is more accessible to a wider range of consumers. It has been around for many years now but it was only in 2018 when it received a major upgrade, meeting the new standards of the changing world. Today, the Toyota Prius C price of Php 1.9 million will get you a plethora of interesting features. In this story, we are going to discuss some important ones.

Exterior features

Let’s start with the design of the Prius C. Toyota tried to update the way this car looked by adding a pinch of sportiness. It is still recognisable. At the front, there is a pair of weird or you can say unique headlights. These are halogen projector type. The radiator grille takes up the centre part of the front bumper. The brand logo sits above the grille. Toyota has added a couple of fog lamps whose housings also accommodate the side turn indicators.

The side profile of the Prius C is okay-ish. The body-coloured outside rearview mirrors with integrated side turn signals look premium. Also, the door handles are body-coloured as well. The alloy wheels don’t ignite the expected spark; they are pretty simple.

Looking at the rear end of the car, we see huge tail light clusters. They are quite big considering the overall size of the vehicle. Plus, they are vertically arranged so they take up even more space. We have a mixed feeling about them; either you will love them or hate them. Anyway, moving on, there is a roof-mounted rear spoiler which is nicely done. And we have a small rear windscreen.

Interior features

To be honest, the interior of the latest Prius C is a lot better than that of the previous model. Seriously. Toyota has added some interesting features on the inside to make the cabin more modern and up to date. We like the all-black theme. It works in some cars and doesn’t in the others. Luckily, here it does. The bucket seats at the front is also a nice addition. Of course, these aren’t the ones that you would find in a sportscar but they do provide a good amount of comfort and support. The driver’s seat is 6-way electronically adjustable whereas the passenger’s seat is 4-way adjustable.

We also like the new dashboard design. Everything is sorted out and neatly placed. It doesn’t look cluttered. The two side AC vents look very similar to what we’d find in a Mercedes-Benz A-Class and B-Class. The instrument console is located at the centre and is quite wide. We also like the flowing line that kind of separates the driver’s side of the dashboard with the passenger’s side.

Toyota has also added a new 6.5-in large LCD touch screen display for infotainment purposes. It features DVD/CD/Tuner/MP3 etc. Connectivity options like USB, iPod, Bluetooth, etc are also available. It does lack Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. In terms of comfort, there is a sufficient amount of space for all the occupants. Toyota has also provided several storage spaces all around the cabin. Automatic climate control is also present.

Powertrain

This is perhaps the most interesting part of the Toyota Prius C specs, the powertrain. Powering the car is a conventional 1.5-litre engine with VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing-intelligent) system. It is a DOHC setup which produces 73 PS of max power at 4,800 rpm and 111 Nm of peak torque at 4,000 rpm.

Then we have a permanent magnet synchronous motor which churns out 45 kW or 60 PS of max power and 169 Nm of peak torque. The batteries here are of sealed nickel-metal hydride type connected in series and have a capacity of 6.5 Ah. They have a max power output of 19 kW or 26 PS. Now, you do the math. The transmission in question here is an electronically controlled CVT unit with Eco and EV mode settings.

Safety equipment

Toyota also added a host of necessary safety features in the Prius C in its last upgrade. Today, the Prius C comes with vehicle stability control with traction control, hill start assist system, 7 SRS airbags (driver, passenger, curtain shield, driver's knee), ABS with brake assist, immobiliser, etc.

These were some of the key features of the Toyota Prius C. If you are looking for a hybrid vehicle, then you should definitely shortlist this one. The Prius C is available in only a single variant in the Philippines but you do get to choose among the 4 different colours - Silver Metallic, Cool Soda Metallic, Orange Pearl Crystal Shine and Yellow Mica Metallic.

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