Engine and Transmission

From Car and Driver

Engine and Transmission Rating:

The anemic Prius C has nothing to offer in the way of driving enjoyment and struggles to achieve cruising speeds in a timely fashion. Its hybrid powertrain is not efficient enough to make up for those significant concerns.

With a measly 99 total system horsepower, it’s no surprise that the Prius C feels sluggish. A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive round out the Prius C’s only powertrain, and the CVT does nothing to quicken the C’s pace. It can spurt off the line with relative haste, reaching 30 mph from a standing start in 3.3 seconds during our testing, but the Prius C needs more than 11 seconds to reach 60 mph. Highway passing maneuvers are best avoided, as the C needs an interminable 8.3 seconds to accelerate from 50 to 70 mph. The Prius C’s acceleration performance is remarkable only for its failures.

Test Results: Acceleration

Manual Shifting Capability

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