2016 Toyota Prius c Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013

Crash Test Rating

Source NHTSA

MPG (up to)

53 City / 46 HWY

Source FuelEconomy.gov

Horsepower

Seats

Positive Owner Reviews

sue O

Prius is a convenient, environmentally responsible little car.

Prius c does not have cruise control, great on gas consumption, feels like you are not even driving sometimes when the engine switches to electric, hatchback is great for hauling things and the seats go down, I wish it had a sunroof. Inside upholstery is grey and does not show pet hair which is awesome.

Michael H

I get over 60 miles to a gallon.

I like the gas mileage I get. I like how quiet the car is. I do not like that storage is limited.

Michelle D

General thoughts on the Prius c.

The body is on the low side and this has caused some rust issues. It is not a 'snow,' car either. Otherwise, the gas mileage is fantastic, the cost of upkeep is fairly low, and the car fits my 2m tall husband. The voice controls are incredibly responsive.

Helena M

There is a large blind spot compared to the last model I owned.

Cheap gas. Great sound system. Fold down seats that have a lot of room. Put surf rack on top of it. Keyless engine start.

Gary H

Save fuel and comfortable drive.

I have no problem with Prius c car. Good fuel saving, lot of save gas when I drive in the city or snake road.

greta j

I love the compact size of my car; it makes it incredibly easy to park in all situation. The gas mileage is amazing and probably the best part! Everything else is fine, but those are the most remarkable parts!

Its mileage is incomparable to anything else you've ever driven!

Yvonne G

Save vehicle that is worth the money.

The 2016 Prius c is a great car. I like how silent it is. I especially love the amazing gas mileage on this car. Anyone who has ever owned (or driven) a Prius c is likely to never own anything else again. The design of these cars is nice as well. The hatchback makes it so that you have tons of room for moving, traveling, or working on the road. My husband had another Prius c prior to this one and was rear-ended by a drunk driver. These small cars can take a beating - he came out of a major crash (his car rolled) with just a few cuts and scrapes. The car was completely totaled (only the drivers seat area remained unsmashed). He immediately opted to replace that 2012 Prius c with a 2016 Prius c.

Elvira W

Toyota is the answer for every family, especially the Prius.

Performance is very good, no real problems. The Prius Toyota is very reliable and comfortable. Our 1st Prius was purchased in 2003 and we have only purchased Prius vehicles since. We first purchased a Toyota Avalon in 1998, which we also enjoyed. One Prius that we purchased was a hybrid using electricity as well as fuel, only regret that Toyota did not construct a Toyota hybrid in 2016 when we purchased our last hybrid.

Negative Owner Reviews

Jennifer B

Great gas mileage, and roomy despite being compact.

The Prius c is good on gas, and spacious. However, if you are looking for a more speedy vehicle this may not be the best option for you. Thus far I have not experienced any problems with the vehicle. The Bluetooth is a fine feature, but it is standard in most vehicles.

Morgan B

Prius c: best for warmer weather.

Comfort level is pretty good, car is very quiet which is nice. Wish I had gone for a higher trim than 2. Overall the look and feel is good. Battery freezes/dies very easily during the winter months (like if I go away for a week and cannot drive it). The gas mileage is not high enough to warrant how expensive the car is (is a corolla or Camry is a more economical choice).

Mike S

Small car gets big mileage.

It's a great little car. That is the issue is it is small. Two bags of luggage and the trunk is full. The gas mileage is amazing. Getting up a San Francisco hill is always an adventure as the car doesn't feel like it has the power. Great commuter car but not a good everyday family car.

Ruth F

Review of Toyota Prius c model car.

Trunk is small and no back light to see well at night. Not enough space for people to sit in the back. Not enough glass be compartment to put important things in. Car is too compact and no cover to cover things up in the trunk. Need more leg room for legs to be comfortable.

Jean K

Excellent mileage, low maintenance, poor dashboard features.

Mileage around the city is only about 38 mpg -- distance driving is around 55-60 mph. The dashboard features are very user unfriendly, however -- it is way too hard to change the time and radio station. The Bluetooth feature on the other hand is very useful because I get so many business calls when I am driving.

