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Originally Posted by lakedude
Really? It looks like mostly a style change and the elimination of the manual option. What is the "major" advance of the HCH2? The gen 1 CVT gets 45.8 while the gen 2 gets 46.6 according to our database. The gen 1 MT gets 48.3. I'm not seeing the "major" improvement. Of course the gen 2 is really cute and it does have a bit more power but they won't sell me one till they offer it in a manual.
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It won't come in a manual so I guess you won't be driving one. In any case, let's look at some things I consider advances. In previous years the gas engine could not shut off at at a stop if the air conditioning was on. A new electric motor driven portion has been added to the AC compressor so at a stop the elctric compressor keeps the cabin cool. This is major to me. It means while the car is moving I can keep the AC off and use it to cool down at stops without using the ICE.
On traction and stability the car has improved leaps and bounds. Its wider wheelbase and slight decrease in length makes it much more a driver's car. It was tested recently by a test race car driver, who posted at hybridcars.com in the HCH section on the results. It blew the Prius out of the water on this, and is an improvement over the 2005.
The battery pack is both smaller and lighter, and generates more HP when used maximally. The gains here are obvious I would think. Performance goes way up, at no Fuel Efficiency cost. The 2005 and prior FE would have tanked if it had to perform like the new 2006.
I do not know if the older model HCH had head curtain air bags. If not, this would be a major advance, as a lot of driver head injury is due to left front head banging on the pillar glass/roof area.
The cabin is 4 decibels quieter. While not a Lexus, the difference is noticeable, depending on raod surface actually. The insulation is awesome from door up, but road noise insultation was not attended to in the same way is what I mean.
The car has more power. Its not my now retired Volvo, which the new owner took up to 100 yesterday he says, but it's in the game finally.
Yesterday my city driving tank hit 52 MPGs at about 200 miles driven as I am finally figuring out how to really drive the thing. Haven't inflated the tires passed 32 yet and there is a slight alignment issue I have yet to handle.
Anyway, the changes to me seem to qualfy as major, but as they say, IMMV.
By the way, the new Camry Hybrid has a knree airbag for the driver which I thought was pretty cool.