Trying to decide between Prius and a Mazda 3.

No way you're getting 80mpg. Sure you can get 80mpg going flat with a slight downhill grade at like 50mph. But no way you can get close to 80mpg for a real world drive for more than a few miles.

My brother owns a 2008 civic, which i've driven and ridden in many times. My coworker has an insight which i ride in when we all go out to lunch and he drives. The civic is definitely a little better. I'm not talking like it's a mercedes, but the prius and insight are very comparable to cheap economy cars interiors like the chevy spark or nissan Versa. The sound insulation is terrible, due to weight savings.

I didn't say HONDA makes JUNK. I said, their hybrid was a flop. It's not something that they could tweak or fix, it's bad at it's basic concept which sounded good on paper, but wasn't so good in implementation. Even they know that, which is why they went a totally different direction for the new accord, which isn't a flop.

EPA numbers can never be perfect due to so many variances in engine technology. By my prius is averaging right on with the combined rating of 50mpg. Look at my fuelly, it's working for me.

 

I can't comment on the Mazda never having driven one but a recent 40 mile trip in my Prius C showed me how versatile it is in city type traffic. It was mostly stop and go with some sections where speeds reached 40. At the end of that trip I looked at my mpg for that leg and it was 75mpg. No way any traditionally powered gas car can match that.

 

neez,
What you need to know is that you're arguing with someone who gets off on making people mad, loves to hype up other cars, loves Honda and hates Toyota. Despite that, he claims he's buying a Prius (which I seriously doubt). He does love eliciting responses like the one you gave and is likely very happy that he got a rise out of you.

Just some advice, ignore him and don't waste your time disputing him. Obviously his claims are outrageous and a joke.

 

I have BOTH ... a2010 Prius AND a 2012 M3 with Skyativ. The Prius does NOT get 20+ mpg more than he Prius.

My wife's been averaging 37.9 mpg with her M3 on her commute for 22,000 miles. The Prius averages 46.2 with the same commute. I'm so impressed with the new m3's I'm looking to trade the Prius on a new M3 just for the massive fun the M3's are to drive.

I've enjoyed the Prius, but the M3 is in a whole different class. If I can get CLOSE to 40 mpg with a conventional car ... I'll give up those extra 8 or 10 mpg's to have a car that handles 5 times better, is worlds faster, and makes me smile when I drive it. There is NO COMPARISON between the interiors ... The switchgear ... The styling ... And the fun.

At only 7500 miles per year ... There's only 1 answer .... The M3 I Touring at about 19k after discounts and rebates.

REV

 

The insight was a flop... agreed.
They discontinued it. However 20% of all Civics sold were hybrid, so that's a Lot of hybrids sold. (Not as many as Toyota, true, but then Honda is a very small company, not the #1 largest in the world.)

 

Civic hybrids were teal bad

 

Yeah my Civic's 75+ life MPG is really lousy. (And yes I drive slow to achieve that.... 45 mph.)

 

my friend had a civic hybrid and got lousy mpg. he says if he got out of our hilly terrain he could get up to 40 mpg arround here he got 35 if he was lucky. that is LOUSY! He sold it and said he would not buy another hybrid. because the regular civic got about the same mpg. Honda should have to give civic owners a check for like $5ooo for selling such a poor car.

 

That is unfortunate. We still have a '95 Civic EX (obviously not a hybrid) and still maintain around 40 mpg with it. Our terrain tends to be flat, though, and we are not hard drivers. It has been a super efficient and reliable car that we'll probably keep forever, but it does have much weaker performance than the four cylinder Toyotas we have had, and the a/c is not really adequate on the hottest Gulf coast days. Still, it's a reliable little workhorse with excellent mpg. I am surprised to read of newer Honda hybrids not getting better mileage.

 

Well, the new accord is a parallel hybrid, not an integrated motor assist like the flops that honda made previously. They learned how crappy IMA was, and switched. The new accord is a little pricey though compared to the camry and other midsize hybrids. However, the accord does get the best mpg. The only downfall of the accord is the lack on trunk space. I don't even think a stroller would fit in there.

 

I really hope the new accord proves to be as good as they say. I will take a wait and see approach. toyota seems to be the only one that doesen't claim higher mpg than they actually get. Like ford for instance.

 

Most reviewers are saying it gets about 42-43mpg combined. That's pretty good for a large modern mid-size sedan.

 

Yeah but 42-43 combined is about the same as the Camry Hybrid. IMO, the TCH is a way better/nicer vehicle with a proven reliability record as a hybrid. Then if the Accord costs more than the TCH, I'm sorry, its not for me.

 

We had a couple great Mazdas in the 90s (626 & Miata), but my son had a recent Mazda6 and neighbor a Mazda3, both with the 4 cyl. engine, and both had rod knock at fairly low mileage (30K & 70K).

 

I guess another difference to consider is how much traffic you hit on a daily basis. If you are commuting on a highway that goes 65+ consistently, then the difference in mpg might not be as big, as the Mazda3's SkyActive is more efficient at higher speeds and the Prius HSD is less efficient at higher speeds. However, if you are commuting on freeways with stop and go traffic, then the Prius will be significantly more efficient and get you noticeably higher mpg. It's important to consider the buyer's actual use for the car.

 

I LOL'd when I read Honda should send $5000 checks to Civic hybrid owners. Toyota did send checks to refund customers forced to buy new engines. Toyota had a poor design in their trucks & large cars that sludges itself (basically ran too hot) and they refused to honor the engine warranty (until sued by the US government). I will never touch any Toyota car except the Prius due to those engines

but I'd happily buy another Honda car. Four insights and a civic hybrid so far. They give great MPG and bulletproof engines (rated twice as reliable as any other brand)
.

 

Why did you buy a prius if the honda is so good? your honda hybirds don't seem to be lasting. Honda makes good stuff, I just think their hybrid civic is not worth buying. I hope the accord hybrid will be better, it sounds good so far.

 

Out of 5 Hondas, the only failure was needing a new transmission (fluid pump leaking 1 quart/300 miles). The other 4 are still in my possession & working.

 

Never driven a Mazda 3, but I hate the gen 1 Prius. Far too weak, small, old, and at that age, unreliable as well. I'm surprised that you got a favorable impression from such an old Prius.

Anyways, I would get the new 2014 Mazda 3 or wait another year to get the Gen 4 Prius. Although I drive a Gen 2 Prius, I find that the Gen 3 Prius's steering is too numb and vague, even in comparison to an older EPS.

 

I love my 3rd gen Prius, so technically happy .
yap steering is numb, but do not mind as long as saving $$ on gas, damn happy overall, 54 on average lifetime mpg. 60% Highway and 40% local roads.

Mazda 3 is better handling and fun driving, zoom zoom zoom......