Hi, I am trying to decide between the Prius and the Civic Hybrid. I live in WI and am concerned about the snow, etc. and am wondering which car is better . Any advise or own experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Kelma I moved away from the frozen Tundra back in the 80's so can't offer much advice regarding that.

But since you live in Wisconsin, the hybridfest will have all hybrid types and some prototypes as well, lots of qualified folks there to answer any questions.
Come and check them all out!
It's this coming weekend July22nd.
http://www.hybridfest.com

-Steve

Efficient drivers do it better.
1003 miles a tank personal record. 74MPG calculated. HCH1 CVT

Any of the two vehicles will do well in extreme cold weather.

I picked the 06 Civic because with proper snow tires is simply handles more confidently on snow and ice. However, a Prius with stability assist will do wonders too.

Additionally, the key to a trouble free operation of either vehicle in the deep cold of winter is to install and use a block heater.

MSantos

Don't forget about the Toyota Camry. While I might still go Prius or Civic for the better gas mileage, I can tell you that if my car were smooshed by a tree tomorrow, I'd be most tempted to replace it with the Camry, regardless of climate.

I have a 2003 HCH and live in Ontario, Canada. We don't get the winter snows that we use to get (read global warming) but we still get enough. I installed a block heater last fall that I have on a timer for three hours before I leave for work. The car is warm in a very short period of time. I also have changed out the tires . I did take a small hit in fuel efficiency but the traction was worth it. I love the car all year round!
Good luck with your decision.

Kelma, I used to live in WI, so I know what you could be in for. I really thought long and hard about buying the Prius, because I wanted traction control and stability control. These would be a real plus where you live. The problem is that in order to get these options on the Prius you have to go to a package #5. This will cost you several thousand dollars more than an HCH II, but if you're primarily concerned about safety, it may be worth it.

Of course, you'll want to study this site also to determine which car might be better for your driving conditions.

Both cars have front wheel drive and anti-lock brakes standard, and are about the same weight, so they should perform similarly that way. But the traction control and stability control on the Prius will really come in handy in slick conditions where you might be prone to skid. I know someone who had a Chrysler Magnum that had stability control (sometimes called anti-skid). He lost control on an off ramp and the stability control brought the car back into control by itself. I don't have experience with this myself, nor do I know how well the Prius systems perform, but I think you should learn as much about it as possible before making a choice - the extra money could be worth the peace of mind.

Btw, the HCH II does not offer traction or stability control. I love my HCH II, but really wish I could have had these options!

Good luck in your research and your decision.

i live in minnesota, which before global warming, used to be the snow capital of the US. we still get out share. i have a 2005 civic, and drive it in the winter. i got the stickiest snow tires i could find, and it handled as well as any non 4 wheel drive car does. my mileage took a hit, but i did manage to maintain 50MPG all winter.

Best fill 66.7 MPG, best tank 801.5 miles


laurie, central minnesota

Looks like all good advice so far.

A few points:

1) Any car is going to do worse in the cold. Laurie is doing very very well. You would be lucky/skilled to get the database or EPA rating for any car.

2) The Prius is a fine car but it seems to be more over rated by the EPA than the HCH or TCH. Check the database for real world numbers on any car you are thinking of.

3) I might seem like a Prius basher but that is far from the case. The Prius has a special thermos that stores hot cooling fluid. This could make a big difference in the cold as it will help the car warm up quicker and be more comfortable plus get better mileage. I don't know if the TCH shares this feature????Help TCH owners!!!

4) I agree that the traction control stuff might be worth the money if you drive in snow a lot....

5) The Prius and HCH are a tad wimpy at full highway speeds or in the mountains if the pack gets drained. I suspect that the TCH would make a great choice if power is an issue.

I agree, that either will do OK if you put on snow tires. The main thing is how large a car do you want. I drove both before buying my Prius, but there is a world of difference in the room in the two cars. The HCH is a compact, the Prius is a midsize, and with the hatchback and folding seats, you can haul a lot of stuff. Even though Lakedude says a Prius doesn't make the EPA, if you drive it right, you can get in the 60's around town and 51 on the highway. You need to drive each one to really know what you want, because once you drive and compare each, your mind will be made up. They are really different cars and everyone has different choices in cars.

I've been through 4 winters in my HCH... no problems. The main reason, blizzacks... buy some.