Prius vs. Insight vs. Fusion: Which Car is Wearing the Hybrid Crown?

Ford never projected Fusion Hybrid sales would be any where near Prius. They were hoping for 30-35k sales. Prius is over 100k per year. The Insight is the disappointment (honda predicted 100k a year), not the Fusion.

I'd like to see how much of this boils down to availability. I know that in my region (SF Bay area) dealers can't sell more due to production limitations (I've been attempting to purchase one with the CARS act). One of the dealers here mentioned that only one in twelve Fusions produced can be a Hybrid due to insufficient resources, the way they've assembled their manufacturing lines in Mexico, etc..

I'd venture to say not a single Fusion Hybrid stays on the lot for more than two weeks here.

I think the Insight has a tough job to build up a name for itself. Well, I guess any hybrid has it in tough compared to the Prius in that regard.

The sales of the Fusion Hybrid are good to see.

You have to include the Honda Civic Hybrid in this comparion which sold 1583 cars in June. Customers may buy the Civic Hybrid because it has strong promotions and is larger than the Insight.

I think zoomzoom is correct. Ford has always had supplier volume problems with their hybrids. Aisin is a huge example.

I went to check Insight a few weeks ago. I pretty much hate the too busy sci-fi style interior design, the exterior is OK but doesn't help much either.

I figured If I want to keep my spending down, I'd pick Fit, which IMO looks shaper, drives better, has more space and is 4-5k cheaper. Or I'd spend a bit more for a Prius which has much upscale interior, or a Fusion which seems to be a nice family sedan.

Honds miss the mark this time.

1487:
Maybe thats the problem. Ford is aiming the bar low. I just read the InsideLine comparison between the G37 sedan and the new SHO Taurus. Its a sad defeat for the SHO. Why defend Ford for setting low standards?

inlinesix:

I think that Ford is trying to find a median between a lot of buyers. Not the enthusiast buyer than the G37 is going for (such as myself) or the LOOK AT ME I'M AN ENVIRONMENTALIST!!! buyer than the Prius and Insight marketing team is aiming for. Just the average buyer.

It's a sad defeat for the SHO, for someone whose family owned two of them growing up, but I think Ford will strike the right chord for the average buyer. At least I hope so.

shaohsiin is right. I took one look at the Insight's interior and couldn't get out of the driver's seat fast enough. what a riot of surfaces and shapes and miscues. YECH!

How about a comparison test between the Civic hybrid and the insight?? Fuel mileage is comparable...what about the cars??

inline6:

Ford has limitations on components for its hybrids. There is no supply chain outside of Toyota's that exists that can churn out hundreds of thousands of of hybrids. Ford cannot sell 100k Fusion hybrids even if the demand was there. I never said anything about Ford aiming low.

how is the SHO's 2nd place finish a sad defeat when it was up against a lighter, RWD car.

Sure the Prius is winning... the Insight stinks!
http://www.cargurus.com/blog/2009/07/01/consumer-reports-honda-insight-dissapoints/

The Fusion though has a real shot at taking some market share. It's only drawback is it doesn't LOOK like a hybrid. Hybrid people like to make a statement.

1487:

When the AWD SHO has more HP per LB. When it is supposed to compete with other high performance sedans of similar size/price. When it has considerable brake fade no matter what weight.

I said sad because I think buyers will compare the SHO to the 335i, G37, is350, Genesis and go with the others.

inlinesix, normally I'm not a fan of breaking arguments down, but it seems appropriate here.

"When the AWD SHO has more HP per LB."
SHO: 365 / 4368 = 0.0835 hp/lb
G37: 326 / 3590 = 0.0908 hp/lb

The G37 has more hp per lb.

"When it is supposed to compete with other high performance sedans of similar size/price."

That's the problem. It costs less than other performance sedans it's size. The SHO is considerably larger than the G37, yet priced the same (when equally equipped). It's better to compare the SHO to the much more expensive M35x.

Either way you look at it, Ford is giving you more for the dollar.

brn:

Yes I had that hp/weight backwards. But like Edmunds, I expected the SHO to compete better in performance with the likes of the G37 sedan. It fits better with a Genesis Sedan.

"Either way you look at it, Ford is giving you more for the dollar."

Why not compare the SHO with a G37x? You get better performance with the G at an equal price. Ford hasn't upped the bar.