The 2019 Toyota Prius c was the final model year of Toyota’s subcompact hybrid hatchback in the United States and Canada. Produced since 2012 and sold as the Toyota Aqua in Japan, the Prius c was discontinued in North America after 2019, with the larger Corolla Hybrid indirectly taking its place. There was no redesigned 2020 Prius c, so the 2019 model represents the end of the line rather than the start of a new generation.
For buyers today, that history matters: the 2019 Prius c is the newest version of a car that Toyota stopped selling, and its trim structure and pricing were simplified for that final year. What follows is a factual look at what the 2019 model actually offered.
What the 2019 Prius c Was
The Prius c was a five-door subcompact hatchback positioned below the standard Prius. It was smaller, cheaper, and more city-efficient, and Toyota marketed it as its most affordable hybrid. The single generation ran for the 2012 through 2019 model years in North America, and the nameplate was also discontinued in Australia in early 2020, where the Yaris Hybrid replaced it.
For 2019, Toyota reduced the range to two trims, L and LE, replacing the earlier One through Four naming. The base L gained more standard equipment than before, including 15-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and taillights, automatic climate control, and a 6.1-inch touchscreen. The Prius c shares the hybrid concept with the larger 2019 Toyota Prius Review, but uses a smaller platform and powertrain.
Engine and Hybrid System
The Prius c used Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine producing about 73 horsepower, paired with an electric motor rated at roughly 60 horsepower. Combined system output was 99 horsepower, with about 82 pound-feet of torque, sent to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission. A nickel-metal hydride battery pack stored energy for the electric motor.
Those modest output figures reflected the car’s purpose as a city-focused hybrid rather than a performance machine. The system required no external charging; the battery was maintained by the engine and by regenerative braking.
Exterior Design
The 2019 Prius c carried the styling introduced for the model’s mid-cycle update, with a compact, upright hatchback profile designed for interior space within a short footprint. LED headlights and taillights were standard across both trims, and the car’s short overhangs and small turning circle made it easy to place in tight urban spaces.
Interior and Equipment
The cabin seated five and used a simple, functional layout oriented toward efficiency. The L included a 6.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, USB connectivity, and voice recognition. The LE added keyless entry and push-button start, navigation, satellite radio, and an upgraded audio system.
Price and Trim Levels
Cars.com lists the 2019 Prius c L at $21,530 and the LE at $22,955, before destination charges. The limited trim range and low entry price made the Prius c the least expensive new hybrid Toyota sold in the US that year. A destination charge applied on top of those figures.
Fuel Economy
The 2019 Prius c was rated by the EPA at 48 mpg city, 43 mpg highway, and 46 mpg combined. Early examples of the model had been rated higher, at 53 mpg city and 46 mpg highway, before the figures were revised. Even after the change, the Prius c remained among the most efficient cars on sale, though it gave up passenger and cargo space to achieve that.
Dimensions and Practicality
The 2019 Prius c measured about 159.8 inches long on a 100.4-inch wheelbase, roughly 68.6 inches wide, and 59.6 inches tall, with a curb weight near 2,530 pounds. It seated five and offered about 17.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, with a split-folding rear bench to extend it. Its short wheelbase made it maneuverable in the city. The site’s Car Review section covers related Toyota models.
Why It Was Discontinued
Toyota ended Prius c sales in the US and Canada after the 2019 model year as buyer interest shifted toward larger hybrids and crossovers. The Corolla Hybrid, which offered more space and similar fuel economy, filled the gap in Toyota’s lineup. In Australia and New Zealand, the Yaris Hybrid took the Prius c’s place from early 2020.
In Japan the model was sold as the Toyota Aqua, the same car under a different name. The naming split reflected Toyota’s practice of using the Prius c badge in North America and Australia while marketing the Aqua domestically. Both names referred to the single generation that ran from 2012 to 2019 in the US.
For its final year, Toyota simplified and repositioned the trim structure. The old One, Two, Three, and Four trims were replaced by L and LE, roughly equivalent to the former Two and Three. The L gained standard 15-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and taillights, hill-start assist, automatic climate control, cruise control, a 6.1-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, a USB port, a rearview camera, and 60/40 split-folding rear seats. The LE added keyless entry and ignition, navigation, satellite radio, and an upgraded audio system.
The Prius c’s hybrid system did not require plug-in charging, which set it apart from the Prius Prime. Its nickel-metal hydride battery was maintained automatically by the engine and by regenerative braking, so the car could be operated exactly like a conventional gasoline hatchback. That simplicity, combined with the low price, was the model’s main appeal.
When Toyota discontinued the Prius c, the Corolla Hybrid offered more interior space and comparable fuel economy without the model’s tight rear seat. Buyers cross-shopping the two generally chose the Corolla Hybrid for practicality and the Prius c only if price or the smallest possible footprint were the priority.
