Difference Between Prius C 1 2 3 4

Which Toyota Prius C is better and what does the C stand for?

I have found my questions about the differences between the Prius C model years. Toyota has come with various models over the last decade and has superb accessories.

So, what do you think, what is the difference between the Prius C 1,2,3, and 4? So, sit back, relax and read this article.

The visible difference between the Prius C models is that they have been upgraded after each release.

You can trace these differences in the headlights, backlights, and side trims. The models have different versions of infotainment screens with upgraded features.

The Prius C is also available in different trim levels, such as sport, facelifts, and persona series. The rest has been kept the same, as you know it is not a powerful vehicle.

I have got this covered. In this article, I have all the information you need to know about the Prius C trims, be it about engine, economy, or appearance. I have covered everything.

Compare Between Toyota Prius C Models

1. Prius C 1

The C in Prius C stands for “City,” making it a good choice for young urban buyers. So naturally, the car has to be fun to drive, sporty, and fashionable to appeal to buyers.

Not only that, but the car also has to be smart for packaging to get in your pieces of stuff, superior technology, and not to mention, it has to be fuel-efficient.

The fuel efficiency comes first in the priority list, and the brand-new Prius C 1 has the same 50 miles per gallon that the standard Prius.

Engine And Specifications

Now coming into the specifications, the Prius C 1 has a small 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and smaller electrical components. Also, the battery is so small that it is mounted under the seats, providing extra space for storing your stuff and providing your car with a better center of gravity.

The entire system produces 99 horsepower, which is truly not much. Keeping aside the engine, this car is 500 pounds heavier than the conventional Prius, providing greater agility and smaller size.

However, this small Toyota managed to offer a great functionality of this Prius C 1., especially with the engineering solutions like battery installed under the seats.

Compared to the regular Prius, the C gives you a more engaging drive. This car is better and underwent several suspension and chassis modifications, and is 500 pounds heavier. These qualities make the C better compared to the regular models.

If you choose the level four trim package, i.e., Prius C Four, you will get some better 16-inch tires with better traction, which will add some sport to your car. However, it has some backdrops as well. And the C Four comes with lower-profile tires, which cannot enhance the driving experience.

Fuel Economy

If you are a starter, you get a 46 miles’ highway MPGs which is not as good as the conventional Prius. However, it covers up in city MPGs, and you can get a 53 miles per gallon economy.

So, if you are interested in buying this car, you have to drive this car more in the city to highlight its advantages. With this, Toyota says, you achieve a better economy number.

Interior Profile

The rear offers you 17 cubic feet of storage, and it can be expanded when you knock down the back seats.

The Prius C 1 comes with various new advanced tech features.

These features are as follows:

  • The Eco Score System: This system will show you how your current ride is better than your previous ride. This feature will also tell you how efficiently you are stopping, starting, and cruising.
  • The Eco Saving: This mode will tell you how much fuel you have used in dollars. Also, if you wish to compare the fuel economy with another vehicle, this feature will allow you to do so.
  • Other Features: The C 1 has come with an in-tune app, which allows you to connect your car with your mobile over an app. This app can help you alter the settings and enjoy the services of the features like music, maps search engine (Bing), sports, etc. The Bluetooth is standard in all trim levels of Prius C 1.

The Prius C 1 has a great interior and is pretty stylish like buyers want. This car fits the bill as a gorgeous and stylish urbanized ride. It has plenty of techs, and it is more fun to ride, but truly not so much.

Overall, this is a great pick for many young buyers, and this car is worth the price you pay.

Prius C 2

The Prius model is the smallest of all conventional models of Toyota Prius. The Prius C 2 has the same hatchback style and design, nothing new from the Prius C, really!

It has some advancements to its electrical components, but it does not have such upgrades worth mentioning.

Engine And Specifications

As the previous model of Prius, Prius 1, the Prius 2 has the same 1.5 liters, four-cylinder engine. As a result, it offers you the same MPG as the Prius 1, i.e., it has a lower fuel economy on the highways but a better mile per gallon economy on the city streets.

The engine of the Prius C 2 is the same, with smaller components and batteries installed under the rear seats, advancing the storage in the car. However, the car’s entire system produces a power of 90 to 99 horsepower, which clearly indicates this car is not a high-performance vehicle.

