'06 HCH vs '06 Prius

[Hostage46]

First post here, looking for some opinon....

I've owned two Civics, two Accords and an Oddessy. I was weeks from pulling the trigger on an Acura TL until last week.

While pumping $60 worth of gas into the wifes gas guzzling mom mobile I saw a new '06 Civic Si scoot by (my first car was a CRX ...loved that car). I hadn't been paying attention to the Civic, I really like the lines. Five min on the web and I come across the HCH. Very nice indeed.

I'd never considered a hybrid, heard all the rumors about replacing batterys etc. But the TL needs high octane and that means $3.15 per gallon at 25 mpg if I'm lucky.

Now after a few weeks of research and a Prius test drive, I'm at a toss up between the Civic sedan, HCH and the Prius. I'll be visiting the local Honda dealers for a look at the Sedan and HCH this weekend. Maybe that will help with my decision. I have to imagine any HCH owners here comprared these cars.

My initial thoughs ....
I commute 25 miles one way to work, nasty bumper to bumper DFW crap.
I like gadgets and will pay for things like a nav system, XM or Siruis and Blue Tooth. I spend between 5 - 7 hours a week in my beatup old Accord and I've had enough! So the new highschool grad will get a well used '93 Accord, and I will have a new ride.

I want comfort, techology, and utility with 40 MPG or better, so the Accord, TL, TSX, Camry, Altima and Maxima, all nice cars from a comfort and technology perspective, are out. I suspect the Civic sedan might get it done in the MPG department.

So I keep coming back to the Civic sedan, HCH and Prius.
Looks: Civic, very nice lines
Gadget Technology: Prius, close but HCH has no BT option
Utility: Prius, hatchback is great for hauling stuff,
Cost: Civic Sedan, then HCH seem to have the edge by a hair.
Reliabillity: Civic Sedan wins, but what will the MPG really be? As to the Hybrids, Prius seems to win, only a guess as Toyota as a big more experience at the hybird technolgiy market.

Anyway, hopefully I'll get to drive an HCH soon and my heart will tell me which way to go. In the meantime, anyone who's gone through the same decicision process, please speak up!!
Dan in Dallas ...

[skittleslegend]

For the record, and I'm not really trying to persuade you, but more to correct information, Toyota's hybrid system isn't exactly better than Honda's IMA because they've had more experience in the hybrid area. Sure Toyota has lots of Hybrid's compared to Honda, but Honda's IMA system is FAR less complex than Toyota's. So as to which one's better, the Synergy drive system is more a costly affair. Is it worth it? That's up to you...

If you're looking for a Hybrid vehicle with utility, you should take a look at the upcoming Fit Hybrid...

[Hostage46]

Fair enough, but Toyota has more on the road...

Fit hybrid is coming when? '07 year as in this fall?

If I'm going hybrid I need to go soon to get that tax credit

[skittleslegend]

Originally Posted by Hostage46

Fair enough, but Toyota has more on the road...

Fit hybrid is coming when? '07 year as in this fall?

If I'm going hybrid I need to go soon to get that tax credit

More doesn't always equal better. GM has more V8's on the road, but they're no better than Lexus'


Just messin with you, lol...givin you a hard time. Honestly, I was looking at both before my Si purchase. I travel 120 miles round trip 5 days a week for work (tell me about it....) so I really wanted a Hybrid vehicle. But you'd benefit more than I would. Anyway, I think if it's comfort you're looking for, you'd find it with the HCH. Not saying the Prius is a bad car, but we road in one and it wasn't all that comfy for us. Can't remember why. I do remember road noise was a bit more pronounced than in the Civic which was a biggy for us. I've had loud cars and don't want another with the windnoise my girl's Intrepid has. And for the record, I'm willing to bet Honda will add bluetooth to the Civic at some point. The interface is from the TSX and it's present in the HCH, EX, and Si. Just some random stuff :)

[Slug]

I cant speak for the hybrids, but my civic sedan auto gets better than the advertised city fuel mileage if i drive conservatively.
From what i've read about the hybrids, they need to be driven very very conservatively to get the advertised fuel economy.

[itsmad]

Already owning the previous Civic Hybrid (UK) and with an order in for the ‘06 HCH (UK) to be delivered end June/beginning July, I'd definitely say the Honda.

The HCH is an all round better finished car both inside and out. Here in the UK Toyota offers optional leather seat facings for £1,350. I am paying Honda £800 for full leather interior.

I am paying less for the IMA than I would for the Synergy Drive yet I’m getting a whole lot more for my money especially as far as comfort and refinement goes. I'm paying £1,400 for replacement wheels and tyres for the HCH. With the wheels and additional options I am still paying approx £2,000 less for the Honda. Alright, the new wheels are going to affect my mpg but that will not cost me the £2,000 price difference even with our higher fuel prices here in the UK.

