I have the cash to buy a new a car. Im going with a hybrid, I am not in a hurry to buy it so I can wait for the new Honda Insight.
The dollar disparity between the INSIGHT and the PRIUS is not a factor, I tend to keep my cars a long time my current Suzuki Grand Vitara is a 2001 with 55,000 miles on it.
Most of my driving is local 35 to 45 mph, with a max distance one way 20 miles tops and thats a rare occasion to go to the mall to shop.

My understanding is the Pruis runs off the battery under a certain speed and thus is quiet and can go for a certain amount of miles before the gas engine kicks in. Thats why the Prius gets better local MPG versus highway MPG.
The Insight the engine runs with the electrical kicking in after a certain speed to give more power, why it gets better highway MPG versus city.
The new Insight Pics look great and if it doesnt get over 50MPG Id be shocked that Honda didnt try to take the PMG Crown away.

So if you have $27,000 cash and are looking for a Hybrid what would you get . Value, durability, ride and quality.

A dog naps so much because he loves so hard

I would get the one that I like more....meaning I would test drive all at the price range and choose the one that meets my minimum requirements for a vehicle and one that I love the most.

Well I think its going to be a long wait for a test drive of a INSIGHT, they say April sell date which most likely will mean May / June ...lol... Looks wise they are very near the same. What i want is a hatch back and they both are that, Load wise its 2 adults and two 22 lb dogs - which works great with the hatch and that back tailgate glass. ( back seats will be mostly in down position for the dogs. ) Local Target / Home Depot and Grocery store is 8 miles away on 45 mph roads. Every Prius owner I talk to loves their car. So I was wondering what Hybrid setup - Honda versus Toyota has what benefits.

A dog naps so much because he loves so hard

My speculation is...

Honda Insight:
It is a scale down version of HCH. The vehicle width becomes less than 1700mm(67 inch) to meet the Japanese compact car size. The HCH width is 69 inch. The Insight is a small compact car category vehicle.
"The Insight should get fuel economy similar to the current Honda Civic Hybrid, according to Honda CEO Takeo Fukui."
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10056658-48.html

Maybe, the Insight gets a few % better FE and the price will be 10% less than HCH.

Toyota Prius:
It'll use bigger 1.8L engine than the current 1.5L and will have better performance and larger cabin space. The Prius is a mid-size vehicle.

The Prius will get more than 10% better FE than the current and the price will be the same as current Prius.

By the way...
It is not a good strategy to accelerate by electric. I think you'll need to learn the "Pulse and Glide" technique.
The reason of better slow speed MPG is caused by engine stop coasting by Toyota HSD.
The motor on Honda IMA system is connected to the engine crankshaft together, therefore the engine has to spin when car moves.
The IMA vehicle has very limited fuel cut coasting (still engine has to spin), therefore there is no advantage on a slow speed area.

HTH,
Ken@Japan

that's a very nice explanation ken1784... Well for the topic starter, you should compare well with your choice of car and what is available as an alternative or more appropriate. Good luck on your decision.

Green Vehicles

i want to know more about honda civic hybrid model..
when it will launch in india
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Lewismark

Capture One Auto Transport

Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI) already sold 52 Civic Hybrid in July.
http://www.hondacarindia.com/mediaCe...aspx?pr_id=145

Ken@Japan

You're right at the new model tipping point. In April/May we will see a new Prius (2010) and a new Honda Insight. The Insight is smaller, as Ken has said. It looks like the Prius will still be mileage champ.

Right now you -might- be able to find a Honda Civic Hybrid, or a 2009 Prius. The chances may be good now with the economy tanking. These two are the current mileage champs. The new Insight will also fall in the same mileage area. The Prius is still at the top of the list mileage wise. But the difference between it and the Civic is small. The rear seats don't fold down in the Civic, so it sounds like that kicks it out of your consideration. So if you want to buy now, the Prius is your only choice in the best mileage category.

With either car you will have to wait if you want the new model. The current model Prius (2009) -may- be more trouble free as all the bugs have been worked out of it.

Pearl is a
2007 Driftwood Pearl Prius
Package "B" (everything but leather, nav, and rear camera)

As already mentioned, your preference for a hatchback would rule out the Civic Hybrid. However, you might like to test drive one anyway to see how you like the driving experience. The new Insight's powertrain will be very similar. Remember that these cars have CVTs and different driving sensations than a conventional car.

I have driven Hondas for many years but quite like the way the Civic's IMA system works to give extra boost without increasing the RPMs. I can't ever remember driving so much of the time below 2000 rpm.

The newest Honda hybrid motors have the ability to shut down the fuel and all valves when coasting. This improves fuel economy and increases the coasting and/or regeneration ability by eliminating engine drag.

The Honda technology is in its ideal mode at moderate speeds (40-50 mph). The Prius is best in stop-and-go traffic with its all-electric capability. No matter which one you choose, there is also a driver retraining process involved if you expect to extract the best results.

Personally, I would wait to see the new models of the Prius and Insight and then decide. You've definitely come to the right place if you want learn more from the owners of hybrids.

Cheers,

Roger

You're right you selected new model tipping point.
Right now you -might- be able to find a Honda Civic Hybrid.
Hybrid is giving very good millage. So keep going on your best way.
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Jobs.steve


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