2006 Prius vs alternatives

Hmmm. Well, if you would like to pay *more* for awful reliability, you could consider a TDI. People in the know say the driving experience is nice in the TDI, whatever that means. Low emissions is *not* part of the profile.

I don't understand switching to an '06 from an '04 Prius. Care to explain ?

 

SUV hybrids? Your choices are two (three if you count the Mercury). Have you checked out a Ford Escape or Lexus forum? Is their MPG---mid-20's to mid-30's---high enough above average?

For all the conditions you listed, Prius is still the one.

 

My partner owns the Lexus hybrid. I've had the chance a number of times to jump out of my Prius and drive the Lexus. Its very comfortable on a long road trip but too big and heavy for my around the town use. His average mileage with all kinds of driving over about 8,000 miles is 24.5. That's impressive for a vehicle not that heavy but nothing compared to the Prius. I'm always glad to get back into my Prius after the Lexus. All that being said, we'll probably buy her the Lexus because she really likes the size and hauls clients around.

I also traded my 2004 Prius in on a 2006 after 33,500 miles. With the value the 2004 held and the tax incentives for the 2006 it was a no brainer. I much prefer my 2006 with package 8 and leather seats. No huge changes but the higher resolution MFD, the seats, backup camera and slightly better suspension or stiffening makes it worth while. It was also just about worth the trade just for the faster connection time between my Treo 650 and the car when I dial the number on the Treo.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ghostofjk @ Apr 9 2006, 07:53 PM) [snapback]237377[/snapback]</div>

Four if you count the Mercury. Highlander Hybrid, Lexus Rx400h and the Ford Escape are the other three. My sister loves her Rx400h.

 

Evan-
The camry is only larger on the outside. I've recently done the comparison and this is what I found.

Prius Camry hybrid
height 58.1 57.5
length 175 189.2
wheelbase 106.3 109.3
width 67.9 71.7
head room 39.1/37.1 38.8/37.8 w/moonroof 37.9/37.4
leg room 41.9/38.6 41.6/38.3
shoulder room 55.3/53.0 57.8/56.7
hip room 51.0/51.6 54.6/53.9
passenger volume 96.2 101.4
luggage capacity 16.1 10.6
total volume 112.3 112

Overall the camry is not larger inside than the Prius. The camry is much larger on the outside(14") but volume is the same the camry is about 3" wider at the hips and shoulders but offers slightly less head room and legroom to the front seat passengers. Due to it's smaller exterior size the Prius is slightly more maneuverable. If people compare the two head to head, the Prius will not lose market share to the camry due to size. The camry is not designed to use space as well as the Prius. Even though the camry is 14" longer, it's wheelbase is only 3" longer.

The camry is 800 lbs heavier and has 192 horsepower compared to the 110 horsepower Prius. It accelerates to 60 mph 1.5 seconds faster.

I put in the spaces to make this read like a spreadsheet but it didn't post that way. Anyone know what I should have done, short of attaching a file?

 

If you have no complaints about the Prius, you might as well get the 2006. As for the Camry...

[*]Above average MPG
The Camry does have this, but not nearly to the extent of the Prius. As far as I can make out from reviews, if you get 50 mpg in a Prius, you'd get 37-40 mpg in the Camry.

[*]Low emissions
Yes, obviously.

[*]Above average cargo space
Even the regular 2007 Camry has a pretty small trunk area, and the hybrid's is smaller still. The Prius is the winner here.

[*]Ability to haul Mtn. Bike and Kayak
Can't sort a bike inside the Camry but maybe on the roof?

[*]Technical amenities (iPod connection, bluetooth, Nav)
Camry has that.

[*]Model reliability (of course)
Camry has that (of course).

The Camry beats the Prius in a number of ways, most of which you can see yourself from test-driving a 2007 Camry LE, off of which the hybrid is based. It'll also be faster and probably can remain in EV mode for a longer period (though maybe not at as high a speed). The Prius wins in terms of FE and cargo room, but those are its only advantages. Oh, and the Camry Hybrid has a 17.2-gallon tank that never shrinks, so if you get 40 mpg you'd go 600 miles before the low-fuel light comes on.

 

Not to confuse things, but I rented a VW Golf TDI 2.0 in Europe last year. I was getting around 48 mpg (converted from liters and KM to gallons and miles), and the Golf was fun to drive, quiet (my first diesel experience), and handled better then the Prius. The VW had a 6 speed shift-a-matic that I left mostly in drive. I don't think the 2.0 TDI is available in US. Also buying diesel fuel in US can be a hassle. Nice car though. Also, it wouldn't get any carpool stickers here.

 

Dare I say it you could buy a Hybrid Civic.. I hear they are cheaper than the prius and are more readily availible, you'll just have to suffer when it come to roominess..

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tharwood @ Apr 9 2006, 07:27 PM) [snapback]237301[/snapback]</div>

*choke* They'll pay for your car? *gasp* Who are they?

 

If you bought a Camry, you could get that really pretty dark blue.

 

This is very subjective, but I drove a Camry (not hybrid) for a day once while my Prius was having a computer reprogramming or something - maybe it was the fuel filler pipe & computer.

I thought the overall driving experience in the Camry was inferior to that of my Prius. That's of course very subjective, because there's stuff about the Prius (all the hybrid stuff) that I just think is so cool, like shutting off at stoplights and regen braking and there's never any gears shifting inside there. I don't think I could enjoy driving a conventional car again.

 

Perhaps you should hold out for a 2008 Prius? At 93 mpg, it's bound to be a huge hit.