age old question: Honda Civic Hybrid vs. Prius

[MSantos]

Originally Posted by stock

Honda Civic Hybrid vs. Prius. Which should I buy? Key issues: Fuel economy? Reliability? Safety features? Other?

Both cars are excellent and they currently represent the pinnacle of environmental performance and fuel economy.

What I say here comes strictly from my personal experience of owning both and enjoying the best of both worlds.

Contrary to what some of our friends here say, the Civic Hybrid is a true hybrid just like the Prius. The difference lies in their respective architectures and what driving regimen they are best suited for.

Fuel economy:

On city like driving regimens the Prius is hands down winner by default, while the Civic Hybrid requires a good driver in order to escape a fuel economy massacre.

On the highway, they are both evenly matched except when placed in the hands of an expert driver. The Civic Hybrid is simply untouchable since it will give 70-90 MPG at speeds between 55-65 MPH.

In terms of combined fuel economy the Prius still edges above the HCH-II by 1-2 MPG.

For driver ergonomics and dynamics, opinions vary but the Prius human interface could use a few improvements for some folks and the expertly tuned suspension on the Civic gives it better driving dynamics. For some the HCH interface is too simple and the Prius too odd. I think they are both awesome.

Reliability:
The Prius is rock solid. The Civic Hybrid is proving to be that way as well and baselining as the most reliable Honda model.

Safety:
The Prius is very safe particulary if equipped with side curtain airbags. The HCH-II is often rated slightly higher in terms of occupant and driver protection.

Environmental performance:
The Prius is the best at CO2 emmisions rated AT-PZEV and Tier 2/Bin3
The Civic hybrid is best at smog forming emissions rated at AT-PZEV and Tier-2/Bin 2


Recommendation:
Drive them both and pick the best one for you and your type of driving. Whichever one you pick you certainly cannot go wrong.


Cheers;

MSantos

[stock]

Originally Posted by MSantos

Fuel economy:

On the highway, they are both evenly matched except when placed in the hands of an expert driver. The Civic Hybrid is simply untouchable since it will give 70-90 MPG at speeds between 55-65 MPH.


MSantos

That is a very useful comparison - thanks. Could you elaborate on the this bit above as I simply thought it is more a gas car at those high speeds?

[clayton4115]

i think if you were to go and ask this q at the honda civic hybrid forum, 99% of respondents will favour the HCH, at the end of the day everyones opinion is subjective to their likes and dislikes, but i think both cars are great, although i dont have neither!

[MSantos]

I agree with Clayton.

I could give you all the details (technical and otherwise) on the HCH-2, but this is a Prius forum and 99% of the folks here also favor the Prius (for excellent reasons ).

I would suggest you ask the question at a forum where peoples expertise transcends the fan-boy brand Myopia. You get much better and almost unbiased responses at such a place.


Cheers;

MSantos

[robbyr2]

It's the carrying capacity and gas mileage that did it for us. The Prius holds a hockey bag and sticks and the Civic doesn't. The Prius can hold our dogs in their crates and the Civic doesn't. 90% of our driving is within 20 miles of home- some country mostly city.

But as noted above, most of chose the Prius. We're probably a bit biased!

On a flat freeway, we get about 70 mpg. Our lifetime average (all 1550 miles) is 53.1 mpg.

[fcc]

i decided not to get the honda civic because it was ugly to me. that is the main
reason i did not consider it. also the other reasons people mentioned.

the prius is a cool good looking car design.