The HCH has a more advanced engine than the Prius so it will cruise more efficiently. The Prius has a better hybrid system which is great in traffic, but harder to make pay off at highway speed. I drove with 3 other people in the HCHII to Boulder last weekend and we averaged 56mpg over the 200 mile trip with the A/C on at ~60mph.

If price is an issue, the HCH is cheaper, and you get the full tax credit (instead of 1/4 on the Prius). Besides, if your wife doesn't like the look of the Prius, you wouldn't hear the end of the compaining until you finally get rid of it (based on personal experience). Get the HCH.

BTW, the mileage falls off pretty quickly the faster you go. If you go 70, I would expect somewhere in the mid to high 40mpg range. However, going 60mph will add about 30 minutes of drive time to your round trip commute. Still, the high 40s beats 25 any day!

Commuter car, grocery getter, and summer road tripper--average 10k miles per year.


Winter road trips and ski trips, bad weather commuter and my wife's "daily" driver--expected average 4k miles per year.