Adam C

2016 Toyota Prius C, white

Extremely reliable and gets excellent gas mileage. The amount of cargo room is also helpful and surprising from a car its size. It has not had any major problems at around 36,000 miles in, and it's an easy car to drive as well. I don't have anything bad to say about it.

Susan B

It is a Hybrid so when when the battery needs to be replaced you are looking at a few thousand dollars!

I dislike that it is such a small car. I like the fact it gets great gas mileage. It is also excellent in the snow, although I had to buy aggressive tires.

Diana R

Overall a good car, no major problems.

Overall no major problems. The hubcaps kept falling off so I just left them off after replacing them 3 times. It fits more than you'd think can fit inside a little car like this. I do have one blind spot when I have to merge from the left side, but does not cause a lot of problems for me.

Toyota Prius c Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

One

99 HP 50-50 MPG 5 Seats

Two

99 HP 50-50 MPG 5 Seats

Persona Series

99 HP 50-50 MPG 5 Seats

Three

99 HP 50-50 MPG 5 Seats

Four

99 HP 50-50 MPG 5 Seats

Photos may not match model

2016 Toyota Prius c Owner Reviews

4.46

102 Reviews

Write Review

5 stars

57%

4 stars

32%

3 stars

11%

2 stars

1 star

Jean K on June 25, 2021

Excellent mileage, low maintenance, poor dashboard features.

Diana R on May 10, 2021

Overall a good car, no major problems.

View All Reviews (102)

Pros from Owners

Jane W.

Gets great gas mileage to help save money on gas/the environment. Comfortable ride and spacious interior. Very cool-looking exterior with the persona series. Handles/drives smoothly. No issues other than routine maintenance since purchasing.

Cons from Owners

Jane W.

A little expensive in terms of up-front cost. Acceleration is very poor (though you do quickly get used to it and learn how to compensate). Battery does not seem to be very versatile, so you are limited on options with replacing it easily. No 4-wheel drive.

Ranks #16 Hybrid & Electric by Owners

The 2016 Toyota Prius c has an average owner rating of 4.50 out of 5 which ranks it #16 of 28 other Hybrid & Electrics.

2016 INFINITI Q70 Hybrid

2016 Tesla Model S

4.84

2016 Toyota Prius c

4.46

Ranks #8 Hybrid & Electric by Fuel Economy

The 2016 Toyota Prius c has a combined MPG of 102 which ranks it #8 of 27 other Hybrid & Electrics.

2016 BMW i3

137 MPG

Tie

2016 Nissan LEAF

126 MPG

2016 Toyota Prius c

53 MPG

Is The 2016 Toyota Prius c A Good Car?

Yes, this vehicle has very great gas mileage. Which helps aid me in saving money as well as going great distances!

Emilio C.

Very economical, easy to drive. Glad we purchased the Prius. Nice riding car, roomy.Plenty of room for groceries.

Christine D.

I think so. It really suits my needs well. I love in a city, so it's compact design is great for navigating tight spaces and parallel parking. I also like that it's an affordable,... Read More

Tyler H.

How Reliable Is The 2016 Toyota Prius c?

The only issue is that I cannot get up to speed as fast as I would like. However, there are no mechanical issues.

Emilio C.

We have had the Prius for almost 5 years, no problems whatsoever. Very happy we purchased. Not a fancy car but happy with it.

Christine D.

So far it's been reliable, except that I've had trouble starting the car in very cold temperatures. The battery is unusual and I would up having to buy a portable starter to jump it in case I get... Read More

Jake R.

Is The 2016 Toyota Prius c A Good Value?

Yes, it is a fair value for the amount of specs it has. It will last me for a long time so that makes the value even better.

Emilio C.

30,000.00 about. I feel it is a good value. Good economy. I would buy another when the time comes.

Christine D.

I spent around $12k or $13k total for it and I think the value is okay. It's a little pricey for a car, but I'm hopeful that the fuel savings will make up for some if that high upfront cost.

Charlotte M.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I reset the maintenance light in a 2016 Toyota Prius C?

Answer: To reset the maintenance light in a 2016 Toyota Prius c, watch: https://www.Youtube.com/watch?v=KpEASr1GC6E Your oil needs to be replaced eventually. Every 5,000 to 10,000 miles is a good rule of thumb. If You...

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Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Not Rated

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety