There probably isnt one population of hybrid buyers. I am sure more of the Prius owners are into the " I am showing you my Hybrid car" thing, and the Honda owners are more into not being noticed as much. That is certainly a difference between the two.

I also agree that what Toyota does has more impact than Honda directly because they are so ubiquitous.

Hint- First company that builds a small SUV with a Hybrid engine wins-- ( as in old Rav 4 size).

"Slotted below the Civic"

Sounds like Honda still doesn't get it.

The Civic is real nice but it loses out to the Prius because the Prius gives customers everything they could get in other high end cars.

Honda strips features from Hybrid Civic and then wonders why it doesn't get the sales. No 60/40 split back seat for cargo while Prius offers a full hatchback. Nav/Bluetooth. Backup camera. Traction/Stability control. Less power than Prius.

If Honda had a feature rich Civic hybrid vs. a feature poor one, it would be a great car.

The "performance" Accord hybrid certainly pointed to Honda being oddly out of touch with hybrid marketing and the new Honda hybrid looks to continue that tradition.