The 2014 Toyota Prius C's most direct competitor would seem to be the Honda Insight, but its mild-hybrid system falls short on gas mileage (42 mpg combined against the Prius C's 50 mpg) and its lack of all-electric running, not to mention its shallow load bay.
In the Toyota showroom, both the larger Prius liftback and the non-hybrid subcompact Yaris offer hatchback alternatives.
The Yaris tops out at 33 mpg, while the bigger Prius adds $5,000 to the bottom line.
Then there's the VW Golf TDI, whose diesel engine is rated at 34 mpg combined--and may comfortably exceed that on the highway, although hybrids will do better in the city.
Finally, one of the higher-efficiency gasoline hatchbacks is the new-for-2014 Nissan Versa Note, with a combined rating of 35 mpg.
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 2014 Toyota Prius CBrowse Used Listings |  2014 Honda InsightBrowse Used Listings |  2014 Toyota PriusBrowse Used Listings |  2014 Toyota YarisBrowse Used Listings |  2014 Volkswagen GolfBrowse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | ||||
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The 2014 Toyota Prius C is the cheapest member of the Prius family, by roughly $5,000, but its gas mileage is the same 50 mpg as most other Priuses. |
The 2014 Honda Insight is one of the better-handling small hybrids, but it faces tough competitors who beat it on gas mileage, interior space, and features. |
The 2014 Toyota Prius remains the iconic, highest-mileage gasoline car on the market; it's a practical and spacious hatchback that can seat five while returning jaw-dropping fuel economy |
The 2014 Toyota Yaris is built for city commuting, but on highways it reveals some major weak spots. |
The 2014 Volkswagen Golf hatchback offers excellent handling and a good ride, premium interior design and materials, and a range of engines--including the efficient TDI diesel--but at a premium price. |
| MSRP From | ||||
| $19,080 | $18,725 | $24,200 | $14,430 | $19,995 |
| Gas Mileage | ||||
| 53 MPG City / 46 MPG Hwy | 41 MPG City / 44 MPG Hwy | 51 MPG City / 49 MPG Hwy | 30 MPG City / 37 MPG Hwy | 21 MPG City / 42 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | ||||
| Gas/Electric I-4 | Gas/Electric I-4 | Gas/Electric I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-5 |
| EPA Class | ||||
| Compact Cars | Compact Cars | Mid-Size Cars | Compact Cars | Compact Cars |
| Style Name | ||||
| 5-Door HB One (GS) | 5-Door CVT | 5-Door HB Two (SE) | 3-Door Liftback Manual L (TMC/CBU Plant) (GS) | 4-Door HB Automatic PZEV |
| Drivetrain | ||||
| Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | ||||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Passenger Doors | ||||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | ||||
| Hatchback | Hatchback | Hatchback | Liftback | Hatchback |
| Transmission | ||||
| CVT w/OD | CVT w/OD | CVT w/OD | Manual w/OD | Automatic w/OD |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | ||||
| 2014 Toyota Prius C vs. 2014 Honda Insight | 2014 Toyota Prius C vs. 2014 Toyota Prius | 2014 Toyota Prius C vs. 2014 Toyota Yaris | 2014 Toyota Prius C vs. 2014 Volkswagen Golf | |
