Consumer Reports Drops Prius c From 'Recommended' List
Excellent fuel economy notwithstanding, least expensive Prius has poor ride quality and a noisy engine and cabin.
The Toyota Prius may be popular -- in fact, the Prius family of vehicles recently climbed into the ranks of the world's best-selling cars -- but according to Consumer Reports, it's not recommended.By that, we mean the Toyota Prius c -- the Japanese manufacturer's least expensive Prius model, at a starting price of $18,950 -- did not make the cut for the consumer magazine's "Recommended" list. While the magazine applauds the Prius c's "excellent" fuel economy -- at 37 mpg city/43 mpg highway, it ranked top among all cars tested -- it awarded the hybrid a mere 53 points out of 100, citing a "harsh ride, noisy engine and cabin, and slow acceleration" and saying the poor driving characteristics of the Yaris-based subcompact "make [the Prius c] feel more like an econobox than a sophisticated hybrid.”
The magazine did go on to say, "We do expect it to have very good reliability.”
Last summer, main Toyota rival Honda saw Consumer Reports drop its redesigned Civic from the "Recommended" list due to cost-cutting, poor ride quality and a cheaper interior. Honda responded by immediately going to work on a rushed redesign of the popular compact. No word yet on how Toyota will respond -- if it needs to respond at all, given the Prius' rock-solid popularity.
[Sources: Consumer Reports; Bloomberg via Automotive News.]
I have been going to Ireland for over 20 years,and no rental car I had got less than 50 mpg.
opel-vauxhall owned by general motors: gas engine,seats 4 comfortable. toyota camary( its called something else in europe) gas engine. hyundai 4-door,4-wheel drive suv , diesel - 55mpg or better.
I know it's an imperial gallon,so don't remind me. I drive 80 mph almost all the time over there, and the speedo's are in mph. The new cars sold in europe get up to 72 mpg ( volvo L7 diesel) and they are not
tiny little cars that go beep-beep. WE HAVE BEEN SOLD A LINE OF BULL!!! not by the car companies,by POLITICANS. These cars meet stringent euro -zone carbon foot-print regulations, and german TUV safety laws are the strictest in the EU. A perfect example of politicans not paying attention is my senator Frank L autenberg , HE sits on every transportation committee in washington and the roads in northern N.J. ( his home state) are like a third world country.The Smart car sold in the EU GETS 60+MPG ,here it gets 35mpg. Don't believe me??? go to any car company web site for europe: example: Volvo.ie !!!! I guess if I had private jets and chauffered limosines at my disposal I could care less too!!!!
I don't get it myself. The Government and Car manufacturers think we are all stupid. There were Plymouth Dusters with straight 6 cylinder motors getting 35 mph in the 70's almost doubling the weight of today's cars. I have a Suzuki swift 1990 that gives me 45 miles to the gallon.
They took those cars, stopped making parts and the Government paid the recyclers to crush those cars out of history. They were not allowed to recycle the parts on those cars, by funding them through the clean air act.
Today with 25 years of technology since those other cars gave us the mileage, we are supposed to be ecstatic that the sardine cans of today give us 42 miles per gallon?
A little collusion with Exxon and Pac money - don't you think?
Try to sell a product in Japan. They are fiercely loyal to Japanese products and it's very difficult to deal with the government regulations. You are treated well, but always an outcast. You'll be called Gaijin (foreigner) and be very politely treated as such. They have different rules for Japanese and for foreigners when it comes to importing and businesses, same as with most countries. They know if you give away the farm there will be no food on the table.
In the USA we are very open to imports with laws, thanks to lobbyists for the big foreign companies and a for sale government. That with the corrupt CEO's and corporate greed with consumer disloyalty we will be losing the race.
Don't worry we'll all be working....working for foreign companies that is.
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