Auto Excellence Awards: Our 10 favorite cars of the year

By Popular Mechanics Staff | Popular Mechanics – Thu, Nov 15, 2012 9:40 PM EST


Prius C - Fuel Efficiency

Delivering an EPA-rated 53 mpg in the city, the Toyota Prius C is the most fuel-efficient compact car in America. Although the C uses much of the regular Prius's tech, it does so in a lighter weight, more compact footprint based on the Toyota Yaris. The drivetrain is a clever setup, consisting of a 1.5-liter four-cylinder paired with an electric motor, CVT, and batteries. The engine revs only to 4500 rpm, but then the electric motor kicks in to provide any extra power.

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