[exbauer]

well, don't expect performance from the hybrid. After getting the hybrid my driving habits have changed dramatically. I want to get the most out of each tank. Gone are the days of driving aggressively...that is a plus to me. but, how fast can you really go in bumper to bumper traffic. Check out www.greenhybrid.com for comparisons and a wealth of info for the different hybrid cars out there. You might consider the Honda Accord hybrid with a V6. There are a lot of dealers around here that still have 2005 models left over. It has a V6 in there so, the fuel efficency isn't like a Civic. Otherwise if you need a bigger car with all the extras...leather, navi, etc...go with the Toyota Camry hybrid. It is a 4 cylinder so, it gets better FE than the HAH.

[Hostage46]

Originally Posted by exbauer

well, don't expect performance from the hybrid. After getting the hybrid my driving habits have changed dramatically. I want to get the most out of each tank. Gone are the days of driving aggressively...that is a plus to me. but, how fast can you really go in bumper to bumper traffic. Check out www.greenhybrid.com for comparisons and a wealth of info for the different hybrid cars out there. You might consider the Honda Accord hybrid with a V6. There are a lot of dealers around here that still have 2005 models left over. It has a V6 in there so, the fuel efficency isn't like a Civic. Otherwise if you need a bigger car with all the extras...leather, navi, etc...go with the Toyota Camry hybrid. It is a 4 cylinder so, it gets better FE than the HAH.

Interesting .... my thoughts go down this path. I know I can can eek out nearly 50 MPG.... but I like to go fast from time to time. And If I can be sensible and have some fun at 35 mpg .... the EX looks better to me.

[TerrierMom]

I have a 2006 Civic Hybrid. I don't bother much with all the little tricksies the hyper milers use to get their Hybrids to get 60-70 MPG. I drive 65-80. Don't have the tires pumped up to some ungodly tire pressure. I just drive the thing. I just filled the car tonight. 505 miles, 10.7 gallons. 47.1 MPG. Tank holds about 13 gallons, so I could have driven another 100+ miles before filling up. I pay 32-35 dollars to fill. Regular unleaded. I drive 30-40 miles per day. I go at least 12 days between fillups. Sometimes 21 or 22. Average is 17 days You say you drive 120 a day, so figure 4-5 days between fillups. . I have a 1995 Civic DX, it got 32-35 MPG, similiar to the 2006 Civic EX. I've been saving money on gas even with having already been driving a fuel efficent car. Consider buying your car in a state that offers a benefit if you buy a Hybrid,if your state doesn't offer this. In Connecticut, where I live and bought my Hybrid, I didn't pay sales tax. Other states offer other benefits. That, combined with the Federal tax break and the money I save in gas, means that the supposedly much more expensive Hybrid cost me less than the EX I was also thinking about. Still more than an LX or a DX though.

My average MPG total since I bought the car is about 42-43 MPG. It's been higher since the weather warmed up.

[aznkukuboi]

Originally Posted by itsmad

Already owning the previous Civic Hybrid (UK) and with an order in for the ‘06 HCH (UK) to be delivered end June/beginning July, I'd definitely say the Honda.

The HCH is an all round better finished car both inside and out. Here in the UK Toyota offers optional leather seat facings for £1,350. I am paying Honda £800 for full leather interior.

I am paying less for the IMA than I would for the Synergy Drive yet I’m getting a whole lot more for my money especially as far as comfort and refinement goes. I'm paying £1,400 for replacement wheels and tyres for the HCH. With the wheels and additional options I am still paying approx £2,000 less for the Honda. Alright, the new wheels are going to affect my mpg but that will not cost me the £2,000 price difference even with our higher fuel prices here in the UK.

2000 quid is a lot of money. haha... I was thinking, since you live in England, why not buy a diesel?

[zadscmc]

I have an '04 HCH.

I wouldn't wait for the '07 Fit Hybrid, but for the '08 Fit Hybrid. Give it a year to get the kinks out.

So far, I have only heard good things about the '06 HCH.

[Special Ringpop]

I believe it was Edmunds that did a comparison report between those exact two cars, the Prius and the new HCH.

You may want to head over there and take a look-see at that.

[peliROJO]

I live in DFW and was commuting 40 miles each way. That got me out of my Jeep Cherokee and into a Civic sedan. My average mileage after 18,700 miles is 29 MPG.


Are you going to make payments on your vehicle? Interest on $28k versus $20k will kill your better MPG and your tax credit.



Don't make your decision based on a tax credit. If after all your math is complete and you are coming out ahead, then factor in the tax credit as a bonus to your research. But, I would not let it enter into the purchasing decision.



Have you been to PriusChat.com? I spent a couple months over there while on the Prius waiting list. I learned a lot and somebody had a good spreadsheet that you could use to compare the total cost of Car A versus a Prius. Note: I've been looking for it but can't find it. I actually created my own and deleted it not 5 days ago. Talk about timing. It's how I determined that I could pay X amount of dollars in a car payment and save X amount of dollars in gas payment. At some point buying a hybrid (or in my case even a regular Civic) made economic sense. Also, I like driving a cleaner car, emissions my friend. :)




--edit--
I am heavy footed and get one of the lower scores in MPG. Your "mileage" may vary. :) Also, many of the Prius drivers look at it more like a game, because of the display showing Gas and Electric consumption/regeneration. With that display I would see it being much easier to drive efficiently than a regular Civic (I'm not sure if the HCH has a similar display).

