Toyota Prius c MPG by year — every rating on record
The Toyota Prius c has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 9 model years, from 2012 to 2020. Across those years its best rated version returned 50 mpg (2012) and its thirstiest returned 46 mpg (2017). The EPA record holds 9 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Compact Cars.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 | 50 mpg | 50 mpg | #2 of 76 (99th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 2013 | 1 | 50 mpg | 50 mpg | #2 of 84 (99th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 2014 | 1 | 50 mpg | 50 mpg | #2 of 96 (99th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 2015 | 1 | 50 mpg | 50 mpg | #3 of 102 (98th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 2016 | 1 | 50 mpg | 50 mpg | #3 of 108 (98th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 2017 | 1 | 46 mpg | 46 mpg | #3 of 100 (98th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 2018 | 1 | 46 mpg | 46 mpg | #3 of 95 (98th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 2019 | 1 | 46 mpg | 46 mpg | #2 of 86 (99th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 2020 | 1 | 46 mpg | 46 mpg | #2 of 79 (99th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Toyota Prius c placed highest in 2012 at #2 of 76, and lowest in 2015 at #3 of 102. It spent 9 of its 9 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 9 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (variable gear ratios) Regular | Hybrid, Hybrid, start-stop | 48 | 43 | 46 | 250.0 | 6.5 | $1,350 | 193 | 10/10 |
| 2019 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (variable gear ratios) Regular | Hybrid, Hybrid, start-stop | 48 | 43 | 46 | 250.0 | 6.5 | $1,350 | 193 | 10/10 |
| 2018 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (variable gear ratios) Regular | 1.5L 4-cyl, Hybrid, start-stop | 48 | 43 | 46 | 250.0 | 6.5 | $1,350 | 193 | 10/10 |
| 2017 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (variable gear ratios) Regular | 1.5L 4-cyl, Hybrid, start-stop | 48 | 43 | 46 | 250.0 | 6.5 | $1,350 | 193 | 10/10 |
| 2016 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (variable gear ratios) Regular | 1.5L 4-cyl, Hybrid, start-stop | 53 | 46 | 50 | 230.0 | 6.0 | $1,250 | 178 | 10/10 |
| 2015 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (variable gear ratios) Regular | 1.5L 4-cyl, Hybrid, start-stop | 53 | 46 | 50 | 230.0 | 6.0 | $1,250 | 178 | 10/10 |
| 2014 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (variable gear ratios) Regular | 1.5L 4-cyl, Hybrid, start-stop | 53 | 46 | 50 | 230.0 | 6.0 | $1,250 | 178 | 10/10 |
| 2013 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (variable gear ratios) Regular | 1.5L 4-cyl, Hybrid, start-stop | 53 | 46 | 50 | 230.0 | 6.0 | $1,250 | 179 | 10/10 |
| 2012 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (variable gear ratios) Regular | 1.5L 4-cyl, Hybrid, start-stop | 53 | 46 | 50 | 230.0 | 6.0 | $1,250 | 177.74 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 0 of 1 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 → 2017 | 50 → 46 mpg | -4 mpg | 250 gal |
What Prius c fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2020 Toyota Prius c burns 250 to 250 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $750 | $750 | $0 |
| $3.50/gal | $875 | $875 | $0 |
| $4.00/gal | $1,000 | $1,000 | $0 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2020 model year is $1,350 to $1,350 a year in fuel, or $4,500 less than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Compact Cars
Across the 498 nameplates EPA classifies as Compact Cars, the median best combined rating is 26 mpg. At 46 mpg the Toyota Prius c is 20 mpg better the median, which is worth about $673 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Compact Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Toyota nameplates
Every Toyota model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.