Updated Toyota Prius C hits Australia

Bringing a revised look inside and out, plus added equipment across the range, the updated Toyota Prius C has been launched in Australia. The updated Prius C range launches around a year after both the Corolla hybrid and all-new Prius, with Toyota deadly serious about adding more and more hybrids to its range.

Now starting at $24,040 plus on-road costs, the Prius C range starts $590 more expensive than before, though it keeps its title as the cheapest hybrid vehicle on the Australian market. The upper spec Prius C i-Tech has been made only $30 more expensive at $26,540, and has been upgraded with the latest Toyota Link infotainment system with inbuilt satellite navigation.

Toyota’s executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb said the arrival of the Prius C upgrade is timely given recent renewed focus on the need for fuel-efficient, low-emission vehicles.

“Prius C excels with its remarkable fuel economy and resultant low environmental impact, both of which are becoming increasingly important factors in any new-car purchase,” Mr Cramb said.

The exterior of the Prius C has seen the most changes with its update, with revised headlights and LED tailights complementing the revised grille design, which is chrome on the i-Tech model. The i-Tech also gains newly-designed 15-inch alloy wheels with ‘dynamic machine-finished graphics’. A revised front lip and rear spoiler contribute 55mm to the car’s overall length, now at 4,050mm.

The interior hasn’t escaped changes either, with a new design of steering wheel as well as the instrument panel and centre console now being covered in a soft-touch material to increase the car’s overall level of quality. The trays in the centre console have also gained a new soft-touch material to reduce rattles from items placed in them. The air-conditioning control panel has been redesigned to give more of a ‘floating’ effect.

Toyota has also placed more piano black trim around the cabin to increase perceived quality, and added the 6.1-inch infotainment system from other Toyota models standard across the range. This touch screen has access to inbuilt satellite navigation, as well as SUNA live traffic updates and Toyota Link, which uses information from a smartphone app to provide weather and petrol price information to Toyota owners.

There have been no changes to the Toyota Prius C’s drivetrain, with the combination of a 1.5-litre petrol engine and an electric motor producing a combined output of 74kW. The petrol engine alone contributes 111Nm of torque, and the combined fuel consumption of the Prius C is a low 3.9L/100km. CO2 emissions are listed as just 90g/km.

As before, the Toyota Prius C is sold in two different model forms in Australia – the entry level model without a model designation and the upper-spec i-Tech model. The entry car comes with keyless entry and start, seven airbags, climate control air-conditioning, the 6.1-inch infotainment system with inbuilt satellite navigation and a reversing camera, front foglamps and a leather steering wheel. Choosing a Prius C i-Tech gives you 15-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps, privacy glass and faux-leather seating trim.

With 441 sales so far in 2017, the Toyota Prius C’s sales are down almost 23 percent compared to this time last year.

2018 Toyota Prius C pricing (plus on-road costs):
Prius C – $24,040 (+$590)
Prius C i-Tech – $26,540 (+$30)

Stay tuned to Chasing Cars for any news regarding the Toyota Prius range.