NEWS    RECALLS    COMPLAINT FORM    SCAM ALERTS   RESOURCES  
Small Claims Guide   Class Actions   Lemon Laws   FAQ   Newsletters  
Share


Complain about a product or service

Automotive    Education    Employment    Electronics    Family    Finance    Health    Homeowners    Insurance    Pets    Shopping    Travel     Print This     Email This    



NEWS   Latest |  Archives |  Auto |  Cells, etc. |  Computers |  Financial |  Health |  Homeowners |  Parents |  Privacy |  Scams |  Seniors |  Travel

New Honda Civic Challenges Toyota Prius




Advertisement

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

January 17, 2006


Tax Credits On Ford Hybrids Phasing Out
Small Car Market Faces Potentially Large Problems
Ford Plans Car That Parks Itself
Drivers Wanted: Mini Developing Electric Model
GM Invests In Electric Car Engine Plant
GM Increasingly Viewed As "Green" By Online Consumers
Honda Plans New Hybrid for Earth Day 2009
Hybrid Technology a Presidential Campaign Issue
---
More ...

The new 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid is more than ready to take on the Toyota Prius for the title of ConsumerAffairs.com Hybrid of the year. Beyond that, this could be the year that competition between Honda and Toyota for hybrid sales brings some pricing sanity back to the hybrid market place.

Up until now, Prius and hybrid have been almost synonymous. A causal automobile shopper might think the Toyota Prius was the only real hybrid vehicle worth looking at.

Not so, at least not any more.

The 2006 Civic Hybrid is both more powerful and more efficient than previous Civic Hybrids. The car is now capable of running only on electric power in some low-speed situations and is no longer looked at as a "partial hybrid" or "mild hybrid."

Environmentalists and penny pinchers alike will find the new Civic Hybrid a vehicle that's just about as comfortable and stylish as a compact sedan can be with little or no sacrifice in drivability.

The new Civic is a styling knockout when placed beside the Prius escape pod profile, and it rides with world-class handling provided by a tighter overall suspension.

Like other hybrids, the Civic Hybrid's gas engine shuts down at stops then starts again automatically when you lift your foot off the brake. But since the Civic Hybrid's air conditioning is driven by both engine and electrical power, the unit continues to run when the engine shuts down at stops, something you can't say about every hybrid.

The Civic comes with a long list of standard equipment including an impressive list of safety equipment like front, front-side and side-curtain airbags, active head restraints and antilock brakes.

The only optional equipment offered on the Civic Hybrid is a navigation system with voice recognition, a 6.5-inch touch screen and a PC Card slot that gives you the ability to play music from almost any type of digital media card.

The Civic Hybrid carries an MSRP of $22,400 and tops out at $23,900 with a navigation system. Dealers are marking the vehicle up $500 to $600, though some dealers are reported to be tacking on an additional "market adjustment."

The Prius starts at $21,815 without front-side and side-curtain airbags. A consumer can add almost $8,500 in options to the Prius making, the Toyota far more luxurious and expensive than the Honda Civic Hybrid.

Dealers are adding an average of $1,165 to the Prius sales price with some Toyota dealers adding much more.

The Civic line of vehicles won Motor Trend magazine's 2006 Car of the Year award. The award extends to the entire Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe lineup including the environmentally responsible Civic Hybrid and high-performance Civic Si models.

The Prius is a previous Car of the Year winner and the title in the market place belongs to the Toyota hybrid until the reigning champion is defeated with sales numbers.

The second-generation Toyota Prius quite simply has dominated hybrid sales. The car allows hybrid owners to achieve 50 miles per gallon in comfort and accelerate to highway speeds without causing a backup.

The little car has plenty of power not to mention one of the most loyal owner followings in automotive history.

Let the competition begin!



Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share

Follow us on Twitter.

FREE CONSUMER NEWSLETTERS

The Daily Consumer
Afternoons M-F

Sign up now!


Consumer News & Alerts
Every Sunday

Sign up now!





CONSUMER NEWS

SAFETY RECALLS



Back to the top |

Advertisement


Custom Search
AUTOMOTIVE
• Dealers
• Manufacturers
• Service
• Extended Warranties
• Lemon Laws
• Recalls
• Tires
• Transporters

FAMILY
• Aging
• Children, Parenting
• Recalls
• Dating
• Education
• Entertainment
• Pets
• Weddings
FINANCE
• Annuities
• Banks
• Credit Cards
• Debt Collection
• Debt Counseling
• Insurance
• Investing
• Loans
• Mortgages
• Payday Loans
• Student Loans
• Tax Prep

HEALTH
• Doctors
• Drugs, Pharmacies
• Health Clubs
• Hearing Care
• Hospitals
• Nursing Homes
• Nutrition, Diets
• Vision Care
• Weight Loss
HOUSE & HOME
• Appliances
• Cookware
• Furniture
• Home Improvements
• Lawn & Garden
• Movers
• Pools & Spas
• Realtors, Rental Agents
• Recalls
• Utilities

ELECTRONICS
• Cable TV/DBS
• Cameras
• Cell Phones
• Computers
• Home Electronics
• Internet Access
• Local Phone Service
• Long Distance
• VoIP
SHOPPING
• In-Home
• Online
• Retail Stores
• Sporting Goods
• Supermarkets
• Telemarketers

TRAVEL
• Airlines
• Bus Lines
• Car Rental
• Cruises
• Hotels
• Travel Agents
• Trains

RESOURCES
• Class Actions
• Complaint Form
• Small Claims Guide
• Lemon Laws
CONSUMER NEWS
• Latest News
• Automotive
• Telecom
• Financial
• Health
• Homeowners
• Scams
• Seniors
• Travel
• More ...

RECALLS
• Automotive
• Children's Products
• Drugs
• Food
• Household Products
• Sporting Goods

ABOUT US
• FAQ
• Privacy Policy
• Advertise With Us
• Newsroom
• Syndication
• Terms of Use

Terms of Use Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use

Advertisements on this site are placed and controlled by outside advertising networks. ConsumerAffairs.com does not evaluate or endorse the products and services advertised. See the FAQ for more information.

Company Response Welcome If complaints about your company appear on our site, we welcome your response. Please see the Response Form for more information.

For more information, see the FAQ and privacy policy. The information on this Web site is general in nature and is not intended as a substitute for competent legal advice.  ConsumerAffairs.com Inc. makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information herein provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from the use thereof. 

Copyright © 2003-2009 ConsumerAffairs.com Inc.  All Rights Reserved.    The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission.