Prius Sales Tank Even With Higher Gas Prices

I was referring to the US market. Sure, a fiat diesel, VW beetle or something else might get close to Prius mpg, but the question is that vehicle compares to a Prius? The Prius doesn't do well in EU, the diesel dominates pretty much all.

 

The segment the Prius occupies doesn't appear that popular in the US. Here, because of our fuel price it is a very popular segment. Diesel cars with a manual gearbox tuned for economy (not the sport versions you get) can make significant economies.

The diesel Honda Civic gets an official mpg of 78.5 mpg UK and a real world rating of 66.2 mpg UK

New Honda Civic 2014 | Hatchback | Honda UK

The tuned VW Golf Bluemotion diesel gets an official rating of 88.3 mpg UK compared to the Prius 74 and is £2,000/$3,300 cheaper to buy!

The new Golf Which Model : Volkswagen UK

I am not a diesel fan. I hate them. I don't like manual transmissions. But many people don't mind diesel and don't mind manuals. That's probably why Prius sales are slipping. It's just too expensive for what you now get. And this is in a country with $8 a gallon fuel.

 

Yeah, I guess, but that VW Golf is a manual, diesel as well, does not really compare to a Prius. Bunch of Prius's here in Chicago, not so many VWs, and let alone the manuals...

 

why cant we get those high mpg diesels over here in the USA??

 

I get into these arguments all the time on various forums with folks from the UK and other places where manual and diesels are popular. I always tell them I can't argue because we can't get those models here. My guess is that if we had access to all models worldwide on a competitive basis (meaning no excess import tax) to stymie sales, Chrysler, Ford and GM would cease operations. And, our government would come up with a different way to raise revenue through both seriously increased gas taxes and new mileage taxes, both of which are already being contemplated.

 

Because 1, diesel fuel is more expensive for you to wipe any diesel gains, 2, people don't want manuals, though if they paid over $8 a gallon that might change and automatic diesel options are obviously available, 3, people won't buy the models if they were actually for sale, 4, Historically diesel emissions have been quite high.

And actually you do get many of the models we have but where we have a 1.6 litre eco diesel on a 6 speed economy manual transmission getting 60 mpg US, you get a 2.0 litre petrol on a 5 speed sports manual or auto getting 40 mpg US.

Economical diesels are available for sale in the US now. The Audi A3 diesel gets 30/42 US. If you do highway miles then it's a good car. This time they've also brought the best engine over too. The 2.0 engine is very torquey yet economical.

2013 Audi A3 Diesel Review, Pricing & Pictures | Edmunds.com

Obviously many folk on here don't like diesels but wouldn't it be better for someone to buy that Audi than something else?

 

#5 Diesel isn't available at most gas stations..

 

Different safety standards.
Different emissions standards.
Different preferences.

 

Completely different driving culture.

 

Because?

Because you've had cheap petrol since 1935 and we haven't. You produce it, we buy it.

But wait til China and India to demand more and more of this finite resource.

 

Isn't a bunch of your cost the tax you impose on yourself on fuel. The price difference is not all the cost of import.
We have imported a lot of fuel over the years and just now are getting closer to self sufficient.

 

Because? What does that have to do with the discussion? There are a ton of reasons why, not just so-called cheap fuel, and I'm sorry, but I'm not going to debate the American lifestyle with you or anyone else in a car forum, for crying out loud.

 

fuel TAX is cheaper in the US compared to the EU. The actual fuel is about the same cost, but EU politicians put ~4 dollars/gallon of tax so they can fund their governments' wasteful spending.

Careful..... you'll be labeled a "troll" for saying that. (I was.) Don't use B mode.

Perhaps they Should question your judgment,
since the Jetta TDI is only $20,000.....
.....about $3000 less than a prius

 

Perhaps they should question YOUR veracity.
I don't have your questionable love affair with oil-burners, but I believe last year's Jetta TDI (very spartanly equipped compared to the G3) was closer to $23,100. Good luck finding a dealer with one at that price BTW, since most Americans don't drive base model cars with a standard transmission.

If you're going to be a troll, at least be an accurate one.

 

Truecar.com lists Jetta TDI at $18, 715 in Orange County (south of LA). Only $17,645 in Oakland (SF region). That's about 3 thousand less than the Prius.

2001 was actually the fourth year for the Prius. It had been sold in Japan (and bugs worked out) for model years 1998, 1999, 2000.

 

Yes this is the case. But this also applies to cars with the same name but different internals. For example the 2001 Prius was the first year with a prismatic battery cell instead of a cylindrical NiMh cell along with a host of other major power train, emissions and other changes needed for American use.

 

For Zip 85381, I get higher numbers, but the $3,000 more for the Prius holds true. Doesn't change the Fuelly 39.4 vs 51.7 average mpg difference though.

Your point about the "first year" is a good one and something I never considered, but so was the rebuttal.

 

That's interesting, I just looked on Truecar and found the the TDI and the Prius available around Santa Ana for about the same price $22k

More interestingly, on Edmunds, I found the Prius available at $20.3k, average paid at $23.5k and 5 year cost to own at 37.7k compared to the TDI available at $24.2k, average cost at $24.8k and 5 year cost to own at $45.4k

The cost to own is the important number and that showed the TDI costing $7.7k more over 5 years. Checking in other locations, the best result I saw for the TDI was $4.5k additional cost.

It seems pretty clear to me that the Prius is the less costly option

Noticed & corrected typos on costs. They did not affect conclusions.

 

Gotta love the internet and statistics.

 

94 grams CO2/km for the diesel.

VERY impressive, and way better than the petrol version at ~ 130s grams CO2/km. I wonder why.
The only fly I could find that may be in the ointment is Euro 5 emissions. If the cars can keep the same economy and comply with Euro 6 then they are indeed real Prius competition. The car also has (IMHO) a very nice, sleek look. As much as I dislike diesel, that is a compelling car.