2012 Toyota Prius c Gets 53 MPG and It's Affordable
And with a starting price of less than $19,000, some are wondering if the Prius c might actually be the most affordable car in its class - despite the added cost of its hybrid engine.
First, it's important to note that the c comes standard with automatic transmission, power windows and locks, remote entry, USB input, Bluetooth, and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel. Most other cars in the sub-compact class need hundreds or even thousands of dollars in additional options to match the Prius c's base offering.
When compared apples to apples, the Prius c actually comes in second place for affordability over a 5 year period. The Kicking Tires blog computed all the numbers.
As an added bonus, the resale value of hybrids usually hold up well, so the Prius c will probably have lower depreciation costs as well.
Despite a higher initial price, the Prius c should definitely be on your consideration list. But wait at least several months before buying one - I expect demand to be extremely high at first, which will make it very difficult to negotiate any deals.

Each week, I'll keep you up-to-date on the latest car deals and news that might affect your purchase. This includes...
- Best Rebates, Incentives, and Lease Deals
- Latest Car Buying Scams and Tricks
- The Best & Worst Time to Buy a Car
- Which Cars You Should Avoid
About The Author

Latest Weekly Car Buying Tips
December 2023
- Best 0% Finance Deals December 2023 Dec 07, 2023
- Biggest Discounts on New Cars Dec 07, 2023
- Cars With the Largest Rebates Dec 07, 2023
- Real Prices of New Compact SUVs Dec 07, 2023
November 2023
- Biggest Price Drops on New Cars (Fall 2023) Nov 30, 2023
- Best Car Deals Around the Country Nov 30, 2023
- Cheapest Luxury Lease Deals Nov 30, 2023
- Real Prices of Pickup Trucks Nov 30, 2023
- Top 100 Cheapest Lease Deals Nov 23, 2023
- Best Black Friday Car Deals Nov 23, 2023
- New Cars with the Most Available Inventory Nov 23, 2023
- Real Prices of Midsize SUVs Nov 23, 2023
- Worst Cars to Lease Right Now Nov 16, 2023
- Which Cars Better to Lease or Buy Nov 16, 2023
- Real Prices of Large SUVs Nov 16, 2023
- Best Bang for Your Buck Lease Deals Nov 09, 2023
- Best Electric, Hybrid Lease Deals Nov 09, 2023
- Real Prices of Compact Cars Nov 09, 2023
- Best Car Deals by Category Nov 02, 2023
- Price Comparison of Subcompact SUVs Nov 02, 2023
- New Cars You Should Wait to Buy Nov 02, 2023