Hybrid premium for the Prius - $97?

And if I drive my Prius enough, say 1 million miles, it will actually be paying me to drive it! Okay, I'm joking here. Obviously, the payback period on a Prius makes little sense or difference to most of us. I wanted a Prius! I did not want a Civic or a Camry, a Kia or a Tahoe. Actually, I did kind of want a Subaru WRX, but I'm glad I bought the Prius anyway.

BTW, this is the dumbest comment I saw under that blog:
"The Prius (according to consumer reports) is 175 inches long. The Corolla is 179 inches long. The Camry is 189 inches long. OBVIOUSLY, the Prius, size-wise, would be fairly compared in size to the Corolla."

Poor Steve C has a lot to learn about the Prius.

 

These guys aren't very bright. The Prius is not comparable to the Corolla. It's MUCH nicer.

For the Camry, how can you compare a sedan to a hatchback?

 

The Prius is considered by the manufacturer, insurance agencies, etc. to be a "mid-sized" vehicle. That means (hatchback or no) it's comparable to a Camry, or Nissan Altima, or even to my Infiniti I30 at least for size. It also is offered with options not available on the Yaris, Corolla, and other compact cars- Navigation, satellite, bluetooth connection built in.

 

What about using the Toyota Matrix instead of a Camry?

 

Another benefit -- This is the only new car I have ever owned that actually APPRECIATED in value.

 

I'm with You Tim.
When I go car shopping I have a budget and a kind of open mind. I get the best car I can for the money I have, so of course it must be a Toyota.
Car prices here a a smidge higher than the USA, a base Prius is $37,400 brand new plus on road costs. I had $25,000 to spend on a car, I could have a pretty basic Corolla new or what I bought, a used, 3 year old Prius for $24900 on the road.

I wasn't about to buy a more expensive car and I was unlikely to buy a much cheaper one. I'm happy I have a Prius, much happier than I would have been with a Corolla which is a great car, just not as great.

I suspect if I was shopping in the $38,000 to $40,000 bracket I would have been looking at a Camry or Prius and I would still have picked a Prius.

There was no premium and there is no payback, it's just a very nice, very economical car to run which looks like no other and is just fun to drive.

 

Geez....

All this comparison.....

The real question is: if there was NO Prius, what would you have bought?

Me personally, I have no idea. I probably would have kept the old banger.

 

The "hybrid premium" argument is always flawed for the Prius because there's no non-hybrid Prius. But I've always maintained that the Camry is the closest comparison in Toyota's lineup.

The Matrix really is not as roomy as the Prius. My brother owns a Matrix, and I feel a little cramped in it. I also drive a Camry, and between the 3, Camry and Prius are most similar. But the Prius is more flexible with cargo/passenger space, so I wouldn't even pick a less expensive Camry.

 

I had to figure that out. When the transmission went on my Subaru, I couldn't think of any car to get (Getting two Prii wasn't an option) so I repaired the Subaru. Overall, I figured that I'd just get a few more years out the Subaru and then see what is available.

 

The 2009 Matrix is very close size wise to the Prius (it's our 2nd choice if our Prius deal falls thru). Option for option it does not take very long to get a payback for the Prius over the Matrix though since at the S or XRS trim levels it only gets 29 MPG highway.

 

Hmmm... I was just barely too late to get a Honda Insight when our Camry Wagon died an ungraceful death. I would have talked myself into that if it was still available then, but it wasn't, and I think I might have regretted that one just a little.

I'd have gladly bought another Camry Wagon... that was a good car for a lot of miles.

I'd have considered a Matrix too.

 

When my Miata bit the dust, I probably would have bought a Mini Cooper S if there was no Prius.

 

A world without the Prius would be a sad place, so I'm glad this only a "what if" question....

Anyways, the answer would have to be one of the Honda hybrids. If it weren't for the Prius, I'd have thought that the HCH was a pretty good car. No offense to HCH owners, but for me the Prius fit my needs better; take the Prius away and I'd have gone with the HCH.

It's sad that there isn't a decent American made hybrid. I'm glad that the big three are trying to get with the program, but the offerings are still too weak for me to have paid serious attention to them.

If my driving needs weren't what they are, I'd have also given serious attention to a Zenn.

 

No, my wife has a 2006 Matrix XR, and I much prefer my Prius. Our Matrix gets 31 MPG, through many fill-up calculations. The Matrix has similar cargo space, but it is taller, and the hatch window can open separate from the hatch, which does allow one to carry very long items.

The Matrix was $3000 less than my Prius, but it has fewer features. On the plus side, it has a sunroof.

 

I have one of each.

The WRX is getting a lot fewer miles on it now than the Prius, though (about 3 times less).

 

I have been telling all those "nay-sayers" out there who ask me about the price premium over the Matrix/Corolla this for years:

I am 6'1. My husband is 6'3. In a Matrix or Corolla, neither one of us fits comfortably in the back seat (even when the front seat passenger moves their seat up a bit). In a Prius, not only is the back seat leg room adequate, I can drive and my husband can sit comfortably in the seat BEHIND me. Maybe space efficiency and comfort in the cabin aren't priorities for everyone, but I'm certain I'm not the only one out there who puts "fitting in my own car" as a top concern when buying ...

To me, the Prius can't be classed with the Matrix/Corolla. I find the roominess better than the Camry, even!

 

Yeah, we came to the Prius from a Matrix XR, which we liked but the Prius is just a nicer car. The backseat space was a selling point for us too. We had a single infant seat in the rear-center of the Matrix which worked ok but would not have with a second seat (which we have now) directly behind the front seats. Interior passneger space is significantly better in the Prius. Also, the Prius has a softer, quieter ride more solid feel (not to mention the advanced features not available in the Matrix stated earlier). I liked the cargo area and the interior fabric better in the Matrix but that's about it. To be honest the Matrix was a little rattley and handled poorly at high speeds with crosswinds. Test drive both and I think few would argue that the Prius is a superior car regardless of fuel saving.