I also found the decision to be rather emotionless, we have ~70 mile a day commute so the math is better in our case for fuel, but still not going to recoup the investment of the hybrid technology. I figured we could give our money to Exxon mobile, or we could give it to Toyota for being the first to break out of the box and attempt to do something about the dependancy on oil. We chose Toyota mainly because a company that makes a car like this, even if the interior is poorly assembled, is a company worth supporting, and a car we want to support. Our interior has a squeak in the center console and an ever so slight rattle in the B Pillar on the drivers side. it is not without flaws, but it's as good as my '03 Porsche and superior to our Focus that it replaces as our "beater" commuter car.

BTW, someone mentioned Ford's hybrid system sucks. The Escape Hybrid is also technology licensed from Toyota. GM's is a weak effort, but at least it's an effort to develop something new that could have been better, it just wasn't.

Compared to the I4 Camry, the Hybrid is better in my opinion. We drove all three models, I4, V6, and Hybrid. The Hybrid instrumentation is far more entertaining, and the acceleration once moving is just as good as any other V6 car in my opinion. I love 37 MPG fill ups. I told a coworker with a regular Civic that I had 1463 miles and I had filled up 3 times for less than 40 gallons. She was amazed, especially as her trip odometer read 270 miles and her refuel warning light was on.

Hybrid is quieter, smoother than the sport model V6, and the upgraded sound system with BlueTooth sounds great for a car in this class, which the I4 doesn't have I don't believe. My regret is not getting the NAV system, but alas there wasn't one coming in that wasn't sold already.

A society grows great when one plants trees in whose shade he will never sit.
- (I Forget. Anyone who knows, remind me)