The Toyota Prius C now stands alone as the only hybrid in the subcompact hatchback sector.
But other competitors come with steadily improving gas-mileage ratings, making its 50-mpg appeal less clear in an era of gasoline at $2 a gallon.
The Honda Fit, for example, was all-new last year, and is rated at 37 mpg.
It's also by far the most flexible and versatile of all subcompact hatches.
Among high-efficiency hatchbacks, Nissan's Versa Note gets a high rating as well, at 35 mpg.
But it's cheaper than the Prius C, and definitely feels it.
In Toyota's own showroom, the all-new Prius Liftback is a larger car, but also a much nicer one, with more refined power and conventional-car handling (at last).
It's $5,000 more than the Prius C, but rated even higher, with its Two Eco version at 56 mpg combined.
Another Toyota competitor, the Yaris hatchback, is very similar to the Prius C (you'll recognize some of the switchgear) but uses a gas-only powertrain that tops out at 33 mpg.
Meanwhile, the closest competitor to the Prius C, the hybrid hatchback Honda Insight, went out of production after 2014.
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 2016 Toyota Prius CBrowse Used Listings |  2016 Honda FitBrowse Used Listings |  2016 Toyota PriusBrowse Used Listings |  2016 Toyota YarisBrowse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | |||
The 2016 Toyota Prius C remains the least expensive hybrid and retains a 50-mpg rating; it's happier in crowded cities than for long-distance highway travel. |
The 2016 Honda Fit isn't as entertaining to drive as it once was, but it's unmatched in safety and space, thanks to the Magic Seat. |
The 2016 Toyota Prius has moved much closer to driving like a regular car, while maintaining the highest fuel economy of any car without a plug; that should attract new buyers—if they can overlook the styling. |
The 2016 Toyota Yaris is Toyota's least expensive model, but it doesn't stand out in any particular category. |
| MSRP From | |||
| $19,560 | $15,890 | $24,200 | $14,895 |
| Gas Mileage | |||
| 53 MPG City / 46 MPG Hwy | 29 MPG City / 41 MPG Hwy | 54 MPG City / 53 MPG Hwy | 30 MPG City / 37 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | |||
| Gas/Electric I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Gas/Electric I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 |
| EPA Class | |||
| Compact Cars | Small Station Wagon | Mid-Size Cars | Compact Cars |
| Style Name | |||
| 5-Door HB One (GS) | 5-Door HB Manual LX | 5-Door HB Two (SE) | 3-Door Liftback Manual L (GS) |
| Drivetrain | |||
| Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | |||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Passenger Doors | |||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | |||
| Hatchback | Hatchback | Hatchback | Liftback |
| Transmission | |||
| CVT w/OD | Manual w/OD | CVT w/OD | Manual w/OD |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | |||
| 2016 Toyota Prius C vs. 2016 Honda Fit | 2016 Toyota Prius C vs. 2016 Toyota Prius | 2016 Toyota Prius C vs. 2016 Toyota Yaris | |
