New car buying decision: Prius vs Civic hatchback

How do the safety features compare between the two cars?

 

Interesting....we'll have to get the Civic HB space numbers I tell you if I agree.
Could get a Prius v if you like space.
Civic HB sounds like the Prius ICE I've been theoretically using for hybrid cost comparisons.

 

Gas is cheap now... but it won't be forever. It got cheap because OPEC was in a squabble among its members and couldn't agree to cut output. Some members flooded the market to drive the shale oil/frackers out of business and recapture market share. OPEC getting on the same page is likely to drive oil prices up in the future.

It would be a mistake to assume gas prices will remain this low for the purposes of evaluating vehicle operating costs. Maximum break-even in terms of gas savings (current gas prices) looks like 8 years by your math... what happens if gas goes up?

Using your numbers, if gas is 2.75, its 518/yr savings for the Prius, if it hits 3.25, it is 612/yr

So, gas going up to 3.25 would cut your break-even from 8 years down to 4 years. Just something to think about

 

The 2017 Prius added a lot of safety features as standard that were not available on the 2016 Prius Two. Apparently, the 2017 headlights have reduced glare and rate higher on IIHS than 2016.

The headlights on both the Civic coupe & sedan rate Poor with IIHS.

 

Look at 2017 IIHS where they added additional requirements.
Both Civics are Top Safety Picks
Prius is Top Safety Pick +

I think the Civic was down-rated due to (lack of) headlight performance.

 

if you've been itching for horsepower, enough said.

 

Without knowing how far you drive each year, it is hard to give advice.
I drive over 30,000 miles a year, so gas mileage seems very important, if you drove 5000 miles a year, not so much.

 

The OP said 17K miles per year.

 

We came from an 06 Civic Hybrid, to our 2010 Prius. I still have occasion to drive that Civic, it's still in the family. There are many things I prefer about the Civic, find somewhat maddening in the Prius. But overall, the Prius is definitely more car, for me. Much smoother/quieter, more utility/versatility.

OTOH, I feel for people looking at 2016/2017. I'm really glad we got in when we did. The latest gen has better mpg, but I don't much care for it's looks, outside or in, you have to be careful to ensure you still get a model with temp spare, and the storage has been gutted.

Maybe a late model 3rd gen Prius?

 

For 4th Gen I think 2017 is worth it for the added safety features, especially for Trim 2 or 2 Eco.

 

Check both out in person.
Test Drive Both.
Whichever one you like best? Get that one.

 

Reminds me: consider the Fit too?

 

Take them both for a drive - and anything else which tempts you.

Work out which suits you best. It's a choice you make - I take a notebook and write comments on each car I'm considering - a page for each car, left side of page lists "GOOD" reasons, right side lists "RUBBISH". Pages with too many RUBBISH points get a big X over the page - you end up with 2 pages left. Flip a coin then.

 

Don't forget about insurance. The Civic has historically commanded a premium over similar cars due in no small part to its popularity amoung younger car enthusiasts. I neglected this when I purchased my Prius. My payback over a Civic came a lot sooner because my insurance premiums were a couple hundred $'s less per year. Yes, I paid more insurance for a 6 year old Civic LX than a brand new $33,000 Prius Plug-in.

 

+1.

Your fuel savings for Prius over Civic aren't much, and if gas doubles?
You'll still only be paying two times "not much" more.

Life is short.
Take each car for a lengthy test drive and consider other factors such as comfort and performance.
Anybody who even mentions the words 'manual' and 'transmission' in the same sentence except to express horror has no business driving a Prius unless they have to, and you don't drive nearly enough miles per year, nor is gas nearly expensive for you to 'have to.'

However (comma!!!) Driving a manual Civic can be a REAL chore if you live in one of America's vast grey waste lands where people use terms like 'traffic report' and "HOV lane" regularly.
Then?
The vanilla Prius driving experience is more of a feature than a fault.

Dig in.
Let us know what you decide.

Good Luck!

 

Funny that - it's the only thing I really miss with PRIUS. I know it can't happen with PRIUS, but a crisp 6 sp Manual is a delight. Not in bumper-to-bumper traffic, but the rest of the time.

 

U-oh! Do I detect a (late) mid life crisis coming along?

 

Perhaps.
After I had a manual transmission once. I sold it to go back to college as an older student. I wonder what's in store "down under"?