Which Hybrid Would You Rather Own?

I like the Prius (the last gen, the current gen has an awful interior) , and the hatchback is very useful. It isn't fun to drive but it's comfortable.

The Insight needs to be run off of a cliff.

The Fusion is nice except you can't fold down the rear seats.

I'll take a TDI.

Is that a Kizashi behind the Prius? could that be one of the new long-termers by chance?

Exact same thoughts as DCuerpoJr... Fusion-- and the egg shell "Look at me!" design of the Insight/Prius and soon to be Volt drive me up a wall. I'd also be all over a Golf TDI over any of the options as well.

broq3_5,

I think it is a Kizashi.

Woo! that has to me a new long term kizashi, fits perfectly with the teaser, 4 cyl. manual, fwd, sedan.

and i'd take a fusion because it is more normal and from what i've read drives well. and sync is awesome. and its american.

The Fusion, and it isn't close.

Nice catch, broq.

Is death an option?

I don't think inside lane is somewhere you don't want to ask about hybrids....

Fusion.
If I purchased a hybrid I would not be buying it for the "Look At Me, Look At Me, I'm so Green" factor that is attached to the Prius and Insight.

This
http://www.insideline.com/porsche/911/porsche-911-gt3-r-hybrid-2010-geneva-auto-show.html

They have to have put the kizashi in the background on purpose!

What's the white car next to the Miata in the background? the crosstour?

Of these three the fusion, if any, chrysler aspen, in reality, I will never own a hybrid, the thought of going from a v8 to a v6 is bad enough!

Of those 3, the Prius and Fusion would be close, but I'll take the Prius because it's more faithful to its purpose... maximum efficiency.

Re: hating the aero look of the Prius/Insight/Volt... yeah, it sucks when form follows function like in lightweight 2-seat sports cars or body-on frame trucks. Much better to make a hybrid vehicle conform to a boring sedan silhouette while sacrificing aerodynamics and hatch-utility so it looks basically like every other sedan ever made.

I would take the Prius without a second thought. If you are going for a hybrid then why give up almost 10 mpg just to look "normal"? Normal is another word for bland and boring. Even if you are not into making an eco statement (and I'm not), the Prius is a much more interesting design then the Fusion.

If Ford made a wagon version of the Fusion (Ford used to be a diehard fan of wagons) then the huge practicality of a large wagon might tip the scales in favour of the Fusion.

As it is it's not even close.

I will take the Ford.

Realistically I wouldn't get a hybrid a truck or a SHO more likely.

i would go one step further and say a honda civic hybrid. ive always wanted the current gen, a white one, and put the mugen body kit on it then lower it with nice 18'' wheels. just my fantasy tho :P

if you introduce that kizashi, i will be on this blog every day of my life following it... i WILL replace my '08 focus with one in about 3 years. the amount of awesome driving dynamics in that car is just unbelievable at its price point!

I chose the Ford. I've almost made it my personal IL car, I'm at nearly 17,000 miles with it.

It doesn't scream hybrid, it's relatively quick(for a 4cyl hybrid sedan) and a gentle right foot can net some pretty outstanding mileage. Driving around all day Saturday running errands, about 40%highway, 60%city I managed to eek out a pretty nice 53.8mpg over 51.2 miles.

I'm certainly not complaining.

I would prefer to see ALL hybrids burned in a vat of gasoline and the charred remains scattered along the ocean floor...

Is that the fourth car next to the miata?

I should prefer the fusion because I much prefer discreetness to flashiness, but in this instance if i was getting a hybrid I'd take the Honda Insight all the way...

but since I don't want a hybrid, I'll take my Jetta Sportwagen TDI in white please with the panoramic sunroof and manual tranny

txmatt1 wrote:

"Re: hating the aero look of the Prius/Insight/Volt... yeah, it sucks when form follows function like in lightweight 2-seat sports cars or body-on frame trucks. Much better to make a hybrid vehicle conform to a boring sedan silhouette while sacrificing aerodynamics and hatch-utility so it looks basically like every other sedan ever made."

I understand that the Prius and Insight were designed to have a low drag coefficient while having the hatchback capacities, but 1) they still look ugly, 2) they're still boring to drive, and 3) the Fit & Matrix are have similar passenger & cargo capacities while priced approx $5,000 - $6000 less than the Insight and Prius respectively.

If you drove 20,000 miles a year in the Prius it'd take more than 6 years to recoup the cost initial cost difference between Matrix at today's gas prices. Even if gas prices rose back to $4 a gallon it'd take at least 5 years to recoup the difference. That's not even considering the cost difference on the interest paid on the loan if you financed both cars.

its the GTI yay!

