Prius vs Insight by CR

[Manolo1]

In my book this is a first round knock out:

Video showdown: Honda Insight vs Toyota Prius: Consumer Reports Cars Blog#

[bwilson4web]

Originally Posted by Manolo1

In my book this is a first round knock out:

Video showdown: Honda Insight vs Toyota Prius: Consumer Reports Cars Blog#

Nice and the lady has a lot in common with my wife ... lead foot.

Bob Wilson

[M8s]

Interesting how this was done, although I'm sure Insight owners will think the Insight was set up as a "straw man" in this comparo. Looks like Prius wins on fuel economy, comfort, power/sportiness and handling . . . and even price once the models are made comparable. As a Gen 2 owner, I was glad to see them say the Gen 2 is a good (perhaps the best) alternative to the Gen 3.

[DaveinOlyWA]

ok... checked out the video...so when does the "showdown" start?

i mean what a completely unfair comparison. slower, smaller, less efficient. obviously the Insight needs to be compared against something that they have a chance to compete with

and in my book, the Gen 2 is THE only car that can compete with the Gen 3

[Vincent]

I kinda like the yellow car the reporter selected too!

[ceric]

Honda has been bad at product positioning. However, their second punch has been pretty good.
cases in point: Odyssey, Pilot (a.k.a. Passport as 1st try), CR-V.
I look forward to their second try of the Insight.
Insights need to be $3000 cheaper to sell against Prius. They are not.
In Japan, engine size determines tax. That is why, in Japan, Insight sells better than in US compared with Prius.
A rebate of $3000 from Honda will change the ball game.

[bwilson4web]

Originally Posted by DaveinOlyWA

. . .
i mean what a completely unfair comparison. slower, smaller, less efficient. obviously the Insight needs to be compared against something that they have a chance to compete with. . .

Chevy Tahoe two-mode?
GM's 'hybrid-lites'?

But I would point out the Insight mileage at the EPA web site is looking "OK." Now I don't know if a bunch of mileage enthusiasts got a group buy nor do I really care. But the user mileage reports at Fuel Economy look pretty fair, 16 users reporting 50.9 and 51.1 MPG, for the Insight.

Bob Wilson

[Manolo1]

not even in Japan is selling well...

Toyota's successful launch of the 2010 Prius hybrid doesn't appear to be losing any momentum in Japan. According to the Japanese Automobile Dealers Association, the automaker moved a total of 31,758 Prius hybrids last month, making September the fifth straight month that the fuel-sipper was the best-selling car in its home market of Japan.

What's more, Toyota reports that there is a backlog of Prius orders that numbers well into the thousands. In fact, order a brand new Prius in Japan today and you're not likely to get your new car until May of 2010. One of the reasons cited for the car's continued performance are a series of incentives in Japan to boost the sales of fuel efficient vehicles, but those programs are currently scheduled to end next March.

Moving on down the line, the Honda Fit took second place in overall sales in Japan with 17,241 units sold. Honda's reborn Insight, which held the top position in April, its first month on the market, came in fifth position.

[bwilson4web]

Originally Posted by Manolo1

. . . According to the Japanese Automobile Dealers Association, the automaker moved a total of 31,758 Prius hybrids last month, . . .

Now that is curious:

31,758 - Japanese Prius
10,984 - US Prius
--------
42,742

50,000 - estimated monthly Prius production capacity

~7,258 - I wonder where (countries and quantities) they went?

Bob Wilson

[PriusSport]

If the Insight (or any other hybrid) were $15-17K, there wouldn't be enough of them to sell. But the car companies are loaded with obsolete inventory they have to sell, so hybrids will stay expensive. If you have a hybrid, you are set for the next 5 years.