Honda hybrid sales versus Toyota hybrid sales
At one time, there wasn’t much difference between the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight. Most consumers really didn’t care about either one as hybrid cars were not yet on America’s radar screen.
The 2004 Toyota Prius; however, changed everything. The Prius was the first hybrid to perform as well as a conventional vehicle, while significantly reducing pollution and fuel efficiency. And, the Prius does it with style. For a $20,000 family sedan, the Prius is without rival.
Of course, Honda didn’t quit its hybrid foray with the Insight, adding both the Civic hybrid and the Accord hybrid. Now Honda stands as the only automaker with 3 hybrid cars on the market.
Last year, Toyota sold around 54,000 Prius hybrids, and it could have sold more had the supply been available. This year Toyota plans to sell more than 100,000 Prius hybrids. Yet, Honda sold only about 26,000 Civic hybrids, and is hoping for the same number this year with the Accord hybrid.
Toyota has also already sold more than 11,000 Lexus RX400h hybrids, even though the vehicle is still weeks from market, and that's not the end of the buzz. Demand for this summer’s to be released Toyota Highlander hybrid has been nothing short of phenomenal.
So, why the big difference between Honda and Toyota hybrid sales? In one word it’s, technology. The technology behind Toyota hybrids is a good bit more sophisticated than Honda hybrids. Toyota hybrids are a more direct step towards fuel cell vehicles than are Honda hybrids, and this gives Toyota much more incentive to promote hybrids – which have been expensive to produce.
Honda hybrid cars, at this point in time, are more of an interim technology to Honda fuel cell cars, not the future of Honda.
For Toyota, every hybrid sale is another step, another investment, in Toyota’s vision of the automotive future. Today’s gasoline electric Prius, might be tomorrow’s diesel-electric Prius, hydrogen-electric Prius, or fuel cell-electric Prius.
For Toyota, the future is already here.
The 2004 Toyota Prius; however, changed everything. The Prius was the first hybrid to perform as well as a conventional vehicle, while significantly reducing pollution and fuel efficiency. And, the Prius does it with style. For a $20,000 family sedan, the Prius is without rival.
Of course, Honda didn’t quit its hybrid foray with the Insight, adding both the Civic hybrid and the Accord hybrid. Now Honda stands as the only automaker with 3 hybrid cars on the market.
Last year, Toyota sold around 54,000 Prius hybrids, and it could have sold more had the supply been available. This year Toyota plans to sell more than 100,000 Prius hybrids. Yet, Honda sold only about 26,000 Civic hybrids, and is hoping for the same number this year with the Accord hybrid.
Toyota has also already sold more than 11,000 Lexus RX400h hybrids, even though the vehicle is still weeks from market, and that's not the end of the buzz. Demand for this summer’s to be released Toyota Highlander hybrid has been nothing short of phenomenal.
So, why the big difference between Honda and Toyota hybrid sales? In one word it’s, technology. The technology behind Toyota hybrids is a good bit more sophisticated than Honda hybrids. Toyota hybrids are a more direct step towards fuel cell vehicles than are Honda hybrids, and this gives Toyota much more incentive to promote hybrids – which have been expensive to produce.
Honda hybrid cars, at this point in time, are more of an interim technology to Honda fuel cell cars, not the future of Honda.
For Toyota, every hybrid sale is another step, another investment, in Toyota’s vision of the automotive future. Today’s gasoline electric Prius, might be tomorrow’s diesel-electric Prius, hydrogen-electric Prius, or fuel cell-electric Prius.
For Toyota, the future is already here.
Labels: Accord hybrid, Civic hybrid, clean diesel, electric cars, fuel efficiency, Highlander hybrid, Honda, Hybrid Vehicles, Lexus hybrid, prius, toyota
posted by Dahcredyns at
6:00 AM
10 Comments:
I hate to see hybrid producers pitted against each other. This is an area where we ought to encourage any pioneering. Your dismissal of Honda's products disturbs me for this reason.
If you wanted to make a meaningful comparison though just look at the difference in the way drivers use these vehicles. Toyotas products are fragile and toy-like in many ways. A Honda Civic Hybrid driver just gets on the road and saves on fuel use and pollution. The Toyota driver worries "oh dear, will I be able to make it on the highway" and "gosh, are we going to face 'the big hand' again this morning?" heaven help them if the THS breaks down - there is no backup system.
