Tested a c4 today. I was impressed.

I have to warn you if you get a Prius C, you'll likely end up getting 50 miles per gallon.

 

Haha, I know how you feel. I wasn't even considering a Toyota when I was looking around for a new car. I was debating between a Mazda 3, a Ford Focus, and Honda Civic. Then I went with my sister so she could look at a Corolla and Camry, and as I browsed the lot I noticed there was a Prius model that was much shorter than the regular liftback.

We went on a Saturday, and I came back on Monday to look at it again and take one of those new fangled Prius c for a test drive. Coming from a 93 Honda Civic, it was roughly the same acceleration-wise, but it was my first time driving a hybrid, and I was quite surprised at the engine shutting off at a stop light. And when I finished the test drive, the comp said I avg'd about 44 mpg, which I suppose wasn't terrible for a cold March day.

Though I test drove a c3, I ultimately got a c4 from a different dealership (was intending to get a c3 cheaper, but the other dealership sold the day I called to schedule a test drive).

I'm pretty happy with my c4, and have been averaging 58 mpg so far this summer. It handled the rough winter we just went through fairly well too with some snow tires (spun out on my civic and hit a curb because I was too cheap to get it for that car, so didnt' want to repeat that mistake).

 

nice write up, hope to see you here in your new C, all the best!

 

The Prius C is a nice car, as long as you expect it to be an eco-box. My Passat was better all around. Besides the fuel economy, of course. But that's also in a diff segment considering it's a $30K MSRP car vs. $20K MSRP car. I only put 50 miles on it so far and I like it. No regrets. Trying to consistently get over 60 mpg, using ev only, and working on a 80+ Eco score is fun.

 

Bob-blehead said: "It is a very easy car to drive, and it is actually quieter than either the Rav4, or our '12 Camry XLE."
and smackdownC said: "The Prius C is a nice car, as long as you expect it to be an eco-box."

I'd be amazed if the first statement could be verified by measurements on a highway, where the C's engine can be heard complaining "You drive too fast, what's your hurry?" Around town the C is very quiet. If you do much highway driving the Prius Liftback or V may make sense.
For parking and nimble in-town handling the C is great. smackdownC is correct that the C is a very nice eco-box.

I have 10 months and 12000 miles on my C and wouldn't trade it for any vehicle, but I bought it so we would have one vehicle that offered crazy-good economy. It can really deliver on that score, especially if the routes you drive have low speed limits. (Another PR this weekend: 82 MPG on a 200 mile round trip.) The front seats have been fair-to-good on 400 mile trips. (We don't drive slowly on those trips.) I agree that ingress is better than some Honda models. I didn't even test drive the Insight because of that. (I'm 6' 2")
My Mom has no trouble getting in and out of the C and she's, well... let's just say into her 80s.

Welcome to PriusChat and good luck with whatever new wheels you get.

 

My wife loves our C; our Daughter loves hers too.
I like it well enough.......around town and for short trips.
I don't consider it a really good highway car......especially if you are over 50 or so......but many people seem fine with it on the highway too.

 

I live in Houston, even the hot temperatures I usually get 60MPG driving it carefully, normal drive it is hard to get less than 50MPG

 

Just a slight anecdote. I went to test drive a used 2012 prius plug in, and while I liked it, I balked at the price though it was understandable considering they're normally not sold in WI for some reason.

When I got home taking normal streets and using a combination of normal driving and some hybrid techniques when there wasn't 5 cars behind me (so it was mostly "normal" driving lol), I averaged 74.3 mpg. Was kind of surprised it went that high. It was about 10 miles from the dealer to my house, and I hit a lot of stop lights too (where the cars had a chance to bunch up behind me).

 

I find it hard to believe that the c had a better ride than the Camry XLE. I had a 1999 XLE and a 2010 SE, and both of them have better rides than our '11 Prius Hatchback with LRR tires. Much more road noise is transmitted into the Prius cabin.

You mentioned your XLE has worn tires, new tires would improve the ride a lot. Especially tires like Goodyear ComforTread(sp.?) that are designed for low road noise and have an extra belt for comfort.

Of the three Prius vehicles, the v will have the best ride due to the extra length and width of the wheelbase, and a couple hundred more pounds of weight. The c will have the choppiest ride due to lighter weight and short wheelbase.

 

I traded in my 2008 Hyundai Elantra in May for a C3 -- I am amazed at how much smoother and quieter the C3 ride is, and how much better it handles on curvy mountain roads! And even in the mountains it gets mid-50s mpgs.

 

i am considering buying a used prius c too, still weighing out other options. the only set back is how it handle son road trips I want to do a lot of road trips when college is over. I am waiting til next may to buy so maybe prices I want will be lower, but miles will be higher too. I am seeing more and more in my area( witha few major highways) and they seem to keep up in traffic just fine I just wonder if that task is a struggle. but you know even on its bad day it doubles the MPG of my current car.

 

My concern about those seats is they seemed a bit thin although I really like the black, so I'm curious to see how yours would hold up (if you get a package four).