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Toyota Prius vs. Honda Civic Hybrid v. Honda Insight v. ? - READ ONLY

336 messages,  Last post on Oct 26, 2007 at 12:07 PM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Prius, Honda Insight, Honda Civic, Hybrid Cars

Messages Page 34 of 34

#327 of 336 Re: prius highway fuel economy [coalburner] by godzillaismad

May 17, 2006 (4:08 pm)

Replying to: coalburner (May 17, 2006 6:01 am)
That's great to hear... I guess my worry is a bit on the paranoid side due to the fact that the engine is relatively small (1.3L for civic or 1.5L for prius)... just not too sure whether it would be a good idea to drive those hybrids long term in the freeway. Will the engine way wear much faster than it is designed to handle?

#328 of 336 Prius Vs '06 Civic by davhan

May 17, 2006 (5:19 pm)

The Prius is good highway and better in the city (stop start traffic). The '06 Civic (which I own) is good in the city traffic - typically 5.5 l/100klm, and only gets better on the highway, where you can control speed better. I haven't really had a chance to take it on a long drive yet. But once when I filled up next to the freeway, for the next 60k or so I was getting mid 4's. Hope that helps. Oh, and also, the civic is much nicer to drive and cheaper to buy...and it looks better inside and out.
 
So...for purely city driving the Prius is the go. For a mixture I preferred the Civic.
 
Happy driving

#329 of 336 Re: Prius Vs '06 Civic [davhan] by godzillaismad

May 17, 2006 (5:25 pm)

Replying to: davhan (May 17, 2006 5:19 pm)
Thanks for your info... I have to agree with you about Civic advantages have over Prius. However, the Civic hybrid does not have SatNav!? Well the one that's being sold in Australia anyway... Is SatNav important?

#330 of 336 Re: Prius Vs '06 Civic [godzillaismad] by davhan

May 18, 2006 (3:41 am)

Replying to: godzillaismad (May 17, 2006 5:25 pm)
OK...so from that comment you live in Australia too. Melbourne for me.
 
True, only the Prius comes with SatNav. I did actually buy one of those carry with you Satnav's by Navman and put it in the Civic...I'm a security salesman by trade, so I figured that it would come in handy. I had actually used one in Brisbane once, in a hire car. It was great there because the roads are all over the place. But I actually found the Navman at home in Melbourne more of a nusance. The Prius Satnav is a very expensive add on, and you'd really have to have a solid reason for buying it. It's a fun gadget...but that's about it. A bit like a covertable (of which I have had one). An expensive toy that in reality is not used that much.
 
My recommendation...don't bother with it. You'll enjoy the Civic much more. No...you wont get the absolute best MPG. But it will be a hell of a lot better than anything else. I consistently get 5.5 l/100klm and better driving from Frankston to Blackburn and back - absolute bumper to bumper traffic.
 
I really love the Civic. If you want to make an expensive statement buy the Prius, if you want to save money, look good, handle well and the pay back time here is about 2 years...less when we hi $2 a litre, buy the Civic.
 
The short answer is...NO Satnav is not important. It's just another gadget...thing that you have to deal with when driving. The Civic...for all it's efficiency and technical sophistication drives like a nice car...like you would expect a Honda to drive like.
 
Does that help?
 
David

#331 of 336 Re: prius highway fuel economy [godzillaismad] by stevedebi

May 18, 2006 (10:27 am)

Replying to: godzillaismad (May 17, 2006 4:08 pm)
"That's great to hear... I guess my worry is a bit on the paranoid side due to the fact that the engine is relatively small (1.3L for civic or 1.5L for prius)... just not too sure whether it would be a good idea to drive those hybrids long term in the freeway. Will the engine way wear much faster than it is designed to handle?"
 
I wouldn't worry about the Civic, at least. Honda has been making small engines that go a long ways for many years. The ICE Civic has a 1.7L engine, which is pretty small. But in any case Honda builds their engines to REV high and last long, provided the required maintenance is done.

#332 of 336 Re: prius highway fuel economy [stevedebi] by davhan

May 18, 2006 (4:01 pm)

Replying to: stevedebi (May 18, 2006 10:27 am)
The HCH 1.3l engine is no ordinary motor. Like all Honda's it has variable valve timing, but in 3 levels. The first is for maximum torque at low revs, the middle is for standard cruising and the top is for maximum power at high revs...all handled automatically of course. At freeway speeds (100kph) it sits at or below 2,000rpm - very low indeed for such a small motor. This is also a function of the CVT (Constantly Variable Transmission). So all in all the engine should last forever at highway speeds.

#333 of 336 Re: prius highway fuel economy [davhan] by stevedebi

May 19, 2006 (10:23 am)

Replying to: davhan (May 18, 2006 4:01 pm)
"The first is for maximum torque at low revs, the middle is for standard cruising and the top is for maximum power at high revs...all handled automatically of course."
 
That is an Atkinson cycle ICE, it doesn't have a lot of torque at low revs. Hence the electric assist.
 
Your description sounds the same as my 2003 CR-V; computer controlled variable valve timing.

#334 of 336 Still surprisingly torquey though by davhan

May 19, 2006 (3:37 pm)

Replying to: stevedebi (May 19, 2006 10:23 am)
Correct. Nevertheless thanks to the electric motor assistance it has a surprising amount of low end torque. On looking at some other car manufacturer sites the average 1.8 - 2.0l engine has about the same amount of torque as the HCH...about 170nm. So it can take off from the lights quite briskly. It's at higher speeds 110kph and above where it starts to lack power.

#335 of 336 Re: Still surprisingly torquey though [davhan] by stevedebi

May 21, 2006 (7:57 pm)

Replying to: davhan (May 19, 2006 3:37 pm)
"So it can take off from the lights quite briskly. It's at higher speeds 110kph and above where it starts to lack power."
 
It depends upon the battery depletion. It supplies power at all speeds.

#336 of 336 Re: prius highway fuel economy [coalburner] by nnpptt

Oct 26, 2007 (12:07 pm)

Replying to: coalburner (May 17, 2006 6:01 am)
55 mpg! Wow. I average about 65 mph on traffic-free highway driving and I'm only getting 46 mpg in my 2004 Prius. I'm also having battery troubles, though... so I guess it's time for a service.
 
Thanks for the info! btw - I put a bunch of interesting stuff on this website. I think it's a good way to get people to see the light and drive a hybrid. Check it out:
 
http://comparati.com/941-Gas-Powered-Car-vs-Hybrid-Car

Messages Page 34 of 34

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