I know drivers of both product lines, and I've had my own Civic for 3 years now. My driving is trouble-free. Toyota drivers don't really dare have a hybrid as their only car.
This is very telling.
There isn't one negative statement regarding Honda hybrids in my article.
I think that all three Honda hybrid units are excellent vehicles, and I think Honda deserves considerable credit for being one of the cleanest automakers.
Toyota has stated that the hybrid powertrain is the powertrain of the future. The Toyota Prius has resulted in numerous patents that are driving Toyota's fuel cell hybrids.
Honda is not nearly as committed to its current hybrid powertrain, nor is its current hybrid powertrain the future of its fuel cell vehicles.
Those are simple facts, unlike your negative statements about Toyota.
According to Consumer Reports, 94% of Prius owners would buy another Prius, so your "telling" point isn't really so telling.
Please.
I love the Accord hybrid, and I firmly believe it is the best Honda Accord ever. I also think the Honda Civic hybrid is one of the best vehicles available - all things considered, gas, performance, etc.
I can't possibly imagine that this discussion is regarding Toyota's quality, which EVERYONE knows is the benchmark when it comes to automobile manufacturers
When you are a leader, everyone points their crosshairs at you, I guess.
Seems funny that I would have to defend Toyota, doesn't it? I mean the facts speak for themselves.
Still, I want Toyota hybrids, as well as Honda hybrids, to do well. Besides, Honda is a very fine auto company.
Fuel cell vehicles are far, far down the road (so to speak). The fact that Honda considers today's hybrids as "an interim technology" (according to you) is meaningless. What difference does that make to someone that is going to buy the car? "Oh, I shouldn't buy a Honda because this isn't the technology that Honda plans to use in 10 or 20 years for their full cell vehicles!" Who cares? The question is whether or not the vehicle gets good mileage, is a quality product and will actually save the purchaser money over the lifetime of the vehicle. The technology in use on today's vehicle means nothing to the consumer.
How surprising, yet another "journalist" writing a Toyota advertisement...er, "article."
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
chazzzer-
The technology means something to people that think about the future and our ability to influence that future.
The point is that Toyota's hybrid cars are utilizing much of the same hybrid technology that Toyota's fuel hybrid cell cars utilize. Thus, Toyota's hybrid cars are helping to fund Toyota's fuel cell development. Additionally, it means that Toyota's hybrid technology will just keep getting better, it won't be here today and gone tomorrow.
Moreover, Toyota's hybrid technology, in addition to Ford's, makes hydrogen hybrids very possible.
Still, even if hydrogen or fuel cells don't happen, a lithium-ion powered Prius - possible by the next generation - could result in a 90 mpg Prius. The same lithium-ion technology cannot offer the same results for Honda's hybrids because of their current hybrid technology. Consequently, Honda would have to make significant changes to its hybrid powertrain.
By the way, I'm glad you now feel comfortable speaking for all consumers. Unfortunately, consumer surveys demonstrate that you are wrong, many hybrid buyers - called early adopters - buy hybrids specifically for the technology.
Perhaps you should get your facts straight.
The fact that you live in the short term without any regard for the future is your decision. Some of us, however, realize that our decisions have consequences and, therefore, we use our purchases to reflect our beliefs.
But please feel free to continue your selfish behaviors.
Dahcredyns
I do agree with you that people do buy those cars in part for the new technology and future evolution of the product. Most will admittedly think of fuel economy and reliability and then think about the technology. Only investors invest in technology as the first and foremost to see it grow.
I would though, have to disagree that any type of hydrogen hybrid is unrealistic. Even an all-hydrogen car could only get 100 miles on one tank and it costs 3 times of gasoline which means that no one is going to be able to afford it.
Diesel is cheaper and gets better fuel efficiency but it doesn't get rid of the smog problem in heavy traffic areas.
Pure electrics solves all these problems with the range of 250 miles per charge.
Once the plug-in hybrid comes out it will restart the infrastructure for electric charging systems (stopped in the 90's). Then it'll be much easier for pure electrics to drive around without the number one doubt of range limitation.
And between the two hybrids toyota prius performs better in low speed all electric to fuel economy. It is good that there are Honda hybrids. It creates a bigger market for battery technology.
More people should learn about electric cars as a solution. It’s amazing how far the technology has come in just a few years. Plus the savings becomes more and more attractive the higher gas prices go. There’s even an EV that will do 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds (source: zapworld.com). Electric is looking more and more like the way to go.
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