IF THE pint-size new Prius C doesn’t spark more Australian interest in petrol-electric vehicles than Toyota’s original hybrid icon, the larger Prius hatch, then nothing will.

Priced $10,000 lower than the slow-selling Prius from just $23,990, the all-new Yaris-based Prius C represents Toyota’s best chance yet of spreading its hybrid message to a wider audience.

But does it have the looks to appeal to its Gen Y target audience or the polish to compete with accomplished diesel-sipping European compacts that cost around the same?