For all its fuel-saving prowess, even its staunchest defenders couldn’t describe the Toyota Prius c as ‘exciting.’
Bland, in fact, was a much more apropos description for the exterior styling of the hybrid subcompact, which went on sale in Canada in 2012.
Sales were decent that year and the next, but declined slightly in 2014, no doubt in part to the drop in fuel prices. Still, the c’s appearance didn’t exactly get hearts pounding, particularly in a segment where there are some well-executed designs.
So for 2015, Toyota engineers and designers went to work to create a c — which stands for City — with a more sporty personality.
And they’ve succeeded. The restyled front now features standard single LED projector headlights, while the rear-end gets a futuristic flare with ‘light-pipe’ tail lights. Its body is now lower below the beltline, which combined with the sculpted rear flares gives the 2015 c a much more athletic stance than its predecessor. And this being a member of the four-model Prius family, there’s some fuel-saving function to that new form; it boast a slippery 0.28 coefficient of drag, meaning less wind resistance.
There is a high degree of user-friendliness to the in-cabin controls, with optional steering wheel-mounted buttons a welcome addition.
Handout, Toyota Canada
The cabin has also received a refresh to give it a less staid look, and designers have done an OK job in that regard. Things like the shifter still look a little dated, and many of the switches and controls are the same as those used in Toyota subcompacts for years.
Still, there is a high degree of user-friendliness to the controls, and the optional steering-wheel mounted buttons are a welcome addition.
And I have to say I really like the digital readout displaying how much fuel you’ve used represented in dollars and cents. You simply program in how much a litre of fuel is selling for, and you can see in real time how much it will cost to fill the tank at any given time. A small thing to be sure, but one I think you’ll see more and more on other models and brands.
The 2015 c is available in three trims: base, Upgrade and Technology, the latter of which adds such desirable features as navigation, advanced voice recognition, softex leather heated front seats, backup camera, leather-wrapped steering wheel, power moonroof and 15-inch alloy wheels.
The base model comes with a 6.1-inch display audio system, USB output, voice recognition and Bluetooth capability.
The rearview of the restyled Prius c.
Toyota Canada, Driving
I drove the Prius c around Metro Vancouver for a week and found it to be a very civilized city car. Steering is precise, handling is crisp and while not ready for the quarter-mile track, acceleration is more than adequate to keep you in the flow of traffic, including highway travel.
There are three drive modes — EV, Normal and Eco — and I did the majority of my driving in Eco.
The Normal mode adds a little more throttle response over Eco, and also is the mode required for the air conditioner to operate.
I wish EV mode would give a bigger range and not cut out at such a low speed, but it is designed to allow you to run at low speeds up to 1.6-kilometres. However, when I tried to employ it in this city’s infamous stop-and-go traffic, it wouldn’t engage. The only time it really stayed on was crawling through parking lots with very little to no pressure on the accelerator. That said, in Eco mode I received tremendous fuel economy, flirting most of the time with the advertised combined efficiency of 4.8L/100km.
A unique feature is the digital readout displaying how much fuel has been used in dollars and cents, and how much it will cost to fill up.
Toyota Canada, Driving
Also new for 2015 are measures to decrease wind and cabin noise, aspects that improved the driving experience.
The c’s big brother and stablemate Prius is getting a complete redesign for 2016, with many design elements inside and out rumoured to be borrowed from the Toyota Mirai, the hydrogen-powered sedan which went on sale in Japan and California this year.
No doubt this design language will make it into the c eventually, but in terms of the mid-cycle refresh, the 2015 Prius c is an improvement over its predecessor. And still just as fuel efficient.
