We started out wanting a FEH last june, waited all summer for dealers to get them, in august was told dealers 'would only be allowed one or two-pay $100, get on the waiting list, and oh, we don't know what the cost is"
reviewed our priorities - do we really need a third suv! and it 'only' gets 27mpg anyway. consumer reports that I had read previously said Prius was less comfortable & more noisy in the interior, and I didn't really like how it looked. I didn't drive one, because dealers here are asking $3K premium, and wait is 6 months. honda dealer had 3 HCH on the lot for sticker. I ended up with a blue CVT because I couldn't get a manual in the color I wanted without ordering it. So that's how we ended up with a civic.
I test drove both the CVT & manual and found both to be quick and responsive- especially after my old 14yr old clunker of an explorer. I got 40 mpg on my test drive accelerating hard to test the car. I prefered the manual, because I like controlling the gearing over a computer - but the dealer gave me $500 off to take the CVT since it 'wasn't what I wanted".
I really enjoy driving the car and it has all the power I need to accelerate. I'm getting 45mpg driving locally, here in ny in the winter - hopefully that will get better this summer. I've got 50 mpg on my last highway trip driving 60mph in 40deg temps.

sounds like you already like the prius better - so you should get one of them. drive the car you like and get great mileage, it's a win-win.

KLC
2005 HCH CVT 'Verdigeek'