Prius wins hybrid battle A Detroit News reader recently sent an e-mail asking us to do a comparison of the most mainstream gasoline/electric hybrid cars on the market: The Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid. If you simply go by
the tabloids and late-night talk shows, the writer reasoned, the Prius should be the hands-down winner in such a contest. Tabloids say the hybrid Toyota has become the equivalent of a sharp designer suit. Cameron Diaz, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep and
Leonardo DiCaprio are among the stars who drive a Prius. We wanted to go a step beyond the celebrity litmus test, so we took a hard look at the five-passenger Prius and Civic Hybrid during a weeklong test in April on our home turf, keeping in mind
that both cars had individually earned stellar ratings from us in the past. Side-by-side, the two cars are radically different from each other, especially in terms of styling and high-tech appointments. It took us a week and several hundred miles,
in fact, to pick the winner. A key point: We predict that consumers who are fearless when it comes to adopting new and often strange technology will like the Prius best. Getting accustomed to the Toyota, with its unfamiliar controls and edgy look,
requires a steeper learning curve. The Civic, on the other hand, is a hybrid in sheep's clothing, if we can fracture that cliche. The Honda feels familiar and nonthreatening from the start, with its bland exterior and user-friendly instrument
panel. It may be palatable to buyers who are attracted to hybrids, but have trouble programming a VCR. Our salsa pearl red 2004 Prius had a sticker price of $25,939, including a $515 destination charge. The Toyota was loaded up with $5,429
worth of options, including an intermittent rear wiper, driver-and-passenger side air bags and side curtain air bags, smart entry, voice-activated navigation system, a JBL sound system with a six-disc CD changer, vehicle stability control and front fog
lamps. We enjoyed those options, but feel that the majority of drivers could probably live without them. In that case, the base price of our Prius was a more modest $20,510 with destination. Our shoreline mist metallic 2004 Civic Hybrid had a
sticker price of $21,110, including a $480 destination charge. The Civic Hybrid had no options. And now, a deeper look at the two competitors: Gas mileage Excellent gas mileage is the primary reason most consumers are attracted to
environmentally friendly hybrids. In our test, a combination of city and highway driving in Michigan, the Prius and the Civic Hybrid ended up with virtually identical mileage. The EPA estimate on the window sticker of the Prius told us to
expect 60 miles per gallon in city driving and 51 miles per gallon on the highway. We actually averaged 44.1 miles
per gallon over more than 100 miles of mixed driving. In comparison, EPA estimates on the window sticker of the Civic Hybrid told us to expect 48 miles per gallon in city driving and 47 miles per gallon on the highway. We actually averaged 44.6
miles per gallon over more than 100 miles. Both Toyota and Honda say the variations in fuel economy numbers from the EPA and the experience of real-world drivers is due to variations in driving style and road conditions. Winner: Tie
Exterior styling It didn't surprise us that the Civic Hybrid, a traditional-looking sedan, drew no admirers during our weeklong test, even though it got a modest exterior freshening for 2004. The new exterior includes restyled bumpers,
hood, headlights and grille. But the car is still a yawner and looks like it would be more at home in the rental car fleet than as a celebrity ride at the Oscars. The snub-nosed Prius, with its new futuris
ic hatchback body style and standard rear spoiler, though, drew stares and comments. One Friday night, we had trouble getting out of the parking lot of the Farmer Jack. It generated that much interest from passers-by. We found the Prius's hatchback
styling, a dramatic departure from the previous model, both attractive and practical. It's also six inches longer than the old model, which means more interior room and a smoother ride. A split rear window looks neat, but cuts down a bit on rearward
visibility. Winner: Prius Interior styling There are some alien elements on the Prius. You won.t find a traditional gearshift lever. Instead, you use a small joystick mounted on the dashboard and change gears by tapping it with
your finger. Both shift and throttle are so-called 'by-wire' systems that are controlled electronically, rather than by traditional mechanical linkages. The driver can monitor electric/gas power distribution on the Prius via the standard
seven-inch touch-panel display monitor in the center of the dashboard. Some will find it complex and confusing. The Prius is full of storage nooks and crannies, including a dual-level glove box. The Civic Hybrid cabin feels cheaper and more
conventional. You can track the workings of the hybrid powertrain by a gauge on the instrumental panel, which is easy to understand. But the amenities are few: no lighted vanity mirrors, no rear cupholders and a useless center console. Winner: Prius
Ride and handling Toyota increased the Prius.s wheelbase, which has grown half a foot to 106.3 inches. The longer wheelbase, combined with the standard 15-inch all-season tires, also results in a smoother ride than we experienced in the Civic.
We described the ride comfort as "lumpy" in the Civic and noticed that wind buffeting on the highway seemed to throw off its poise. Both vehicles have front strut suspensions. The Prius has a torsion beam rear suspension and the Honda has a rear
double wishbone suspension. Winner: Prius Safety We give Honda credit for making driver and front-passenger side air bags a standard feature on the Civic Hybrid. Side air bags are part of that $5,245 options package on the Prius, which
includes side curtain air bags. Both cars have standard antilock brakes. The Toyota offers optional vehicle stability control. Winner: Civic Hybrid Powertrain Rated at 76 horsepower, the Prius.s twin-cam 1.5-liter four-cylinder
gasoline engine is not as powerful as the SOHC 1.3-liter four-cylinder in the Civic Hybrid, which makes 85 horsepower. But Toyota adds an electric motor that.s considerably more powerful than the one in the Civic Hybrid. It makes 50 kilowatts (equal
to 67 horsepower), compared with 10 kW for the Honda motor, so total output from th
e combined gas/electric powertrain is far greater on the Prius. The Civic.s hybrid system provides up to 116 pounds-feet of torque, while the electric motor alone in the Prius generates an astonishing 295 pounds-feet of torque. While Honda
offers Civic Hybrid buyers a choice of transmissions, a five-speed manual or a continuously variable automatic transmission, Toyota is marketing the redesigned 04 Prius only with a continuously variable unit. Winner: Prius Conclusion
These are two of the most technologically advanced vehicles on the market, but only one of them, the Prius, looks the part. It also happens to be the better vehicle, in terms of dynamics, performance and comfort. It won in four out of six categories
in our comparison. That's why the Toyota is our clear hybrid winner. Looks like the tabloids and the late-night talk shows are on the right track. Winner: 2004 Toyota Prius
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