Honda Hybrid

[Interstate526]

I've been checking out the new civic hybrid. i think its pretty stylish. especially with the side skirts and the bumpers n stuff. it kinda reminds me of the new acura TL. anyways, i know it looks much better than the Prius, but it seems like toyota is still ahead in the "hybrid business". the Prius gets better gas mileage. IM just kinda torn. Anyone got any comments or advice on this dilemma?

[misterme]

Interstate526,
I've owned a 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid since Jan'04.
Most people get around 46-47MPG, and the Prius gets about the same.
(Check the mileage database at greenhybrid.com)

But I personally take the MPG game to its limits, and have averaged around 65MPG last summer for a lifetime average over 53K miles of just over 60MPG. The highest I've ever achieved was 69.2MPG over a single tank of 941 miles.

I really haven't studied the new '06 in great detail.
In my case we're a family of 5 and our 2nd "family" car is a Grand Caravan and my HCH is my 100 mile per day commuter car.
If we were a family needing only one car I'd probably choose the Prius as it is slightly larger. I'd say the Prius has more utility for its hatchback but not sure if the 06 HCH has a hatch or not.

While the Prius is definitely more complicated (Two electric motors, power split device etc) it doesn't mean it's a better or more advanced system.

Personally I like to keep my vehicles as long as possible with 10 years maximum. At that time I'll exceed 300,000 miles on my commuter vehicle.
I really wanted a hybrid for the fuel savings but the battery replacement cost was a big concern, and the vehicle dependancy on the hybrid battery was the biggest decision breaker between the two.

Both Toyota and Honda's hybrid batteries are (or can be) warranted up to 10yrs/150K miles. But I plan to go twice that far.

Honda's hybrid cars can still be driven with a flat hybrid battery while Toyota's Prius can not.

New battery replacement is about $2,500.
It's likely one could find a good, warranted used one from a yard for substantially less.
So in my case if the battery goes bad at 200K miles I can choose to replace or not.
If the Prius goes flat it remains parked until replacement.

To date I've driven over 53K miles and haven't noticed any battery degradation at all.

Both vehicles are great, in my opinion.
Both get about the same MPG....but do it with very different technologies.