[got-rice]

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/29/2013-toyota-prius-c-doesnt-get-much-love-from-consumer-repor/

Consumer Reports has panned the 2012 Toyota Prius C in a new video review that urges car shoppers to get a used regular Prius over the new baby model, "it's a much better car overall," said Mike Quincy in the review.

The problems Toyota ran into in creating the Prius C appear to be in making it cheaper, according to Consumer Reports. The list of adjectives during the video review included: "lackluster," "hard plastic," "cheap materials," "dead steering" and "slow."

Toyota may see those words as misplaced modifiers compared to the glowing recommendations the larger mainstream Prius has received in its decade-long Synergy drive to becoming the eco-poster child for hypermiling greenies out to save the Earth and ride in California HOV lanes with a single person aboard. (HOV access for most gas-electric hybrids has been discontinued in the Golden State.)

While the Prius C may start at $18,995, its price climbs quickly and its value does not, Consumer Reports said. A new regular Prius starts at $24,000.

However, the bad news from Consumer Reports hasn't hurt Prius C sales, which began in April. During its first month, Toyota sold 4,782 Prius C models, outpacing the other Prius variant, the family-minded Prius V, as well as the subcompact Yaris, which donates its platform for the Prius C.

CR not liking this Toyota?

 

[ECHOKnight2000]

^^^I agree!! Maybe they got a new staff or Toyota didn't send the check:lol::lol:


"lackluster," "hard plastic," "cheap materials," "dead steering" and "slow." Pretty much sums of the Prius in general and I'd say a lot of Japanese cars these days IMO. At least the mainstream. I know with Akio hopefully the coming models will be better with the interiors. They have no excuse with the Fisher price interiors, especially that the competition has stepped up. Of course people look over that cause of a badge and they did when Toyota and others were in their prime and the competition wasn't as good as it is now.

Anyway the Prius C is intended to be the "Cheap" model so it makes sense there was some cost cutting. Obviously you don't want too much. Regardless its selling like gangbusters.

 

[zythr]

^^^I agree!! Maybe they got a new staff or Toyota didn't send the check:lol::lol:


"lackluster," "hard plastic," "cheap materials," "dead steering" and "slow." Pretty much sums of the Prius in general and I'd say a lot of Japanese cars these days IMO. At least the mainstream. I know with Akio hopefully the coming models will be better with the interiors. They have no excuse with the Fisher price interiors, especially that the competition has stepped up. Of course people look over that cause of a badge and they did when Toyota and others were in their prime and the competition wasn't as good as it is now.

Anyway the Prius C is intended to be the "Cheap" model so it makes sense there was some cost cutting. Obviously you don't want too much. Regardless its selling like gangbusters.

These items (hard plastics, etc) are needed to keep the prices down. Toyota (like some of the other manufacturers) are paying for advertising, and the materials which go into these cars, all of which are going up in price. Besides, the Prius is more about economy than sporty fun.

 

[Amon]

My truck had 90 horsepower. It was perfect for my driving, even when loaded. Something that small with 100 horsepower and the unrelenting torque of an electric motor is pretty overpowered when mapped alongside the typical consumer demographic for any Prius.

"Overpowered Prius" is the oxymoron of the day.

 

[xpeed]

It's a cheap Prius. What did they expect? Interior made out of gold and a robot dog? Honestly for me, I would rather pay the extra $7k for the regular Prius because at $25k, you're getting a Navigation and back-up camera as standard in the Package 3. Not to mention the Prius Plus+ package is a nice upgrade. Factory lowered with ground effects kit, it's not a bad looking hybrid. :naughty:

 

[got-rice]

It's a cheap Prius. What did they expect? Interior made out of gold and a robot dog? Honestly for me, I would rather pay the extra $7k for the regular Prius because at $25k, you're getting a Navigation and back-up camera as standard in the Package 3. Not to mention the Prius Plus+ package is a nice upgrade. Factory lowered with ground effects kit, it's not a bad looking hybrid. :naughty:

it's actually 26K and change...for me, I'd have to have the solar roof and that's 28K. Honestly, I actually like the c...the colors are actually vibrant, and is a car that I would want to fix one up (to me, a fixed up 3G Prius isn't as appealing, which I see a lot of around the SGV).

