New Prius or New Camry Hybrid?

The old mild hybrid IMA system of infamy was last seen in the US on the CRZ, Insight II, and 2011 Civic.

The dual motor full hybrid system showed up in the Accord, Insight III, then CR-V, before the Civic. Though the Insight III is more Civic than Insight.

Honda also has a single motor parallel system like what Hyundai/Kia uses. The Jazz/Fit is the only model I know of using it. We did get the sport version in a couple Acuras. It added motors to the rear for AWD.

 

This prompted me to look up the old Accord hybrid from a couple of decades ago when I lusted for a Civic Si hatch. I remember the Accord hybrid being very fast; back then 250hp was a lot. Now it seems pretty common for 0-60mph to be around seven seconds.

It speaks to the maturity of the tech that a typical purchaser will be focused on whether he wants a Honda or Toyota or Kia, or a sedan or minivan rather than the specific drivetrain.

 

My wife bought a '25 Camry recently. Really nice car (quiet, rides and handles well) with great mileage (better than the '13 Prius it replaced). Some people here recommend the Corolla. I rented one just recently (not the hybrid) and it's not near as nice as the Camry. It felt cheap and still has a key ignition instead of a start button. Nice car if you want a cheap car, but not in the same league as a Camry.

I looked at a new Prius at the dealer and had difficulty getting in and out of it due to the low roofline/door opening. My '17 Prime is more functional in that regard. If I can't figure a better way to get in/out of the new Prius, it will unfortunately be crossed off my list. I really want a plug-in to replace my Prime and preferably a Toyota. I think Toyota really screwed up by going more sporty/stylish with the Prius and traded off functionality.

 

I had to make this change recently. I only knew one way to get out of a car -- turn left 45 degrees, stick my left leg out onto the ground and lift as I pushed outward with my right leg. I can still do it, but it hurts my (damaged) right knee.

I picked up a tip from an octogenarian partner. Turn left 90 degrees, plant both feet on the ground and lift. I still get in the old way, but dropping myself into a seat is easier than lifting.

I'm almost dopey enough that I could justify a GR86, but I stood next one and saw how close the bottom of the door was to the top of my shoe and didn't even try to sit in it.

It's also a different CVT mechanism. Exactly the kind of Corolla you describe is what gave me a confidence that I could live with a Prius. It was quick enough and did everything it needed to.

I have little doubt that your 2025 Camry hits a sweet spot for value and is a better per pound value than a Prius. All reviews indicate that it is a nicer, smoother car. FWIW, I found a Camry harder to get into than my old Corolla -- the seat seemed lower.

I'm sure Toyota lost some legacy Prius buyers with the shift, buyers who are aging and may migrate to Camrys and Signias, but they gained access to a market of new buyers too. It may not be a popular message here, but the era when the Prius was THE hybrid may have passed because that niche got too big to be a niche.

 

problem is, they don't have a nice utility car anymore, and rav4 is too big.

 

Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn't do it?

Shorter than a Prius and easier to get in and out of.

 

i haven't driven one. the body type may be good, but how about ride comfort and etc?

 

I haven't driven one either but it's as much a TNGA Corolla as the Prius is and the tires come with a useful amount of sidewall. I'm a hatchback fan and that square rear area looks sort of useful.

 

No spare, if that matters.

 

I test drove the Cross Hybrid twice. Having had to abruptly swerve out of the way a few times in my life I feel safer in a vehicle with a lower center of gravity. The Cross ride felt a bit floaty but who knows maybe the tires weren’t properly inflated since I test drove the moment they arrived.

 

No spare anyware… : )

 

Toyota currently has 2 main Hybrid systems.THD mainly focussed on economy & iForce-Max for the trucks focussed on power.
Which one is rumored to be moving to a BYD system?

 

I guess the Camry does come with a spare but I don’t care for the look and no hatch. At a quick glance the Camry looks similar to the Honda Civic hybrid.

 

Even before the hybrid, the 2.5 Camry was a masterpiece. There were people getting 40mpg at highway speeds from the 200hp 2.5 liter, and it's not a small car. Then there's the whole spare advantage.

I don't have enough room to park a Camry, but I wouldn't want one anyway because it's a sedan. I'm thinking about one as a third car for my children. I like the idea that they'd be in a slightly larger car.

 

Agreed, I've rented a dozen of them in recent years and they're my favorite. I had no trouble getting a (dashboard reported) 44mpg average during one gig that involved a 50mph commute across flat secondary highways in Wisconsin.

When it comes time to replace our current Mazda 6 family car the Camry is at the top of the list.

 

Size wise, I think the Camry is more comparable to the Accord, not the Civic.

 

The next gen Corolla. It will be getting the new engines Toyota designed for heavier electric use. BYD's hybrid system is designed for that with the PHEVs they offer. BYD is also who Toyota worked with for the BZ3.
Toyota teaming up with BYD on next gen Corolla | PriusChat

Somewhere in between. The Accord and Camry are still considered the same market segment, but the new Honda moved up into the EPA full size. Making bigger than the Avalon on the inside.

 

Right. I just meant the body style.

 

we got 48mpg in our 2024 hycam on a 4,000 mile florida trip last winter. it's a beautiful car, but it is lower than our 2013, and getting in and out is getting more difficult as we age.

 

The rav4 hybrid is a Camry with a higher seating position and more storage.