It comes with the same low-profile 15″ tires. With these tires and a fuel economy of 46\53, you can understand it does not have a sporty touch.

Fuel Economy

You get 46 miles per gallon fuel economy, whereas it goes up to 53 miles per gallon on the city streets.

Interior Profile

It is a great mid-sized car, and it is surely pretty precious than its predecessor. The Prius C 2 has the same trim levels as the Prius 1. However, the Prius C 2 has better legroom at the back and is pretty fun to ride.

The Prius C 2 has an adjustable driver’s seat and foldable rear seats, which you fold and store some of your stuff. In addition, it has better cruise control than the previous model.

In the light of the Prius C 1, the Prius C 2 has the same infotainment LED screen with the same features.

  • The Eco Score System: This mode tells you about how improved your current ride is over the past rides.
  • The Eco Saving Mode: It shows you the total value of fuel consumption by your vehicle in currency.

The other features like the Bing search engine, an in-tune application solely designed for the car, and other infotainment features remain the same with this car.

The Prius models have an extra weight that gives them better stability, a center of gravity, and agility. However, this car, too, has highlighted the same functionalities as the C.

Prius C 3

Introduced to drive the car through the city street, the Prius C 3rd generation is an overview.

Over the years, Toyota has made several changes to this car. Like in 2015, the Prius was released with new headlights and trims.

To make the Prius C 3 a catchy one, they have improved the design of this car by modifying its side skirts, underbody trims, headlights, and backlights. Overall, it is a car with a cute look that runs through the street of the cities.

Engine And Specifications

Inside the hood, you can find a different engine of the C models, and this car has a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with no direct injection. The 1.5 is very similar to the engine you find on Yaris, but here this engine is detuned to give out a supply of only 74 horsepower.

The electric motor is the 3rd Gen Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive. The engine itself gives a power of 60 horsepower, and when you combine the two, you do not get the exact value of numbers, and you get only 99 horsepower. The torque goes unrated here.

Hence, this vehicle is pretty underpowered. This car is only for formal drive because of its continuously variable transmission and is 500 pounds lighter than the regular Prius.

It has a loving mesh finish texture, with a blue-shaded Toyota Emblem on the front. This emblem comes with Toyota’s Safety Sense C, but you cannot use this because there is no adapter cruise control.

All you get is the collision warning, departure warnings, and automatic braking. You get 43 MPG on the highways and 48 MPG on the streets.

Side Profile

Next, about the side profile of this car, the Prius C 3 uses standard quality 15-inch wheels wrapped in 175\65 series tires. These tires are pretty small in size. The 2018 Prius C 3 has a refined hatchback design with a hybrid badge on the sidelines.

This car one shade the side skirts have a different color with an intention for crossover. This car has a pretty interesting shape.

The 2018 edition is about 6 inches smaller than the conventional Prius models and is 104 inches long. Overall, it is roughly 16 inches smaller than the regular models by Toyota.

There is also a biometric sensor that scans your fingerprint and unlocks the door automatically.

Rear Profile

At the back, this car has showcased its traditional look with new series of backlights and bumpers. In addition, it has a tiny exhaust outlet right in the underbody part, hidden under the bumper.

As this car comes in hatchback, it is important to know that it has about 17 cubic feet. To keep it as functional as the previous models of C, this one has foldable backseats.

If you fold the seats down, you can maximize the space at the back. Also, Toyota has given you an extra spare tire for emergency purposes, so you have to hassle with the fixing kits.

Interior Profile

Talking about the interior, the 2018 C has got the same old key fob that you have seen before. In addition, it has the intelligent access key that you get to have on the higher trim levels.

The interior has basic seats with manual adjustments, no leather covers on the steering wheel. This car is very dated in terms of its look and switchgear. A lot of vehicles of Toyota have stepped on their game, but this is not the one.

It has several storage blocks for your accessories like aux ports and chargers and all. It has the same LED infotainment screen mounted on the front that lets you access the back camera, this screen is fully customizable, and you can customize it as you please.

It also has a navigation system, good space, a CVT transmission, conventional handbrake, and armrests. At the back, it has decent legroom, headroom and it is not that bad.

