The Toyota Prius has finally arrived in Malaysia after gaining much fame in USA and Japan among environmentally conscious motorists and Hollywood stars. The current version is the third generation Prius and appears more refined and more pleasing to the eye. Looking back at the awards garnered by the Prius, it is surprising that it took Toyota 8 years to bring the car here. The Prius won its first award in 2001 and has been winning awards until now.
The Honda Civic Hybrid was the first hybrid car to be introduced to us Malaysians. Initial sales were poor due to the high selling price. However, that took a turn when import taxes were reduced for environmentally friendly cars. Now, it is quite easy to spot a Civic Hybrid on the road. Its most telling feature being the ugly sports rims!
Exterior & Design:
Prius: In the looks department, the Prius has managed to improve with age. It still retains the low-MPV look with its chopped off boot but the overall features are rather futuristic and dynamic. Its design is also functional as it manages to return a low coefficient of drag to improve its aerodynamics. Built quality is good and the car feels solid.
Civic Hybrid: Being a Civic, the Hybrid inherits its svelte and sleek design. The major differences from the normal Civics are the radio antenna which is stuck to its roof and the ugly sports rims. I wonder what were designers in Honda thinking of when they approved the rim design. Apparently, the wheels improve aerodynamics.
Interior:
Prius: In the Prius, all the controls and meters are located in the centre. It is divided into two levels which Toyota calls the Dual Zone Cockpit. The Multi-Information Display sits in the upper ‘display zone’ which displays the Eco Drive Monitor and speedometer. The lower zone is called the ‘command zone’ where all the controls are within reach of the driver. A multi-function steering with controls on both sides is able to control the multi-function display. Bluetooth connectivity is also included. The gear lever looks like a joystick and feels like one too. Perhaps the most impressive feature in the Prius is the Heads Up Display (HUD) which projects the speed and other information onto the lower windshield glass reducing the driver’s need to take his/her eyes off the road.
Civic Hybrid: The interior of the Hybrid feels familiar as it looks exactly the same as the normal Civic. The two-tier Multiplex is borrowed from the Civic but the lower tier displays extra information such as IMA assist indicator, IMA charge level, battery charge level and idle stop indicator. The steering has integrated audio controls and the 6-disc CD changer with AUX/MP3 playback is standard.
Engine & Specs:
Prius: Toyota engineers call it the Hybrid Synergy Drive where they combine power from both the 1798cc petrol engine and the electric motor. The petrol engine pumps out 98 bhp and 142 Nm of torque while the electric motor pumps out 80 bhp and 207 Nm of torque. This combination of power manages to give the Prius a respectable 0-100kph sprint time of 10.4 seconds with a top speed of 180kph. Fuel consumption is quoted by Toyota to be 38 km/L. The Prius is driven by an electrically controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT) on 15 inch aluminium wheels.
Civic Hybrid: Honda’s hybrid system consists of its renowned i-VTEC engine which produces 95 bhp from its 1339cc displacement combined with 20 bhp from its IMA (integrated motor assist) electric motor. Its engine outputs 123 Nm of torque while the motor has 103 Nm. Honda quotes the Civic Hybrid’s fuel consumption as 4.6L/100km which is slightly more than the Prius. The Civic Hybrid also uses the continuous variable transmission.
Conclusion:
The Civic Hybrid is sold at RM129980 on-the-road with insurance. And it has been in Malaysia since 2007. It looks like a normal 8th generation Honda Civic and that’s a good thing (except for the ugly rims). Our new Green kid on the block, the Toyota Prius looks refreshing but retails at RM175000. It will have to catch up with the Honda in terms of marketing and sales. And being RM45000 more than the Civic Hybrid will definitely not help its sales. But this being a Green Car comparison, the most important question is “What is the fuel consumption?”. In this aspect, the Prius thumps the Civic Hybrid. The Prius manages 38km/L while the Civic Hybrid only manages 22km/L. So, does the superior fuel consumption of the Prius justify its RM45000 premium over the Civic Hybrid? Well, if I have RM175000 to spare and I want to save the environment (and reduce my petrol bills) and if I want to look special (rare), I would choose the Prius. But if I just want to save the environment (and still reduce my petrol bills) and I want a cool-looking driver’s car, I would choose the Honda Civic Hybrid anytime. Of course, I would change the ugly looking rims first. And the RM45000 which I saved can be used to plant lots of trees!
The Civic Hybrid is sold at RM129980 on-the-road with insurance. And it has been in Malaysia since 2007. It looks like a normal 8th generation Honda Civic and that’s a good thing (except for the ugly rims). Our new Green kid on the block, the Toyota Prius looks refreshing but retails at RM175000. It will have to catch up with the Honda in terms of marketing and sales. And being RM45000 more than the Civic Hybrid will definitely not help its sales. But this being a Green Car comparison, the most important question is “What is the fuel consumption?”. In this aspect, the Prius thumps the Civic Hybrid. The Prius manages 38km/L while the Civic Hybrid only manages 22km/L. So, does the superior fuel consumption of the Prius justify its RM45000 premium over the Civic Hybrid? Well, if I have RM175000 to spare and I want to save the environment (and reduce my petrol bills) and if I want to look special (rare), I would choose the Prius. But if I just want to save the environment (and still reduce my petrol bills) and I want a cool-looking driver’s car, I would choose the Honda Civic Hybrid anytime. Of course, I would change the ugly looking rims first. And the RM45000 which I saved can be used to plant lots of trees!
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