According to Wikipedia, the launch price for the base Aqua in Japan was $21.7k, and I think the 2020 models that debuted in Mexico last year are going for $18.2, so they’ve definitely reduced the price and also made the gen 2 10x better with more space, improved fuel economy and acceleration, and a ton of other new features. I agree with your point about saving money over the short term with a thriftier fully gas powered option, but in the long run I’m sure many Prius C’s on the road today will join the 200-300k (and above) club with few issues (this Prius C owner recently hit 500k), and I doubt we’ll see the same from most of the other compact and subcompact cars in this class.
Comparison gets even harder when you toss in the Mexico spec car- where they don't have the radar/camera safety system and may also lack several other expensive safety features common to the US & JDM models.
Actually, after digging a little further, I could be wrong about the price being lower. Sorry for speaking so definitively. Still, if these models were back in the US at or around these prices, I’d want to buy one, and I’d probably go for the top trim level with AWD. But I have to say, this is largely due to me owning and loving one and knowing what a great little car it is. I considered quite a few different hybrid options before finding a really good deal on my 2014. With most of the other C models I looked at, I’d always end up thinking the price was too high (this was before the used market went crazy), and if I’m going to spend that kind of money I should just go for the larger Prius, or something else. And the reason I thought this was because of the perception I kept getting during my research online (even from Prius owners) that this was the “cheap low quality Prius”, which translated to “not built to last” to me. Thankfully, I was wrong, and if Toyota wants to bring these back, they can take my money. The updates they added to this model were so thoughtful. They basically looked at everything they could to make this car better for the owner, and then did it. If it really gets the fuel economy they’re promising (even considerably less than 84mpg), I think it could sell here, especially now that there are practically no new small cars coming out and the used prices are ridiculous. This just needs good clever marketing and a proper reintroduction.
The issue I think is that Toyota doesn’t think it can sell it at a low enough price to make it enticing. Yes new car prices have gone up but the market for small cars is also shrinking. Manufacturers would rather sell you a subcompact SUV at compact car prices than a subcompact car at subcompact prices (or subcompact hybrid at 20-40% more than ICE versions). There no longer is a Yaris, Versa, Mazda2, Fit or Aveo/Spark in America. Pretty sure the Mirage is on its way out too. But there are Encore GXs, CH-Rs, CX-3s, EcoSports and HR-Vs instead.
Yeah, it’s like all the manufacturers decided to pull their small models off the US market in unison. This is especially unfortunate for the Prius C, because it’s the only subcompact that actually gets decent fuel economy. I don’t consider 25-30 city / 35-40 highway to be good fuel economy. That’s what we’ve been getting for the past 20+ years. So now they’re all gone, and in that short time prices for basically everything, including gas, have skyrocketed. I do predict the small car will make a comeback in America, but I guess we’ll have to see how long that takes. In the meantime, I should be good with my Prius C for another 100-200k miles.
All our small cars have gone up in price astronomically - YARIS by about $6k, along with most others.
I was taking a look at the new Hyundai hybrids....specifically the Elantra, and I even inquired about one. Researching it a bit, I don't like the fact that Hyundai now incorporates a DCT as part of their hybrid system. Seems like a weak point and a bad move on Hyundai's part. In fact, the dealer I inquired to turned out to be the same salesman that sold us our 2012 Sonata and 2013 Elantra GT way back when! And when I said I'm not looking anymore due to the fact it has a DCT...he said he doesn't blame me...and he also 'hates DCTs'. I thought that was a pretty honest comment coming from a salesman at a Hyundai dealer!
Yep - nervous about DCT, having known some expen$$ive repairs needed (and with CVTs). TOYOTA's Hybrid Synergy Drive seems relatively bulletproof. Local tests on the previous IONIQ Hybrid mentioned a DCT hesitancy. Plus 3 less years warranty on the Hybrid system.
Doing an online search, I just found out that the new Japanese Toyota Aqua (aka Prius C) comes with an onboard inverter for AC100V/1500W outlet with a special ON mode operation for continuous outlet use that is standard on all trim levels. I wonder, the Mexico version has this?
I mentioned this above...but in the USA "the 2019 Toyota Prius C in L trim costs $22,450; the LE starts at $23,875". For a really small car...that price has a certain level of sticker shock. I also can't believe what manufacturers pass off as a 'crossover' or 'small SUV' these days. We saw a Hyundai Kona on the road recently. It was really, really small. And Hyundai calls it a 'small SUV' in their marketing propaganda. It's literally a freaking small hatchback! In fact, it seemed smaller than our Elantra GT hatchback. I got a kick out of that. 2022 Kona | Small SUV, Upgraded | Hyundai USA
Yep - and some of the new Crossovers have lower rooflines than our 1960s sedans - but much less luggage space, and not as good ground clearance. Much better fuel economy generally though.
Honestly I wish more manufacturers would bring the station wagon back to the USA. Our Prius v wagon has an enormous amount of cargo space. Subaru is obviously doing that...but I don't really like their 'all vehicles must have AWD' stance. I'm hopeful for the Toyota Corolla Cross...they are calling it a 'crossover'...but it really is a station wagon. Unfortunately, no hybrid Corolla Cross model in the USA yet...but appears it will be coming soon.
I seriously looked at the PRIUS v - but Gen 4 had come out and the "v" was never upgraded from Gen 3 to Gen 4 technology - it might have survived if it had. And here, minimum octane was 95 PREMIUM (I think that's about 91/92 PREMIUM in USA) - with about 15 cents/litre surcharge!! Our "v" also had 2 extra occasional seats in the back, though I'd probably have them folded 101% of the time. From what I gather, we're getting the Hybrid Corolla Cross - but it's much smaller than the Wagon. I'll check it out when it comes. Subaru Outback is a good package - but just today in Road Tests - 10.1 litres/100km on test (mine is about 4.2) - and it's got a CVT, a friend just spent about $1500 on repairs to hers with only 100,000kms (a solenoid!!).
And I don't like the fact that people make posts with abbreviations and acronyms in them which some people are sure to NOT understand. What is a DCT, please ?
Sam the man at work again....sigh. You seem to not like a lot of things.... So your computer isn't equipped with google bro? Trust me..it isn't hard to do...
Screw you. Just post using good etiquette and I won't have to ask. And I should not have to "look it up myself".
It’s not an obscure car acronym but lest I also receive your scorn, it stands for Dual Clutch Transmission. From our glossary: PriusChat Glossary | PriusChat DCT - Dual Clutch Transmission. A transmission that has two clutches that run through two sets of gears (typically one for the odd numbered gears and one for the even numbered gears). The idea is that the next higher gear can be pre-selected and when the time comes to upshift, the current gear is de-clutched and the next gear is clutched in, resulting in faster shifts. These transmissions can be operated in automatic or manual mode. (See also: Transmissions)
Oh geez...really? I figured everyone around here...especially an 'enthusiast' like you...would know what a DCT was. Sorry about that! Oh...and I like your signature...it applies here in some way I think! I'll leave it at that. And as far as 'being courteous'...please...have you looked at your years and years of past postings? Any reason why you lock folks out of your post history? I wonder why...
Thank you. The courteous thing to do is to spell it out the first use in a paragraph or story and then use the abbreviation after that. For those things that are not universally understood. Which that one is NOT. But maybe it is expecting too much for posters to forums like this to care about being courteous.
Ahhhh!!!. Last 2 posts were ... obscure, but interesting. They seem to be replying to an "invisible" post. Now I think I've worked it out - must have been someone I've "hidden" - so can't see the response being referred to. I can think straight again.