Driving And Comfort

Talking about driving, this car gets from 0 – 60 in 12 seconds. Well, I know what you are thinking. The Prius Liftback does this in 9 seconds, but this car is even slower as it has 99 horsepower.

Well, it is not that bad at handling. Feels nice and elegant. It is not noisy as you are probably thinking. It has automatic safety braking but no cruise control and pedestrian detections. Overall, it is a small and nice car for young riders.

Prius C 4

The Prius C 4 is pretty similar to all its predecessors. It has the same specifications as the engine and other electric components. However, the interior has some advancements, and the rest stays all the same.

Engine And Specifications

Now that you have thoroughly read this article, you probably have understood that this car has the same engine specifications through its released model years.

Yes, it has a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with no direct injection (just as Prius C modes). The 1.5 is very similar to the engine you find on Yaris, but here this engine is detuned to give out a supply of only 74 horsepower.

The motor used by the Prius C 4 is the Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive. The engine serves the car with 60 horsepower. Now, if you think the overall supplied power is because 60 HSP + 74 HSP gives you 134 HSP, you are probably right.

As you have read about the previous models, the same is up with the C 4 variant. Your car will have a total of 99 horsepower, only!

Henceforth, this car is pretty poorly powered. This car is only for formal drive because of its uninterrupted variable transmission and weighs 500 Pounds lighter than a regular Prius.

It has a loving mesh finishing, with a blue-shaded Toyota Emblem on the front that originates with Toyota’s Safety Sense C, but you cannot use this as there is no adapter cruise control.

Next, about the side profile of this car, the Prius C 4 uses standard quality 15-inch wheels wrapped in 175\65 series tires.

Fuel Economy

As you know, the C models are hybrids and are the best when driven on the city streets. In addition, the Prius C models are SULEV certified.

If you think that you will get a better gas mileage as this car is small and lightweight, well, it’s wake-up time. No, small size and lightweight factors do not count on fuel mileage. You will get 46 miles per gallon fuel economy, whereas it goes up to 53 miles per gallon on the city streets.

Side Profile

These tires are pretty small in size. The 2018 Prius C 4 has a refined hatchback design with a hybrid badge on the sidelines. This car one shade the side skirts have a different color with an intention for crossover. This car has a pretty interesting shape.

The 2018 edition is about 6 inches smaller than the conventional Prius models and is 104 inches long. Overall, it is roughly 16 inches smaller than the regular models by Toyota.

There is also a biometric sensor that scans your fingerprint and unlocks the door automatically.

Interior And Rear Profiles

The interior and rear profiles of the Prius C 4 are all the same, and only the outlook is different.

It is a dated car, and so it looks. It has basic seats with manual adjustments, no leather covers on the steering wheel.

It has several storage blocks for your accessories like aux ports and chargers and all. In addition, it has the same LED infotainment screen mounted on the front that lets you access the back camera and other accessories like the stereo, radio, etc.

It also has a navigation system, good space, a CVT transmission, conventional handbrake, and armrests. At the back, it has decent legroom and headroom.

As this car comes in hatchback, it has space of about 17 cubic feet. To keep it as functional as the previous models of C, this one has foldable backseats. If you fold the seats down, you can maximize the space at the back. Also, you get an additional spare tire for emergencies.

Overall, it is a good car for starters, as it is tuned and will go up to a predetermined speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What Are The Available Trim Options For Prius C?

The Prius C is available in three different trim options.

They are:

  • Facelift (normal release) – the first model with revised body.
  • Persona series – vibrant shades, automatic climate control, body trim.
  • GR Sport – the cars with an aggressive appearance, 17-inch tires, tuned suspensions, and other external trim modifications.

Q2. Are Hybrids Reliable?

Hybrid cars have low maintenance and minor issues. The Prius C is also a hybrid, it is slow and dated, but it is not unreliable. It has a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5.

Conclusion

This write-up is about the difference between Prius C 1 2 3 4. New buyers or starters always look for a reliable car. And the Prius C series is pretty reliable. It is pre-tuned, best for city streets, a bit dated, but it has nice handling and is safe.

This is an economy car series, and you easily get these cars; however, you may not find the Fuel Economy pretty good on highways, but it can be very advantageous on the streets.

These cars are worth buying!

Written by Kane Dan

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