Comments on: Toyota Prius vs Honda Civic Hybrid Road Test

By: Ally

Ally — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:04:11 +0000

Thank you so much for posting this up. Very useful info compiled into a brief intro into hybrid cars and the two leading models. Appreciate it! ;)

By: Timis

Timis — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:47:34 +0000

Amazing review my friend! The biggest and with the most information a have seen out there!

By the way, can anyone tell me, what is the S and the L option in the transmission?
They gave me one from work, and it did not come with a manual…

Thanks a lot…!

By: waxner

waxner — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 05:43:05 +0000

Is Toyota fighting primarily for entry level hybrid sales (and teensy profys) with Honda or assaulting Hybrid-deprived Chrysler, Ford with its meek Fusion, and GM with its $45,000+ Volt? Maybe all 4. Toyota has the best mileage, most tested systems, and more luxury at 10% more price, and middle class buyers are Toyota’s hybrid buyers;. Toyota will annhilate the Small 3, reap profits, and position itself for the battle ahead — with middle class buyers who balk at ubiquitous cheap Chinese hybrids and electrics.

By: 2008 Toyota Prius i-Tech Hybrid Review &raquo Australian Car Advice | News Blog

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:00:32 +0000

[...] Honda Civic Hybrid (from $35,990) Location: Home / Behind the Wheel, Environment, Hybrid, Toyota, electric / … [...]

By: Geoff

Geoff — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 21:42:26 +0000

Here’s a report card after owning a Honda Civic Hybrid since Oct 2007 :

Recently we holidayed up at the Gold Coast and drove our Civic hybrid up there from Sydney. On the trip home, we decided to see if we could get home on 1 full tank without any refueling along the way.

Prior to the trip home, we topped up our tank to the max and cost was approx $38 for a full tank (Civic hybrids has 50 litre tank capacity).

Over 2 days that took us to get home, we managed to get home with a few drops of petrol left. That’s with 3 adults, and a boot full of luggage. Distance travelled 900kms.

Not bad for a trip home that costed us a mere $38!

One very happy Civic Hybrid owner.

By: Waxner

Waxner — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 07:41:35 +0000

“Prius, the world’s first mass-produced hybrid sedan, produces up to 90 percent less harmful emissions than the average car on the road today,”

By: Jac

Jac — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:19:43 +0000

Just wondering…. why WOULDN’T you want others to know you are driving a hybrid? Is there really such a stigma for those who choose to minimise their ecological footprint? Promote a greener world, and put your vanity aside, people. Drive with pride.

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:21:12 +0000

Like some of the above answers, I will also be waiting for the plug in hybrids to be released in Australia before I buy my next car, meantime, I will use my Electric assist (Zero Emission) Bicycle whenever possible

By: Jan

Jan — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 07:46:48 +0000

Just wanted to know about honda car batteries. How long do they last and how much it will cost to replace them?

By: David

David — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 06:45:46 +0000

Very interesting. Having owned both vehicles for some time (I now drive a Prius), I feel well qualified to post a comment on the issue.

There is no question in my mind that the Prius is by far and away the best all round hybrid of the two.

Putting looks aside for just a moment, and concentarting on what they were designed to achieve, I was never able to get much better than 4.9l/100klm out of the Civic…and that was with a tail wind downhill with a large truck behind me!! The Civic after all is a petrol assisted hybrid car, not a true hybrid like the Prius. When you stop at a set of lights with the Civic, the petrol engine cuts out. Take your foot on and off the brakes a couple of times as the traffic creeps forward and the petrol engine stays on – very annoying
On the onther hand I just hit the stealth button on the Prius and “bingo” it stays in all-electric mode for as long as I have power, usually 1-2 klm.

On another point of correction, the Prius has 107KW at hand (petrol / electric combined, and way more torque than the civic). The Prius actually has two(2) electric motors.

The Prius is way quicker off from the lights than the Civic.

Straight out of the box I was getting 4.5l/100klm with the Prius (mainly highway driving too. The Prius loves stop go driving in the city, with figures dropping to below 4.3.
Yes, I admit that to some who don’t want anyone knowing that the drive an eco friendly hybrid, the Honda looks better, but the Prius has a unique charm of its own

The Prius is a much more pleasurable car to drive and own…and I just love the “stealth” button.

By: Carl Wongtw

Carl Wongtw — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 05:31:57 +0000

Thank you very much for sharing the comparison, I think I love the Civic Hybrid and I’ll definitely buy it in the future, or its new models :).

By: Carl Wongtw

Carl Wongtw — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 05:28:01 +0000

Thank you very much for sharing all this. I think I love the Civic Hybrid and I’ll buy it in the future :).

By: Bluey

Bluey — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 03:05:25 +0000

Ooops, they didn’t put the article full text online, just a cheezy video.

