AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE | 147Unlike the Americans and
Japanese, Australians
are yet to be persuaded by
hybrid technology.
At $24,040, Prius C and the
$26,540 i-Tech are the most
affordable hybrids in Australia. A
modifi ed version of the 2004 Prius
sedan’s 1.5-litre petrol/electric
hybrid drivetrain does the honours
in the Prius C.
Like the bigger Prius, the C
leverages its hybrid technology to
maximum effect in traffi c, where
the engine is often switched off.
The C can be driven for up to
two kilometres, at speeds up to
40km/h, on battery power alone.
The electric motor delivers a
decent surge of torque, which
helps the cause on hills and
when you need a burst of
acceleration. The C cruises
through the traffi c very quietly,
smoothly and economically.Like most small cars, the
Prius C’s dynamics are relatively
mediocre but it’s a safe, secure
handler in most driving conditions.
You can keep yourself amused
for hours playing Eco-games on
the dash-mounted display screen.
The car will score your driving
style on a leadfoot to planet-
friendly 0–100 scale.
You can also enter the price
of fuel and the car will then
work out how much money
you’ve saved on each drive if you
use the low-power, super-frugal
Eco drive mode. So the Prius C
is designed to be fun as well as
fuel effi cient.
Most importantly, though, it
puts hybrid technology and its
undoubted benefi ts within the
reach of many more people.TOYOTA PRIUS C FROM $24,040
THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE
Cabin plastics and upholstery are
not exactly premium
Ride can be harsh
Brakes lack feel and progression
SPEX
Made in Japan
1.5-litre/electric/battery series/
parallel hybrid/planetary
transmission/front-wheel drive
74kW of power at 4800rpm/
111Nm of torque at 4000rpm
(1.5-litre engine); 45kW/169Nm
(electric motor)
0–100km/h: N/A
3.8L/100km highway; 3.7L/100km
city; regular unleaded; CO 2
emissions are 90g/km
Warranty: Five years/unlimited km
(eight years on battery)
Standard: Stability control, six
airbags, 15-inch steel wheels,
Bluetooth, voice control, keyless
entry and starting, automatic
air, 6.1-inch touchscreen audio,
navigation, Toyota Link, USB port,
cruise control. i-Tech adds alloy
wheels, navigation and tinted glass
Redbook future values: 3yr: 52%;
5yr: 41%THINGS WE LIKE
Unbeatable fuel effi ciency in
the city
Low emissions
Toyota quality, reliability and
durability
Reasonable cabin and boot
space, plus a real spare
Smooth, refi ned drivetraincompare with ...
Honda Jazz, Renault Clio, VW PoloSafetyANCAP
Green Vehicle
GuidePerformanceHandlingQuality and
reliabilityComfort and
refi nementValue for money
Overall
STARS
3
Toyota’s fourth-generation
Prius opens at $36,590. It’s then
a considerable jump to the i-Tech
model at $44,050. Both are
powered by the same 1.8-litre
four-cylinder petrol/electric motor
generator/Ni-MH battery/CVT
transmission drivetrain.
As with previous models,
the 2017 Prius uses the engine
and electric motor, operating
together most of the time, to
drive the front wheels and charge
the battery. Its range on battery
power alone is only a kilometre
or so, and then only at speeds
below about 35km/h.
So the Prius is pretty old tech
by 2019 hybrid standards, where
newer, higher-capacity lithium
ion batteries can store enoughpower to give you a range of 50km
or more and can be charged via
a domestic power point so you
don’t have to visit a servo at all
unless you’re heading out of town.
Hyundai’s Ioniq plug-in hybrid,
priced at $40,990, can travel about
65 km on electricity alone.
A plug-in Prius hybrid has been
available overseas for several
years but Toyota Australia hasn’t
yet offered it here.
Still, the Prius’ drivetrain
does the job nicely with decent
performance, great refi nement
and seamless operation.
On test, over 1200km our i-Tech
model averaged 4–5L/100km on
the highway and in the city.
What it really needs is a plug-
in drivetrain with a high capacity
lithium ion battery that can store
enough power to drive you to
work and back.TOYOTA PRIUS FROM $36,590
THINGS WE LIKE
A more capable, enjoyable drive than
its predecessors
Spacious, safe, quiet and comfortable
Outstanding quality and reliability
Low fuel consumption on regular
unleaded, especially in the city Well equipped with active
safety features
Cheap servicing at $140 a timeTHINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE
The price is diffi cult to justify against
Camry Hybrid and Corolla Hybrid
Minimal range on battery power
White trim in i-Tech looks awful
The clumsy foot-operated
parking brake
SPEX
Made in Japan
1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol/
electric motor generator/Ni-MH
battery/CVT/front-wheel-drive
series/parallel hybrid
Combined system output 90kW
0–100km/h: N/A
3.5L/100km highway; 3.4L/100km
city; regular unleaded; CO 2
emissions are 80g/km
Warranty: Five years/unlimited km
Standard: Seven airbags, stability
control, pre-collision, radar cruise,
lane departure warning, automatic
high beam, navigation wireless
phone charging, 15-inch alloy
wheels, seven-inch touchscreen,
LED headlights
Redbook future values: 3yr: 45%;
5yr: 36%Safety
Not Yet Tested
PerformanceHandlingQuality, reliabilityComfort and
refi nementValue for moneyOverallSTARS
compare with ...
Hyundai Ioniq, Toyota CamryS 3