Comparing Hybrid Cars, the Honda Civic Came Out on Top for My Dad

Buying a car any time is a big financial outlay. In this era of penny pinching and fuel scarcity, it's particularly important to consider not just a functional car but one that gets great gas mileage. What choices do you have that won’t break the bank? Big Green Purse intern Rachel Haas filed this report:

"What's the most fuel-efficient car I can buy to meet my commuting needs?" That’s the question my father asked recently after he passed his used car on to me and began looking for a small or mid-sized vehicle for himself. We decided to go on the hunt together, with our primary criteria being that the vehicle should be affordable, a hybrid if possible, and highly fuel efficient—achieving an average of at least 40 miles per gallon.  

Only three vehicles fit the bill:

HONDA

  Insight:
o MPG: Estimated mileage of 40/43 city/highway, average of 42 mpg
o FUEL ECONOMY: With gas prices around $2.60, the annual fuel cost amounts to around $929. You can make calculations for your own region by finding local fuel prices at GasBuddy.com and using the chart at fueleconomy.gov.
o COST: The Insight EX with navigation (a GPS system) has a ticket price of $23,100. NOTE: Because it’s a brand-new model, dealerships are less willing to negotiate on price.
o SPACE:  Overall smaller interior space than the Civic Hybrid, but as a hatchback, the Insight can fit almost three times as much cargo with the seats folded down, 31.5 cubic feet.

Civic Hybrid:
o MPG: estimated mileage of 40/45 city/highway, estimated average of 42 mpg
o FUEL ECONOMY:  same annual fuel cost as the Insight
o COST: The Civic Hybrid with navigation has a ticket price of $25,650, plus the option of leather seats (unlike the Insight) for an additional $1,200.  We were able to negotiate the price of the Civic Hybrid with navigation and leather to about $22,700. 
o SPACE: The interior space is slightly larger than the Insight, but the cargo space is significantly smaller, only 10.4 cubic feet. 

TOYOTA

3rd Generation Prius:
o MPG: Delivers the best mileage and power of any hybrid on the road today with an estimated mileage of 51/48 city/highway, estimated average of 50 mpg
o FUEL ECONOMY:  The annual fuel cost is about $780
o COST:  The 2010 Prius with leather and navigation has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of  $28,350. Like with the Honda Insight,  dealerships are less willing to significantly lower the price of this brand-new model.
o SPACE:  The Prius has more interior space than the Civic Hybrid, especially in the backseat, with an inch and half more leg room.  The Prius also beats the Civic Hybrid in cargo space, with 21.6 cubic feet.
o ADDED BONUS:  You can buy the 3rd generation Prius with a solar roof.  Why is that so cool?  The solar roof literally cools the car by using the sun’s energy to power an air circulation fan, eliminating the need for owners to blast their air conditioning in the hot summers.  Unfortunately, the solar roof adds about $1,800 to the ticket price. 

After test driving all three vehicles and comparing both fuel efficiency and price, my dad happily settled on the Honda Civic Hybrid (left). He opted for a slightly roomier interior over more cargo space, since he doesn't need to transport much in his car. Both price and mpg met his critera. Plus, he likes the way it drives. "This car has a lot of pep!" he says.

NOTE: You don’t have to be in the market for a new car to improve fuel efficiency when you drive. Getting a tune up on the vehicle you currently drive will improve fuel efficiency by 4%. Pumping up your tires to the proper PSI (pounds per square inch) will get you another 3.3% improvement in your MPG. Or skip owning a car altogether for “wheels when you want them” via ZipCar. Here are more ways to beat the high price of gas.

Looking for a different car? Check fuel efficiency ratings for all vehicles at fueleconomy.gov.

Interested in a mid-size, highly fuel-efficient family car? Stay tuned for our review of the Ford Fusion Hybrid.

Comments

[Kate]

Oooh this is a great comparison. I have a crush on the Prius with the solar roof myself, but I definitely do not need a new car right now. Great tip about the fuel efficiency with a tune up!

[Diane MacEachern]

Thanks, Kate. I agree - that solar roof is a great idea. I'm hoping to do a test drive on that one soon.

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[Van Sales]

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[HHOGasKitWizad]

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[ganhar dinheiro]

Great post ! i've already subscribed to your feed. Thanks.

[Ganhar Dinheiro]

Excellent article, I liked a lot. Success!

[Dinheiro]

Nice post! These cars are really fantastic!

[2recker]

Why is it that I am drawn to these new cars when I love a the oldies.

[Honda Civic]

comparison is done very nicely. Honda Civic Hybrid is my favorite too. Recently I bought the Civic Hybrid and I am very satisfied with its fuel economy. Also the features makes This car more futuristic.

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With high fuel prices and a weak US economy in June 2008, Honda reported a 1% sales increase while its rivals, including the Detroit Big Three and Toyota, have reported double-digit losses. Honda's sales were up almost 20 percent from the same month last year. The Civic and the Accord were in the top five list of sales. Analysts have attributed this to two main factors. First, Honda's product lineup consists of mostly small to mid-size, highly fuel-efficient vehicles. Secondly, over the last ten years, Honda has designed its factories to be flexible, in that they can be easily retooled to produce any Honda model that may be in-demand at the moment.

[Diane MacEachern]

Good observations. It is reassuring to see the demand for smaller vehicles on the upswing.

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Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 Toyota Prius and Lexus HS250H passenger vehicles. Customers have experienced inconsistent brake feel after ABS actuation during slow and steady application of the brakes on rough or slick road surfaces. Stopping distances may be increased compared with a customer's expectation for a given pedal force. Vehicle stopping distances may increase relative to a customer's expectation increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will rewrite the programming of the ABS control unit free of charge.

[Cheap Jordans]

Take my breath away.I've loved everything in your blog, thanks for always sharing such wonderful post. Have a good week!

[Brent]

Very imformative post. You made some great points. Hybrids are no doubt the way of the future so we better get used to them. I personally like the honda civic hybrid myself. Check out this guide if you want to make money or save money exporting your own vehicles from Japan!
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[John Morris]

I appreciate your honest post here on. As hard as it is to believe, it is possible you overlooked the few things in question. It would appear it has become a little out of hand with a so much of information to manage about. As a experienced person of nearly 15 years, i must say i totally agree with you on.

[John Morris]

I am so much impressed from this post,i think the person who create this blog it was a brilliant human.Thank you for finding the time to create such an interesting and idea inspiring blog.

[solar roof tiles]

Glad your dad found one that he likes. The solar roof on the Prius is laughable in it's price per functunality, if it was included that'd be a different story but at $1,800, it's down-right ridiculous.

[Eco Friendly Cars]

Quick Google shows that 1982 was a powerful Civic 67 horses. EPA test does not matter if it takes 30 seconds to reach 45 mph where much of the highway test or in another 30 seconds to go 45-55 mph, about half of the road test. Also, good luck driving 55 mph on any U.S. highway! 1982 Civic horrible aerodynamics means that fuel efficiency drops like a stone at a speed of 50-55 mph or so. Unfortunately, it is probably about as fast as you want to go anyway, because it is built like a tin can and is basically a rolling death trap.