HCH vs. Prius. Which should I buy? Key issues: Fuel economy? Reliability? Safety features? Other?

Yes, it's an old question, addressed many times here. Check a search. There are active threads also.

Don't be a slug! Use Assist! That's what it's for!

Even if you can't take them both out for a test drive, sit in them. Are they comfortable for you? Do you like the console layout? The radio and climate buttons? Can you see out the windshield (Yes, seriously. I'm too tall to see out of the Prius!)?

Someday I might even beat that wascally kenny!

No whammies... no whammies... no whammies...

Both are cars of excellent quality and superb gas mileage....I'm partial to the Civic since I've now owned both an HCH I and and HCH II, but I am always glad to see a Prius on the road and less gas used and pollutants spewed.

1978 Plymouth Horizon - 165,527 miles, still the longest lasting
1985 Dodge Daytona - 62,500 miles and the transmission gave out
1991 Mazda Protoge - A very good car
1997 Ford Contour - This one saved my life in a driver side impact accident
2000 Pontiac Grand Am - I have a bulls eye painted somewhere, this one was rear-ended
2004 Civic Hybrid - My first Honda, My first Hybrid, ran 88,300 miles before the tax rebates came calling
2007 Civic Hybrid - Going strong and a joy to drive
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I just think the Honda looks cooler inside and out. I sat in both and I really didn't like the feel of the prius.

I'll try not to turn this into a Prius bashing thread but...
My daughter spelled it out great for me. Don't comply to the rest of the world...get the Honda Civic Hybrid. It looks better!

We just got back from a long trip to N.C. from NJ and we were counting the amount of HCHII vs Prius and I have to say that we saw way more Prius's on the road but there were alot of Honda's too. (I think its because the Prius is so ugly...they stand out) Just because we saw more of them doesn't necessarily mean that the Prius's are a better car. We also considered the Toyota dealership that is near us. We did not like the way we were being treated and we hadn't even made a decision on the car yet. They (sales)were very cocky about charging over msrp for the car...as much as several thousand over list price. It wasn't too hard of a decision to go with the HCHII. We are waiting for delivery to happen by next week on the HCHII. The first Prius would have been available by the end of September! And that is assuming that it came in with the right packages...another bad idea from Toyota. Selling you more than you want on an already inflated priced car. I feel that they (Toyota) are gouging the public as sales in all car manufacturers are down with the economy crunch! they are taking advantage of this fact for as long as it takes for the other manufacturers to begin offering alternatives.

HBJ

Buy the one that feels best for you. Both are great cars! H

If you are insisting on one of these two hybrids - they are both good choices and are close in most performance categories. You should test drive them.

If you are looking to save $$, you might be better to buy a new (or used) non hybrid. The fuel $ you save in the hybrids may not be worth their higher price, especially if you can squeeze 35mpg+ out of a non hybrid. Driving mucho miles per year 20k+ helps justify the hybrid.

especially here in Australia, the government gives the consumer ZERO incentive to purchase hybrid vehicles and the hybrid is about $10,000 more than a equivalent counterpart!