Oh No They Didn't: Overnight, Toyota Turns 2018 Prius C Into a Land Cruiser Pretender

by Timothy Cain

Published: July 25th, 2017

oh no they didn t overnight toyota turns 2018 prius c into a land cruiser pretender

It started last year. Toyota, in concert with upgrading the Prius C with Toyota Safety Sense C added a matte black bodykit to the lower portions of the 2017 Prius C.

But for 2018, the Toyota Prius C is a veritable off-roader — a Rubicon-rolling, 4×4 river-fording FJ Cruiser successor.

The 2018 Prius C’s black cladding reaches up and around the wheel arches, and that cladding is interrupted at the Prius C’s chin by skidplate-aping metallic accents, heaven forfend.

Although the Toyota Prius C has migrated from the passenger car world to the trail-running SUV arena with nary a ride height increase and the same front-wheel-drive architecture, Toyota has managed to avoid fuel economy degradation. The 2018 Prius C is rated at 48 miles per gallon city, 43 highway, and 46 mpg combined, same as before.

More seriously, is crossoveresque styling enough to spur a measure of demand for the oft-rejected Prius C? Relatively uncommon upon its debut, U.S. Prius C sales peaked at 41,979 units in 2013, its first full year. But by 2016, sales were less than half that strong, plunging 47 percent from 2015 levels. Compared with last year’s poor performance, sales through the first half of 2017 tumbled a further 39 percent. Only 7,049 Prius Cs were sold in America during the first six months of 2017.

So far this year, the Prius C’s share of America’s subcompact market has fallen to 3.6 percent (from 4.8 percent a year ago) as Toyota generates the bulk of its subcompact sales with the Mazda 2-based Toyota Yaris iA. The Yaris iA and Yaris hatchback combine to outsell the Prius C by nearly four-to-one.

With no meaningful mechanical upgrades, the 2018 Toyota Prius C will still be the car that, according to Car And Driver, accelerates from 0-60 miles per hour in 10.9 seconds. Don’t expect to be thrilled, unless of course you leave the pavement and head up a mountain pass in the middle of a post-mudslide snowstorm.

The 2018 Toyota Prius C has a base price of $21,525, up almost $500 compared with the 2017 Toyota Prius C One.

[Images: Toyota]

Timothy Cain is a contributing analyst at The Truth About Cars and Autofocus.ca and the founder and former editor of GoodCarBadCar.net. Follow on Twitter @timcaincars.

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3 of 14 comments

Brandloyalty on Jul 25, 2017

The reason for promoting black plastic cladding is that it looks like crap after a few years and so lowers the value of used cars.

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- Landau Calrissian on Jul 25, 2017
  
  That makes no sense; why would Toyota want lower residual values? Cheaper used cars only makes them look more appealing vs a new one. Higher resale helps them offer more competitive lease rates too.
  
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Threeer on Jul 26, 2017

Now folks will buy them and say they bought a hybrid CUV, blissfully unaware that they have a...wait for it...wait for it...hatchback! Watch for sales to climb! (said slightly tongue in cheek)

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Recent Comments

RHD The analyses above are on the nose.It's a hell of a good car, but the mileage is reaching the point where things that should have worn out a long time ago, and didn't, will, such as the alternator, starter, exhaust system, PS pump, and so on. The interiors tend to be the first thing to show wear, other than the tires, of course. The price is too high for a car that probably has less than a hundred thousand miles left in it without major repairs. A complete inspection is warranted, of course, and then a lower offer based on what it needs. Ten grand for any 18-year-old car is a pretty good chunk of change. It would be a very enjoyable, ride, though.
Fred I would get the Acura RDX, to replace my Honda HR-V. Both it and the CRV seats are uncomfortable on longer trips.
RHD Now that the negative Nellies have chimed in...A reasonably priced electric car would be a huge hit. There has to be an easy way to plug it in at home, in addition to the obvious relatively trickle charge via an extension cord. Price it under 30K, preferably under 25K, with a 200 mile range and you have a hit on your hands. This would be perfect for a teenager going to high school or a medium-range commuter. Imagine something like a Kia Soul, Ford Ranger, Honda CR-V, Chevy Malibu or even a Civic that costs a small fraction to fuel up compared to gasoline. Imagine not having to pay your wife's Chevron card bill every month (then try to get her off of Starbuck's and mani-pedi habits). One car is not the solution to every case imaginable. But would it be a market success? Abso-friggin-lutely. And TTAC missed today's announcement of the new Mini Aceman, which, unfortunately, will be sold only in China. It's an EV, so it's relevant to this particular article/question.
Ajla It would. Although if future EVs prove relatively indifferent to prior owner habits that makes me more likely to go used.
28-Cars-Later One of the biggest reasons not to purchase an EV that I hear is...that they just all around suck for almost every use case imaginable.