The cheapest, and tiniest, Prius heading for Toyota showrooms A new tiny Prius hybrid will reach Toyota showrooms this spring with the lowest price and highest fuel economy of any hybrid that can't be plugged into a wall socket. The Prius c will have a list price starting at less than $19,000 and a highway driving fuel economy rating of 53 mpg,Toyota Motor Co.said as it showed off the vehicle at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The car carries a 50-mpg rating for combined driving. The low price compares with the roughly $25,000 sticker for a middle-grade Prius hatchback on the market now. Toyota executives said the new model completes their vision for creating a family of hybrid vehicles under the Prius name. It joins the standard Prius five-door hatchback, a Prius station wagon and a plug-in hybrid version that can drive about 15 miles just on electric battery power before the gas engine kicks in. At just 153.7 inches, its length is about 19 inches less than that of the standard Prius. It also is about 2 inches less in both height and width and weighs just 2,500 pounds, 500 pounds less than the standard Prius. The standard Prius is the most popular hybrid worldwide. Toyota sold 136,463 Prius vehicles in the U.S. last year despite supply problems created by the Japanese earthquake in March. Ford, for example, sold only 11,286 Fusion hybrids, even though the vehicle has received good reviews from the automotive press. But Toyota rivals displayed new vehicles at the Detroit show that may gain ground on the Prius, including a new generation of the Fusion that is expected to offer fuel economy of 47 mpg. The Prius is also starting to face competition from another Toyota car, a new Camry hybrid sedan that is much larger but still achieves 43 mpg. The standard, or third generation, Prius has a fuel economy rating of 50 for combined city and highway driving.