[peliROJO]

Originally Posted by TerrierMom

My average MPG total since I bought the car is about 42-43 MPG. It's been higher since the weather warmed up.

I thought MPG's went down in the summer. Good for you!




Here's another link http://www.greenhybrid.com/compare/mileage/

[TerrierMom]

Originally Posted by peliROJO

I thought MPG's went down in the summer. Good for you!




Here's another link http://www.greenhybrid.com/compare/mileage/

My MPG was lower in winter,when it was seldom above 40,and usually much lower. It's been in the high 60's to low 90's so far this summer. Mostly 70's and 80's. Seems to be good for the mileage.

[Hostage46]

Originally Posted by peliROJO

I live in DFW and was commuting 40 miles each way. That got me out of my Jeep Cherokee and into a Civic sedan. My average mileage after 18,700 miles is 29 MPG.


Are you going to make payments on your vehicle? Interest on $28k versus $20k will kill your better MPG and your tax credit.

SNIP ....

Don't make your decision based on a tax credit. If after all your math is complete and you are coming out ahead, then factor in the tax credit as a bonus to your research. But, I would not let it enter into the purchasing decision.

I spent plenty of time on Prius chat, and I drove one. I ran the numbers and found the math didn't add up for a hybrid for me (HCH or Prius). Both are great cars, but even with the tax credit, the cost of ownership don't add up until gas get's closer to $4.50 a gallon. In terms of being green, I think my new '06 sedan fits the bill.

Approaching 4000 miles and I havn't seen less then 35 mpg yet.

On the highway I see 35 MPG @75 mph/ac on, 38.5 MGP @ 70 mph/AC on. In and around town the worse tank was 32 mpg.

Amazing little car...

I fell in live with the EX Sedan with Nav

[Cybergypsy]

I owned a toyota pruis 2005, loved almost everything thing about it but..
if you do not use the car in 2 weeks it dies....so now you need a jump..so i could never leave it at the airportand go on vacation,second MPG varies Greatly, and last, it dents like tin......my Ex coupe with navi is much better and average MPG is 35,,,,,loving it....just mt 2 cents

[itsmad]

Originally Posted by aznkukuboi

2000 quid is a lot of money. haha... I was thinking, since you live in England, why not buy a diesel?

I was not after the power that I would have got from any diesel car although diesel would have been my next option. Diesels have got the lower CO2 which I like and are getting cleaner but, since I wasn't after the power I opted for the Hybrid simply because I wanted to support the technology.

We finally picked it up yesterday and it looks great! As I mentioned earlier, I am more interested in the CO2 and the technology than mpg and power so don't regret sacrificing the mpg for the new wheels!

[cherokee180c]

Well, I looked hard at the Prius, HCHII, and Camry Hybrids. My objective was to right size our family (3 people) from a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee that was getting only 14 mpg. My wife could not fit in the Prius as she is 6' tall, but all legs and the seat did not go back far enough. The HCHII was much bigger inside,although I wish it was a hatchback like the prius. I also read a lot about the Prius not getting anywhere near the advertised mpg when driven hard. In fact a friend of my wife at work was only getting 34mpg, which seems ridiculous. In general nobody was getting the 60 mpg except the hobbyists. To the contrary most people were reporting the HCHII was getting very close to 50mpg with it only dropping to 42 if you drive it hard. I did a detailed spreadsheet looking at all costs including gas, payment, and insurance and the Camry was not an option as the payment difference would have eaten all the gas savings. I did not even include the tax credit in the calculations. In all I saved almost $200/month vs. the Jeep. I just got the car yesterday and can tell you I am thrilled with it. It only has 100miles on it now, and I averaged 48 mpg in the first 40 mile trip home with A/C on full, in stop and go traffic on 95 for 20% of the ride, and the trip was mostly uphill to my house. I read some hypermiling hints and went back out last night and got 65 mpg on an outbound trip of 12 miles (more downhill) and then about 48 mpg on the way back for an average of 56mpg 25 mile trip. My wife got 48 mpg roundtrip to work today, but she is a lead foot and had not read the hypermiling forum. Anyway I am really happy with my decision and love the car. Also almost all posts claim that the computer mpg is 1-3 mpg lower than actual, so my mileage might be even higher, but I still have not filled back up to calibrate yet. Lastly, almost every site claims that it takes 5000 miles to break the car in and the gas mileage improves a lot. If this is true, I will be the happiest Honda owner in the U.S. as I can't believe the mpg is this good already. I prepared myself for high 30's to start off but am astounded at the fuel efficiency so far.

[Tyredurgan]

I just went through the same thing. My dad and I compared the civic to the prius for a long time and ended up with the prius. I feel that it's the better car. And I'm really not partial to either, they are both good cars but the prius is just a bit better. we now have a 02 sequoia, 06 prius, 05 element and 06 civic. Like I said before I'm not really partial to either company, but I think the prius is better overall. Especially if your into gadgets and stuff. Not to mention my dad has been getting 58 to 62 mpg during his 40 mile commute. Which is much better than the 16mpg he was getting from the sequioa.