Can Honda build a Prius-contender?
One possible new hybrid from HondaHonda is the undisputed greenest major automaker, yet when one thinks of green automobiles, hybrid cars automatically come to mind.
When it comes to hybrids, Honda is far behind Toyota. How did that happen?
For starters, the first generation Honda Civic hybrid, for example, was almost more of a mild hybrid than a full hybrid. Even today's Civic hybrid doesn't offer as powerful of a hybrid powertrain as does the Toyota Prius. Quite simply, the Prius is the superior hybrid, especially for urban drivers.
That doesn't mean the Civic hybrid isn't a great car, it is. Finish: Can Honda build a Prius-contender?
Labels: Honda, honda civic hybrid, Hybrid Vehicles, toyota, toyota prius
posted by Dahcredyns at
8:02 AM
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Honda is the undisputed greenest major automaker, yet when one thinks of green automobiles, hybrid cars automatically come to mind.
When it comes to hybrids, Honda is far behind Toyota. How did that happen?
For starters, the first generation Honda Civic hybrid, for example, was almost more of a mild hybrid than a full hybrid. Even today's Civic hybrid doesn't offer as powerful of a hybrid powertrain as does the Toyota Prius. Quite simply, the Prius is the superior hybrid, especially for urban drivers.
That doesn't mean the Civic hybrid isn't a great car, it is.
Still, the standard Civic is already a great car, which makes it hard for consumers to shell out extra cash up front for a hybrid version. Long term fuel savings just isn't as easy of a sell as a few thousand dollars off of the sticker price right now. That's why Americans choose the lump sum lotto feature - we want it all and we want it now.
Perhaps more important, however, Honda has not and does not believe in hybrid technology the way Toyota does.
Toyota believes the Hybrid Synergy Drive powering its Prius can naturally evolve into a fuel cell vehicle, and Toyota is already making Fuel Cell Vehicles built upon the Hybrid Synergy Drive architecture. And it isn't just the Prius. Toyota plans on making every single one of its vehicles a hybrid vehicle.
Honda's hybrid technology, on the other hand, really is meant only as an interim technology to something else, probably hydrogen and fuel cells. Thus, Honda is only putting hybrid technology into its smallest cars.
Then again, Honda doesn't have much choice. The Prius must be eating into Civic sales. So, Honda has to act, even if it means a new Honda hybrid willl also eat into Civic sales - as long as it also eats into Prius sales.
Thus, Honda plans a 5 passenger hybrid vehicle, slightly smaller than the Civic that can outperform the Prius in both MPG's and cost. Oh yeah, and it will be a unique hybrid-only vehicle.
Of course, by the time the new Honda hybrid hits the market, Toyota might also have a smaller, more fuel efficient Prius. Additionally, Toyota has also lowered the price of the base Prius, and the possibility of lithium and a plug-in option are still in the works for the near future. And, even if those options are delayed a few years, who knows what other hybrid tricks Toyota has up its sleeve.
More important, however, healthy competition between Toyota and Honda to develop the cheapest, most fuel efficient hybrid vehicles can only be good for consumers, not to mention America's energy problems.
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