I agree completely with the OP-except in respect to the oddball 1950's movie spaceship styling of the Prius.It stands out much more than a Camry.Now, will it get you-intimacy??-I'm 56 and married,so....
If you look at the numbers the Prius beats the HCH II like a drum!
1)Acceleration
2) mpg-the actual mpg difference betwen the two is much more(according to CR and the EPA,and the Euros) for the average casual driver than the #'s here indicate.
3)Much easier,and more comfortable for older folks to get in and out.The seats are higher and more comfortable also.
4)Much more useable "hauling" volume.
The HCHII is said to have a more sporting suspension, but how sporting can a 12.5 sec 0-60 car be?? Slow is slow; no way around that!It does have more traditional styling.
The Camry VS Prius comparison-they are very different. Now one little pick; a Corolla can't/won't beat or match the Camry Hybrid in mpg.The hy mpg will be very close, but in heavy city driving the Camry is about 5 mpg or more better.We had a 2001 Corolla; in the same stoplight to stoplight driving the Prius was ~19mpg better(23 vs 42 average) We would probably get 30+ mpg with a Camry Hybrid.
Luck,
Charlie
PS I can't resist tweaking the Hondites!! They cling to that 1mpg difference even as it slowly widens as more "normal" drivers buy and post with the HCHII.If they were a less fanatic bunch the difference would be 5 or more mpg.They all but get out and push to post the #s they post.
I am kidding;I own a couple of Hondas(not a HCHII of course)
Thanks,
Charlie