Of the two hyrbidy hybrids, I like the looks of the insight better; even if it is the bridesmaid.

I would probably choose a vehicle more 'discrete' as you put it, but I would pobably use the word 'useful'.

Of those three, I'd pick the Fusion - the one most like a real car. Between the Prius and the Insight, I'd pick the Honda.

I own a Prius, it is a nice car but just a turd to drive and I hate it. I wont be getting another one, ever. I would get the Ford, hands down. But I will be probably getting a Fiesta in a few months.

I don't mind the looks of the Insight at all. If it drove like a real car, it would suit me just fine. As it is, I'll take the Fusion--not because it doesn't look like a hybrid, but because it doesn't drive like a dyspeptic golf cart.

i'd go fusion-prius-insight.

Fusion hands down....a hybrid vehicle doesn't need to look funky while saving the environment.

Agree with just about everyone, Fusion.

If forced to take one of the other two, I'd take the Prius because I think it looks sort of better. Kind of like choosing between white or off-white paint.

I'd go with the 1st gen Insight.

jrcarch says:

"its the GTI yay!"

As much as I also wish it was, I can't find a picture of a 2010 GTI that has full body color side mirrors. :/ Mk V and Mk VI both have black on the lower half of their mirrors, not to mention signal indicator lights.

My instinct was that the white car was a PT Cruiser (yuck), but they also don't seem to have body colored mirrors.

This such an easy one, the new Porsche Cayenne V6 Hybrid!

@e90_m3

Aww man, you beat me to it.

But yeah, I'd take that 911....tough I wouldn't mind the Fusion.

...or a nice Diesel sled.

I'd take the car with the carpool sticker. That's worth it's weight in gold in Los Angeles.

Well the prius gets better mileage, and can be more luxurious. The fit looks more fun to drive. But honestly my money wouldn't go to a hybrid for the price I'd rather get an A3 TDI, but if it had to be a hybrid, then Fusion.

If I HAD to drive one it would be the Fusion.

"What's the white car next to the Miata in the background? the crosstour?"

Man, that Miata looks so tiny.

And people argue that the Insight and Prius aren't competitors -- the Fusion is a distinct size and price bracket higher than these two.

The real question is Prius vs. a hypothetical Focus hybrid.

Fusion for sure.

Altima hybrid :)

Probably the Fusion, but I do like the Prius' packaging better. I've driven a non-hybrid Fusion and it was mildly fun, I drove a '10 Prius yesterday and it was absurdly slow. Many freeway entrances up here in NorCal are very short with no merge lane space, and no amount of Jeremy-Clarkson-style shouting or punching of the Power button summoned what I would consider to be acceptable acceleration.

Haven't been in an Insight, but it doesn't really appeal to me at all.

Jay I also live in NorCal (Sac area) and I also own a Prius (wifes car) and I have never felt it was underpowered. It is just what you are used too. It is certainly safe and cruises nicely at 70 MPH.

Since I plan on not dieing any time soon, I'll go with the Honda, but since the Honda isn't very good, I'll choose the Ford every time.

While I own the 2010 Insight, if I had to do it again I'd opt for the standard gas Civic 4 door EX with AT. The other hybrids here are too expensive for a second, commuter car, and their cost per mile and TCO is far too high for that purpose. Same story for the Jetta and Golf TDIs - nice cars but the purchase prices, cost per mile and TCO are non-competitive.

When you do the math and look for a good balance of value, economy and comfort, the gas Civic EX 4 beats these options hands down.

@mheikka : Until the engine grenades at 80k miles due to Honda's sloppy casting.

"Jay I also live in NorCal (Sac area) and I also own a Prius (wifes car) and I have never felt it was underpowered. It is just what you are used too. It is certainly safe and cruises nicely at 70 MPH."

I will admit my personal preference is a little warped since my current cars are sub-5 second 0-60, but I've also driven a lot of cars. The Prius moves about ok for most situations, but in tight ones I feel it's too slow. I had to merge onto CA-87 moving at least 20 mph below the speed of traffic into a lane of travel, forcing cars to brake. Not cool. Not to single out the Prius though, I think any car in the 10 second 0-60 range is just too slow unless you live outside an urban area.

I'll take the Ford Fusion hybrid, please.

Insight.

I'll take the Kizashi in the background!!

Or the Jetta/Golf TDI. I'm a diesel person. I dont believe in Hybrids.

A white pearl Insight for me.