Comparison: 2006 Toyota Prius vs. 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid

[Tideland Prius]

Imagine that when we reach the end of this decade in 2010, there will be innumerable lists of significant events. From the vantage point of early 2006, I suspect that any automotive list will put the Toyota Prius at or near the top in terms of the seismic impact it’s had on the way consumers think about and buy cars.

From most angles, the Prius sparkles with sheer brilliance. Consider that Toyota clearly understood the undercurrent of interest in high economy and low emission vehicles. Toyota also understood that this interest had a strong emotional component to it, and therefore put its initial hybrid drivetrain into a separate and distinctive package. Naturally, part of being cool is being able to let other people know about your coolness, and this special package is about the only way to get there, realistically. Finally, Toyota made the Prius surprisingly practical – roomy, flexible and very affordable for such a cool car.


Honda rolled out its own hybrid at about the same time that the first generation Prius arrived. Like Toyota, Honda chose to put its first hybrid system into a distinctive package called the Insight. But unlike Toyota, Honda made its first hybrid distinctly impractical by only giving it two seats. I’d say it was a full 15-round bout between these two for the weird styling title, ending in a draw. In any event, since then Honda has continued to deliver hybrids, almost matching Toyota blow for blow, but Honda went with the more conservative approach of making each hybrid a variant on an existing car.

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How ironic, I found this article through an ad on PC lol.

[Trevor]

That is such a weird article. I'm just so glad that I bought my Prius before reading many of the articles judging it's performance. I would have been scared away from driving a car that I have fun driving. I've never owned any car that could be accused of having high performance, so maybe my standards are low... but I have no problem keeping pace with other vehicles.

[wstander]

Good article.

I sent the author this:

"I read your comparison of the Prius and the Civic hybrids with interest.
Having owned a 2004 Civic Hybrid (mine was a 5spd manual) and trading it for a 2005 Prius, I find what you said vis-à-vis the handling differences to be true. What you failed to note, is that the Prius is a far more useful vehicle to those of us that do not own a stable of diverse vehicles in that it is the only high mileage car that is a hatchback. A distinction and value that seems to have passed Honda by. I know that they make a hatchback in the Si model, but that is more ‘boy-racer’ than utility.
While the VW TDI may be a viable option elsewhere, diesels are currently verboten in California, at least until the ultra low sulpher fuel is available.
Thanks for a hybrid article that did not assume that money saved is the ne plus ultra of hybrid ownership."

[john1701a]

This quote is just plain wrong: "Both manufacturers now or will soon offer hybrids across their model lines".

That is the plan for Toyota. But Honda is currently only considering one new model and they are struggling with what to do about Accord-Hybrid.

[micheal]

I thought the same thing when it mentioned that In any event, since then Honda has continued to deliver hybrids, almost matching Toyota blow for blow,.


Seems like Honda has stalled on their offerings for hybrids, with discontinuing the Insight and being pretty tight-lipped about any future hybrid models planned. Meanwhile, it seems that Toyota is planning on more models in addition to the Prius, HiHy, TCH, 400h and 450h.

[DaveOrgans]

I wonder how many of his objections to Prius handling would go away on a car with the BT stiffener and Michellin tires?

Dave H.

[HeyKB]

His premise seems to be that "people want cars that can be driven like they are sports cars."

I think that's pretty bogus.

"Fun to drive" means different things to different people. And with a hybrid, I think the target audience is much more likely to be interested in things other than just "How close is it to being a SCCA racer?" which is how he comes across.

Call me a middle-aged fuddy-duddy, but I wasn't impressed with his analysis of the cars.

[EricGo]

MIddle aged fuddy-duddy !!

Now your turn

[Lil Mo]

Well, I guess the article is okay. Everyone has their own opinion.

I thought the Prius was kind of quirky looking. Test drove one. I then looked at the Civic, but only saw one hybrid. It did not interest me enough to drive it.

Then, I rushed out and got my quirky looking Pruis. Cool. The only problem that I have now is that my wife thinks I wash it too much.

[Jack Straw]

zzz