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Hybrid Vehicles Honda Insight Article Comments - 2010 Honda Insight vs. 2009 Toyota Prius
73 messages, Last post on Oct 14, 2009 at 1:06 PM
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Comparison Test: 2010 Honda Insight vs. 2009 Toyota Prius - You might remember the original Honda Insight. When introduced in 1999, it was the first hybrid vehicle sold in the U.S.A., an affordable technical tour de force that achieved spectacular fuel economy by adding a battery-assisted electric motor to the powertrain. But as a diminutive two-seater, it certainly wasn't a car for the masses. (more)
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| They compared a redesigned Civic Hybrid to an older Prius and the Prius beat in in a head to head. | |
I don't see why you waste your time with this comparison. All you would have had to do was to wait until April and you could have a honest comparison 2010 vers. 2010 both new models!! What you did was not smart!!
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So what was the 2009 Prius efficiency: "39 mpg" or "49 mpg" or "54 mpg" or "100 mpg" in four columns? We can't tell from this article. The extremes of automotive reporting on Prius mileage range from the "Top Gear" 17 mpg to more than 1,000 miles from a single tank. But these results are just as misleading as the Edmunds article. It is why I wrote the article referenced on how to "game" Prius mileage and it looks like the Edmunds team had a chance to 'look in the mirror.' I'm not a great fan of the EPA or Euro or other standard mileage tests because each assumes a driving profile that matches some standard drive. But these tests also hide what is really needed: a steady-state MPG vs. MPH curve, MPG to MPH curve, and a vehicle warm-up curve. With a steady-state MPG vs. MPH curve, owners can predict their mileage on a cross country trip and avoid critical speeds where the mileage falls off. It turns out that most cars have significant knees in their performance that are not known unless the MPG vs MPH is plotted. The MPG to MPH curve is a series of acceleration and stops over fixed distances to the same speed plotted for 20 mph, 30 mph and 50 mph. This lets us know the impact of stop and go traffic. It is a measure of inertial loss as well as engine-transmission performance. Finally, a warm-up fuel consumption curve is all that is needed to evaluate commuting distance mileage. If the commuting interval is shorter than this, the mileage won't ever reach the target. The problem is these fundamental physical characteristics are hidden in the standard EPA, Euro, Japanese or any other vehicle mileage tests and what passes for automotive reviews don't work either. IMHO, Edmunds could adopt a science based, testing profile for vehicles and publish the graphs missing from current testing results. With a web back-end, these charts should also predict mileage in any of the standard tests. But unlike them, it would also give clued drivers tricks to optimizing their rides. Bob Wilson |
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Replying to: strieby (Feb 09, 2009 6:17 am) |
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I just test drove both back to back. Bottom line. The Insight is a true compact and the 09 Prius is a large compact. I'm not trying to compare the two as they are not in the same class. The Insight is a nice hybrid for the money. Front seats a big enough for a 6' person. The back is more for a school aged kid or kids. Excelleration is poor 98 hp engine, handling fair, price very good. The 09 Prius was much better on excelleration and handling. I have no doubt you can (this month) purchase the Prius for the same price as the new Insight. That is my comparison, price. The 09 Prius is a better car (proven) then the Insight, period. So for the same price I would take the Prius. Now if you compare the 2010 Prius and the Insight, I'll take the Insight every time. There is not 5000.00 difference between the two cars. The insight is a very nice little car. I think you can purchase it for 1000.00 under MSRP.
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Replying to: rbk3 (Apr 04, 2009 6:26 pm) Did you drive the 2010? If not - What are you basing this on? - the '09 Prius? P.S. For future reference it's acceleration, not excelleration.
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Replying to: dodgeman07 (Apr 04, 2009 11:03 pm) No, I have not driven the 2010 Prius. I'm basing my opinion on reviews, test drives, researching the Toyota website and visiting local dealers. The lots I've visited in Nor Cal are loaded with 09 Prius. This is only my opinion. I think the cars I'm comparing are more similar then they are different. The 2010 Prius is being compared to a midsize when it is really a large compact. The new features are not significant enough to warrant a continuation of inflated pricing. All I was saying is I believe the Prius is way overpriced and I don't expect Toyota to lay down and start offering a discount anytime soon. So I believe you will be paying a premium to purchase the new Prius and in this market that seems very foolish to me.
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Replying to: rbk3 (Apr 05, 2009 10:00 am) I like the looks of the Insight best but it is a "small" compact and really too narrow for my taste. The Prius offers much more room but I've never warmed up to it's appearance. I'm hoping the '10 Prius will come in under $25K so I can give it a real look because in pictures, it's a better lokking car than the previous model. The $30K figure for a loaded 2010 Prius is too much coin. 
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Replying to: dodgeman07 (Apr 05, 2009 6:39 pm) I'd expect the standard model 1223 ( Prius II ) to begin around $23500-$24000. From there it may go up as high as $33000 for those that must have all the latest features. There's talk also of a Prius model 1221 ( Prius I ) that will be well below $23000. that's the Insight II fighter. In the meanwhile in Japan the 2009 Prius is being continued through the year at a significant discount in order to keep Honda from gaining all the low-priced sales. The two companies really don't like one another, methinks.
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When does the gutted 2009 Prius go on sale? Daniel |
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