Citroen C3 vs Toyota Prius
What's the difference?

Citroen C3

—

2023 price

View pricing & specs

Toyota Prius

—

2021 price

View pricing & specs

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Summary

2023 Citroen C3

2021 Toyota Prius

By James Cleary

By Tom White

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 3, 1.2L

Inline 4, 1.8L

Fuel Type

Unleaded Petrol

Unleaded Petrol/Electric

Fuel Efficiency

5.2L/100km (combined)

3.4L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Equipment
Design
Space efficiency

Seamless hybrid drive
Incredible fuel efficiency
Comfortable and spacious

Dislikes

Price
Sub-par refinement
Ownership costs

Polarising exterior
Dorky central instrument cluster
Not so engaging to drive

2023 Citroen C3 Summary

You’re a city dweller on the hunt for a small hatch, but the usual suspects just don’t do it for you. Time for a trip down the urban road less travelled.

The Citroen C3 fits the bill in terms of scale, but brings something extra when it comes to personality. A fun-sized European with the ability to surprise and delight.

It comes at a price, though. So, is the promise of some extra excitement in your motoring life worth it? Read on to find out.

View full pricing & specs

2021 Toyota Prius Summary

What to say about the Toyota Prius in 2021? A car that was once a technology trailblazer seems now to have become properly retro, even while it’s still being built and sold.

The awkward-looking wedge, an eco-punk icon, not only brought Toyota’s hybrid synergy drive to the masses, it also debuted the brand’s excellent TNGA architecture and set the scene for the company's absurd hybrid success, which now sees the RAV4 version topping the sales charts.

So, after all these years (25 to be precise), is the Prius’s time finally over? Or does this quaint hybrid hero still have more to offer? I took a top-spec I-Tech for a week to find out.

View full pricing & specs

Deep dive comparison

2023 Citroen C3 2021 Toyota Prius

Verdict

The Citroen C3’s plus column contains some big ticket items like a solid standard equipment list, design flair, generous interior space, an eager engine, good safety and a comfy suspension. However, the minus side of the ledger isn’t exactly empty, with entries like steep price, marginal perceived quality, poor cabin storage, sub-par refinement, okay economy, and high ownership costs.

But there’s no doubt this car delivers a different, adventurous take on the city-sized hatch, and for you, that alone may count for more than any of those things.

Verdict

The Prius can rest its weary head. The Age of the Hybrid has begun. Even though this iconic eco car might have lost its ultimate purpose to more mainstream models in the last few years, it’s still the best execution of Toyota’s hybrid tech on the market and if you can look past its divisive-as-ever looks, it’s comfortable and practical, too.

The brand’s Australian division promises the Prius will stick around in one form or another, so we’re keen to see what its next iteration will look like. Plug-in? Fully electric? Time will tell.

Citroen C3 vs Toyota Prius What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Citroen C3 vs Toyota Prius
What's the difference?