Ideas on obtaining a softer ride

What is your your pressure sit at? To high can cause the issues you stated. I have tire at 33 all around. MPG takes a hit, but my wife prefers the softer ride.

 

+1 ease back on the tire pressure for more ride comfort.

You don't necessarily want larger tires for comfort. Now if you can find a wheel and tire combo that weighs less (regardless of size) you'll be on the right track.

That's going to be tricky because the ones they give you with the car are already pretty light.

Shocks and aren't a great fix here. No variety to choose from, and you aren't changing the weight of the car or the tension of the springs, so best to leave them alone.

 

Are the tires older?
Getting a taller tire will give more sdewall to absorbe vibration, running less air will also give a softer ride.
It's a 2012, the struts and springs are worn, new struts and springs will give a more complient ride.(the struts and springs are letting the car bobble, new ones would keep it steady)

 

As already stated check your tire's PSI.

I run my PSI at the manufacturers recommendation which should be on a sticker inside your drivers side door jam. Or of course in the owners manual.

Everything else is kind of binary. A 7 year old vehicle with unknown mileage? You could have your suspension inspected. But it kind of comes down to either you need shocks or you do not. Find someone you trust.
Sometimes even shocks that aren't old, can become damaged and fail.

Tires also aren't a magic catch all. But again 7 year old vehicle? What shape are your tires in? If you need new tires, you also need new tires.

But basically Tires, Suspension that's what you want to inspect.

 

Ride comfort of my wife's 2012 Prius v was significantly improved by replacing the original low rolling resistance (LRR) Toyo tires with regular tires. Fuel economy took a bit of hit but we didn't buy the Prius v for that - we just wanted a relatively small station wagon with PCS and DRCC that my wife was comfortable driving. The non-LRR tires we bought are the same size as the original ones but are much "chunkier" with a wider tread and obviously hold more air that can cushion the ride. My perception is that braking and cornering are better with the non-LRR tires.

I also keep tire pressures at or just above what is stated on the door jams of our vehicles and adjust tire pressures as ambient temperatures rise and fall to keep them there using a portable AC/DC air compressor.

Consider checking the ride comfort rating of various brands of tires on a web site like Tire Rack - there can be big differences. Here is a link to a table of non-LRR all-season tires that Tire Rack currently has for the Prius C: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=GTAS&width=175%2F&ratio=65&diameter=15&&autoMake=Toyota&autoYear=2012&autoModel=Prius%20c&autoModClar=Three&cameFrom=TSR

 

I also wish my C had a softer ride but I believe it has more to do with NVH rather than suspension stiffness. It really doesn't have the hardest ride but you can hear everything and that makes you think the suspension is too hard. I'm sure this car would feel very different if it only had Lexus levels of insulation and padding. I also believe that installing softer springs on this car would make it handle very wobbly and that is because the wheelbase is so short, it would be very unstable at highway speeds.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

I tend to agree. It might do better with softer bushings on the lower control arms up front, but it's a subcompact. Those always ride just a little harsher, mostly due to their low mass and short wheelbase.

I have to agree with an earlier post- a new shock or strut is usually better than an old one and always better than a broken one, even if there's no real choice for change on the market.

@Offline Regarding the tires on that list, I recognized the general RT43. I recently put those on our other subcompact and it made that car considerably more comfortable. It previously had no-name tires and the difference in noise and ride was very noticeable.

 

Increasing tire pressure does NOT make the ride softer. Definitely makes it harsher.

 

There are a number of rubber parts in the suspension that can get worn over timer and depending on road conditions. Like others mentioned getting your suspension and tires checked is a good start. If you have the time test drive a newer model, just to get that comparison of best case ride scenario. Everyone has different tolerances but I find my C to soak up road imperfections better than my previous Rav4 w/ 18 inch wheels. My C has the 15 inch wheels which offer some extra cushion. Let us know what you find out.

Toyota Prius c Completes the Prius Family of Vehicles | Toyota USA Newsroom

Vehicle Structure – Improved Handling and Safety
The Prius c’s body structure makes extensive use of lightweight, high-strength steel to help reduce vehicle mass and improve fuel economy. The strategic use of high-tensile-strength steel contributes to the vehicle’s ability to absorb and disperse impact energies helping enhance occupant safety. The high level of torsional rigidity afforded by the Prius c body structure allows the suspension to be more optimally tuned for ride and handling.

 

That was exactly my experience too. I switched to non-LLR rubber pretty much from day one and the C got noticeably quieter and less bouncy, even at 40PSI. Mileage went down from around 53-54 to 50, but for me it's worth it, because these handle and grip better, especially on corners, and are quieter and don't bounce around when you hit a pothole.

 

I found just getting rid of the stock LRR and going to a different LRR tire made a big difference, honestly. The original tires were crap.

 

@Baby c what pressures are you running? If higher, start by setting them back to stock?

Higher pressures will give a harsher ride, and more stress on a lot of components, wheel bearings and suspension for starters. Maybe go a pound or two over (the driver's door decal recommended pressure), at most. But if rough ride is a concern, the first thing to address is high tire pressures, if that's what you've got.