The Prius C mpg used to be 53 city / 46 hwy, combined 50 mpg now its listed as 48 city / 43 highway, combined 46 mpg
EPA 2016 standards, primarily Also I will note that there is a secondary effect in that since 2012, Prius c got a bit wider and a bit taller, and marginally heavier, so, more total friction, but not by much.
They haven't changed the car enough to account for it, so it must be the test methodology. That has changed several times over the years though I haven't kept up with the latest. Your right foot will change it more. I can get anywhere from 30 to 70 out of ours by changing driving style, but honestly it's almost always 45-50 when we just buckle up & go without thinking about it.
The EPA has changed their methods/requirements. The latest one was 2016 for the 2017 MY - I think it had to do with the roll down test. (let the car roll in neutral on a flat surface at some speed and see how far it goes before the speed drops to a certain threshold). The 2017 update is also why the 2017 and 2016 Accord Hybrid have the same EPA numbers even though the 2017 was improved.
not sure when it changed but I noticed it recently on the new Prius Cs for sale. I would not have considered it over the regular prius if it had been that in 2014. I average 50 though, but am somewhat disappointed in the mpgs at 75-80 mpg (42-43)
