The price is high,but $22000 isn't too bad for an side-side curtain airbag equipped Hybrid.It is a little less than the MSRP of a Prius equipped with side-side curtain airbags.Unfortunately the dealer will ask for and get more than that.I would guess maybe $2000-$4000 over MSRP for many months-maybe until the H Altima,and H Camry come out.We might be able to get a decnt price on a used,or new Prius or Civic than.A fair number of folks will like the Hybrids,but will have decided they want a bigger more comfortable car.They will trade 5-10 mpg for that.A H Camry-4 cyl- should be good for 80% of Prius EPA numbers-.
It will be worth the wait,if $$ are a primary motivation.-50 mpg vs 25 mpg $3gal-10,000 miles a year is about $600/yr.Really tough to make up the MSRP+ dealer will charge for the next 2 years at that rate.In 2-3 years a Prius will sell for maybe MSRP-$1500.
There will be a 4cyl HH down the road also.It should be worth 2- mpg on the current V-6.The current HH is one heck of a SUV of course-4 cyl Accord city mpg with SUV interior room,and rocket ship acceleration!!I like everything about it but the $36000 it would cost for a base model($38000 with TTL).Give me a stripped version-no 3rd row-no sunroof-just side side curtains and a power drivers seat.Prior to Katrina the HH was in a sales slump(kinda).Carmax was selling them for $2000 off MSRP$31,995-we can forget about that price for a while-unless we get $2/gal gas-very unlikely since the oil companies know we will pay $3 with no drop in consumption.Thanks.Charlie
PS Maybe Honda will make a Pilot MDX hybrid-if they can improve the city mpg by 20% it would be a winner.The V-6 Accord hybrid only managed 18 mpg-vs 15 mpg in CR's city loop-not so great-but a 20% increase in distance per gallon.The Pilot is a city pig,but great on the HY-23-24 at 70+ miles per hour with a heavy load-1000 lbs-AC blasting.