The Ultimate 2010 Hybrid Challenge
Toyota has announced the cost for the new Prius.Costing over $23,000; the new Prius is a couple of grand more than the new kid on the block; the Insight. Costing a few grand less earns the Insight the honor and distinction of cheapest hybrid in the U.S.
The Eco Assist feature will improve fuel economy be making sure that the driver does not accelerate too much and therefore waste gas.The ECO socring helps the drive to have a system that allows for the best fuel economy, which is related back to the operator in the form of a miles per gallon readout.The Insight uses the latest hybrid motor techniology called the IMA or integrated motor assist. This system in the next generation hybrids from Honda are greatly improved and result in reduced weight, cost savings, and greater cabin space. The Insight makes good use of Honda’s Intelligent V-TEC engine technology.For about the price of a base mopdel Prius, you can get a nicely equipt Insight that comes with: rims, USB integraded stereo, navigaion with voice recognition, and steering wheel mounted shifter. The Toyota has been the reigning king of the hybrid market for years now, but with the low price of the Insight, Honda is aiming to take away that title.
Opposed to the Insight is the Prius with a 160-hp 1.8 liter engine uses 3 modes of operation. The EV mode allows the Prius to run on battery power alone, the ECO mode’s responsibility is to ensure the optimum gas mileage is obtained, and then the Power Mode give more power and throttle response.The Pre-Collision system is available as an option on the Prius. This system comes equipped with a radar that constantly measures the distance of the car ahead and presumably adjusts brake pressure when probability of frontal collision is high. The Prius also includes a new touch sensor system on the steering wheel to ensure safe driving.
Even though the Insight has won the batlle of the price tags, the Prius still has a better MPG rating.Right now the MPG ratings for the new Insight are at 40 MPG in the city and 43 MPG on the highway, and the Prius comes in at 48 MPG city and 45 MPG on the highway.If you drive over 20,000 miles in a year (with gas costing $2.50 a gallon), so driving the Insight would cost over $1200 in fuel a year whereas the Prius would cost just over $1000. So say you shell out that higher price for the Prius, yes you save 53 gallons of gas per year, but it will take 27 years of driving to recover that money via gas savings.The Toyota Prius does net a better MPG rating, yet the Honda is a better value due to its cheaper MSRP!
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