Is the Toyota Prius being snubbed?

It is only my belief that since the U.S. Automakers have come under such scrutiny and bailouts, (although Ford didn't need the help), it's a way to show that the U.S. Automakers are making some strides at fuel efficiency....

Maybe it's someone at FORD with an open wallet? Who know's but we all know the Prius for it's dependability and service records.

All cars have issues but the Prius is not NEW in the market and it's been doing well on it's own standing...just look at sales numbers.

Yet you would think they would talk about it more??? Go figure?

 

The Ford Fusion (including the Hybrid) were selected Motor Trend's Car of the Year.

 

I looked and tested several hybrids before ordering: Ford Fusion, Ford Escape, Honda Insight, Honda Civic and the 2010 Prius and elected to go with the Prius. So, there still are people with good instincts that do not need the media to tell them what's great!!!!

 

Don't forget that in 2004 it was the Prius that was COTY.

 

Yes, the media has dropped any discussion of the Prius like a hot potato. Why? I don't know - but the Prius is certainly worthy of attention. It has many merits in regard to the environment and operating costs, and when the Plug-In Prius becomes available in a few years those merits will increase dramatically.

We need to keep reminding the media that vehicles like the Prius and other GOOD hybrids, as well as fully electric vehicles, are too important to be put on the back burner.

Jim

 

Yes! It has something to do with climate change I think.

 

The media loves a new story and the rebirth of the US auto industry is one...hopefully...

The prius is a great car but thats not a new concept...

 

Maybe it's because most of the really wacko Hollywood movie stars that loved to be seen in a Prius a couple of years ago have gone back to their Hummers.

 

Patience, cheap oil won't last forever. We're in a local lull in gas prices, $2.50/gal !!!, and soon enough it will be over $3.00/gal. One good political crisis and/or Gulf storm and we'll be back to $4.00/gal.

Meanwhile, Japan is increasing their hybrid fleet percentages and small numbers in the rest of the world. Those of us who realize there is likely to be a tomorrow have made our plans. Now let the game play out.

Bob Wilson

 

The Fusion will have it's 15 minutes of fame until Consumer Reports gives it crappy reliability ratings in 1-2 years. US manufacturers have gotten better but they still can not build cars as reliable as Toyota.

 

The Fusion is rated more reliable than the Camry or Accord right now. It appears that they can build cars as reliable as Toyota.

 

I would have like to try the Fusion out, but they were less available that the Prius at the time and Prices $7k higher

 

Don't confuse "initial quality", with "reliability". Until a product has been out in the market for some period of time, there's no way to rate "reliability". Time and the consumer will determine reliability. All initial quality means is that they did a good job at the assembly line, or at the dealership of making sure the car had no defects (e.g., burnt out light bulb, dash that rattles, etc).

 

No disrespect to Ford, but this is what comes to mind when I think about American committment to developing more fuel efficient vehicles:

Think Progress Lutz Off Message: ‘The American Public Wants Sport Utilites And Large Pickup Trucks’

The fushion, while definitley looking more conventional sedan-like (than the Prius), it also gets substantially lower mpg's than the Prius.

 

The car companies have to take part responsibility in perpetuating the American lust for power and size. People are sheep. The masses will buy what their neighbor buys. They'll buy what the media tells them to buy. They'll buy what the celebs buy. Now every Dick and Jane think they need 4 wheel drive, ground clearance, and a hatch to run to Home Depot and back. Gimme an effing break. I bought a 7 foot ladder from Walmart and took it home INSIDE my Accord sedan. Not sticking out the trunk or sunroof or window. Completely INSIDE my car. There is plenty of space in the compact and midsize cars for 95% of our needs. Car companies make it sexy, manly, adventurous, and prestigious to own SUVs and all its variants, so we want it. Lutz make it sound like he just reacts passively to market pressure. The only major car company IMO that is responsible (if you can call any company that) is Honda. They're the ones who have always lead the way in innovation for efficiency. They try to wring every last ounce of power out of 4 cyls before resorting to displacement. Thank God they bumped Chrysler out of the 4th spot for US sales.


Why do baby carriages need wheels the size of dinner plates anyway?!?!? No wonder joe mama needs a big trunk. end of rant.

 

I bought the prius because I wanted the higher milage and the ford cost more, but ... the fussion did a lot of things better than toyota.

The instruments are laid better, the engine is stronger, it can go faster with the electric motor, there isn't the funky joy stick transmission where you have to hit a button for park, or the center console that takes lots of space without utility. You also could get a sun roof without putting in leather and other options outside the toyota grid , better nav, etc, 17" wheels, better stereo and nav options. I don't think its a matter of toyota being snubbed. Competition is good.

 

I'm not confusing things. The info I quoted was reliability info from Consumer Reports, the same source which Jim was talking about.

 

Personal taste. No question the Fusion looks like, is laid out like and drives much like a normal sedan. But this reviewer takes exception to your comment about it being laid out better:

http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/04/06/test-drive-2010-ford-fusion-hybrid/


By the way, the eco leaf cluster thing on the dash is absolutley LAME. My two college age kids were laughing at this...they said if the Prius had the same thing, they would never step foot in the car! For real.

It better be. It's a 2.5 liter vs a 1.8 liter for the Prius. Which is also one reason why it gets significantly worse gas mileage than the prius. No brainer here - if you want more pep/speed, put in a bigger engine. By the way, the Prius 0-60mph and 1/4 mile times are about 1.1 sec and 0.8 slower, respectively, than the hybrid Fusion. Neither will win any drag competion, however.

...and that is important why? The only way you can remain in EV mode, for either the Prius or the Fusion is to ever so gently depress the gas peddle. Any significant demand, and it will kick out of EV mode. So, unless there is nobody on the road behind you, it's simply not realistic to do this for more than a few car lengths in traffic...that is, unless you don't mind pissing off the folks stuck behind you? About the only time I can use the EV Mode in my Prius is when i turn into my development and travel the 3/4 miles to my house in golf cart mode.

Again, personal taste. Frankly, I like that it's different from EVERY sedan.

It's called styling. The Fusion's layout is standard and boring. Yawn.

Agreed. Not crazy about how Toyota packaged their options. But can you get a solar sunroof with the Fusion? Unless you've tried it, you don't know what you're missing.

Really? How so? How is it better?

LOL. I've heard the stereo on the Fusion, and far, far inferior. I'll take the JBL over the Sony anyday of the week. What "nav options" are you referring to...?

Competition is good. But the proof of the pudding as to whether the Fusion is "better" than the Prius will be determined NOT in some press room, but by consumer buying habits. Right now, the Prius is kicking the Fusion all over the floor...the people have spoken.

 

How can there be "reliability" data on a car that has many new systems (ie, hybrid) for 2010? A few months worth of data? What does that even mean? They are either extrapolating reliability data based on the non-hybrid Fusion (doesn't tell the whole story), and/ or they are quoting initial quality (meaningless).

Consumer Reports is a horrible source for automotive data.