 

[ghettosled]

i dunno, i still like it and will consider it down the road. a basic car with great fuel economy is the recipe for a perfect daily driver.

 

[xpeed]

it's actually 26K and change...for me, I'd have to have the solar roof and that's 28K. Honestly, I actually like the c...the colors are actually vibrant, and is a car that I would want to fix one up (to me, a fixed up 3G Prius isn't as appealing, which I see a lot of around the SGV).

Some dealers sell the Prius package 3 for $25k around my area.

 

[Zembonez]

It's the Echo of Hybrids. People who buy them are not expecting an LS460.

Consumer Reports is a pathetic place to get auto info in the first place.

 

[got-rice]

Some dealers sell the Prius package 3 for $25k around my area.

you mean longo

 

[xpeed]

And Millers....and Penske.......screw Power. All Power dealerships are run by asshats and douchebags.

 

[PhatRoyale]

They were on the money about the interior plastics that's for sure...

 

[Zembonez]

In spite of some cheapness I bet the car hits the mark with a lot of buyers. I predict a grand success.

 

[SuperchargedMR2]

In spite of some cheapness I bet the car hits the mark with a lot of buyers. I predict a grand success.

+1

They seem to be selling great here in the NW. I see a lot of them on the road already.

 

[Vmax2007]

+1

They seem to be selling great here in the NW. I see a lot of them on the road already.

Gee, there's a shocker. :rofl2:

 

[sweeneyp]

haha consumer reports is a joke. They reviewed the Highlander...called the interior trim pieces "really quiet nice"....they are solid plastic everywhere :lol: So plastic is ok in a ~$30-40k vehicle, but not a Prius C....Their expecting way to much out of a cheap car. Also their big complaint in the HL was that the volume control knob for the radio was almost the size of one of those tiny 5oz cups. CR tends to focus on the little things, blow them way out of proportion, and say the whole car is a bust.

I have yet to see a Prius C here yet. Though, since I'm kinda in a rural'ish part of South Carolina, I see more lifted pickups than Prius's.

 

[nitronate33]

Gee, there's a shocker. :rofl2:

maybe if they created a texas edition it would sell here.

 

[sweeneyp]

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/01/cars-com-calls-out-consumer-reports-over-toyota-prius-c-v/
:lol:

 

[Zembonez]

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/01/cars-com-calls-out-consumer-reports-over-toyota-prius-c-v/
:lol:

Noe THAT is good reading! :lol:

 

[ECHOKnight2000]

In spite of some cheapness I bet the car hits the mark with a lot of buyers. I predict a grand success.

I believe its already a grand success as far as sales. With a down economy and gas going up or all over the place its perfect. Its pretty much a hybrid Yaris with more content. Its selling very well in Japan and looks to sell well here as well.

haha consumer reports is a joke. They reviewed the Highlander...called the interior trim pieces "really quiet nice"....they are solid plastic everywhere :lol: So plastic is ok in a ~$30-40k vehicle, but not a Prius C....Their expecting way to much out of a cheap car. Also their big complaint in the HL was that the volume control knob for the radio was almost the size of one of those tiny 5oz cups. CR tends to focus on the little things, blow them way out of proportion, and say the whole car is a bust.

I have yet to see a Prius C here yet. Though, since I'm kinda in a rural'ish part of South Carolina, I see more lifted pickups than Prius's.

I agree. CR is a joke. They just don't get some cars. They are spotty in their reviews. The recomended the ECHO but they don't the last and current gen Yaris:facepalm: The last and current gen Yaris is better than the ECHO overall. Which isn't saying much but still. Granted while the current Yaris is an improvement it still falls short of the competition. Its a good attempt but marginal at best when compared to the competition.