The F1 driver strategy was:
* throw out all unnecessary weight
* high tire pressures
* minimum revs, maximum gears

By: Morgasshk

Morgasshk — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:35:40 +0000

toyota does not have a cap on production, they are producing to the limit. Australia is a little fishy in the sea, so the US and Europe get first dibs on all Prius and Australia gets left with leftovers…

Over 1 million Prius have been sold in the world to date. Far cry form a gimmick ;)

Batteries do not need replacing in the first 3,4,5,6,7,8 years… 2 have been replaced in Australia since inception, and that was two taxis in North QLD – 375,000 and 650,000 klms repsectively…

Fuel use on Prius I have gotten close to the AD/R regulated 4.4L/100klm, which I find astounding. Driving from Cairns, to Townsville, To Mackay and then to Rocky, driving around city centres, getting food, stopping at hotels, city drive at night, traffic, and highway. I averaged 4.5L/100klms. Sitting approx 115kph on freeway.

No idea what the reviewer did to achieve their 0-100kph time, I regularly get to 100kph in under 11seconds, and online specs for the Civic rate it as over 13seconds for its 0-100kph time… did the one reviewed have a supercharger? lol

Pity the Prius is quite a bit more expensive, Toyota would get a lot more sales. And if people are waiting that long to get new vehicles that has gotta hurt :S for both toyota and Honda… Poor australia! We always get left behind! lol

Have put 20k on Prius I-tech since start of 2007, love it. And I come from selling and driving HSV’s and SS commies! lol. Prius is VERY maneuoverable (*sp) and I love shooting it through backstreets. Anyone talking body roll and handling and steering, is not trusting the vehicle enough and needs time to get more familiar with it.

It’s a Hybird, designed to be driven easily as possible to conserve fuel. I can make a choice. 7.4L/100klm from my Prius, or I can choose to get under 5L/100klms… Driving style is everything in that regard.

Thanks all

Morgasshk.

By: Gus

Gus — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:53:19 +0000

Ordered a 2008 Civic Hybrid on May 15, 2008 and I will not see it till end of August 2008. As I understand it, the Prius is a 7 to 8 month waiting. Which means you get a 2009 model, most likely. If I had to do it over again, I would wait till the Civic Hybrid 2009 comes out which, as I undesrand it from the dealer, it will have a few more options available, such as leather seats, than the 2008 model. Also, from what I read, it may cost less. And if you order and get the 2009 model before the end of 2008, you still get the $520 tax insentive from the federal government. As I undestand it, the Prius will be much harder to get since Toyota put a cap on the production (capacity issues I guess) of the Prius. That puts the pressure on Honda to deliver more. I don’t know if they have the capacity either.
Terribly dissapointed though to see from those with experience that the Civi Hybrid does not get the mileage claimed, where everyone I talked to about the Prius, they get better mileage than the posted.

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:11:36 +0000

I just bought a used 07 civic hybrid and I am getting about 35 mpg. A little disapointing since it is said to get between 40-45 mpg. But it is a lot better than my v6 accord. all in all i like the car it looks a lot better than the prius but I do think the prius would get a little better mpg than the civic. what made up my mind is the fact that in the usa the prius and civic are sold out at all the car lots right now and its like a 3 month wait not to mention there is about a $3,000 mark up on them since they can’t keep them in stalk.
I went to the honda dealer and was lucky to find a used 07 that was priced at used blue book price of $21,500 and talked them down to $20,000 lol I love nagotiations.
I can’t wait to see my money at work at the fuel pump.
I think both Honda and toyota make great cars and its prefrence on what you want. both cars will save you $ on gas. Shop around and get the best deal I love to save $ hahahhahahah lol.
Jason from California.

By: Gordon

Gordon — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:13:11 +0000

Hi
This article makes me think that the Civic is at least in the picture; and cheaper is not insignificant.

The problem is that I need to cart my bike around. I ride some days and not others. I need to take the bike to the repairers, or to the country. So I need a hatch …

Why isnt there a civic hybrid hatch?

By: Ess-001

Ess-001 — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:46:44 +0000

Barry Filshie,
Have you gotten your ICU checked? There has to be something wrong for it to consistently go more than 7L!

By: John McLean-Hodgson

John McLean-Hodgson — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:58:59 +0000

Bob,

Buy a Prius I-Tech you will not be disappointed. We have had one for over 2 years and still marvel at its capability. You fill up a lot less often in a Prius and it feels great. I would not give the Honda a look in.

Regards,

John

By: Bob Rona

Bob Rona — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:00:23 +0000

Now i am totally confused. ;-)
Ive been researching the difference between the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Toyota Prius for the last month..
Both are good cars.. Both have fans and also detractors..
Both claim reasonable fuel consumption compared to my current daily drive.(Toyota Prado 4 ltr petrol)
I travel around a 1000 kilometres a week.. so I have a fuel bill these days approaching $ 230 to $ 250 each fill!!! Each week!@ … OUCH!!!!!
By any calculation,a hybrid will cut that by around a third!.. so my annual fuel consumption bill should drop from $11,000 to $12,000 to around $ 3850..
BUT WHICH car ????
my email is iluvoz@tpg.com.au
Would anyone with some insight (pardon the pun)please email me and help me make the decision.
remembering that for me.. this a commercial decision.. i dont need all the toys the I-Tech Prius has..( altho Id like them )I am sooooo leaning towards the Civic Hybrid but I need some personl words from someone that has lived with one.. and as they are relativly new to the market.. Thats not as easy as I thought.

HELP ME PLEASE!!!!!

Cheers
Bob