2009 Honda Civic Hybrid
Base MSRP: $24,225
EPA fuel economy (city/highway): 40 mpg/45 mpg
The Civic Hybrid returns superb fuel economy, particularly for a vehicle with a hybrid system that's considerably less sophisticated than that of a Toyota Prius. It looks only as silly as the standard Civic sedan, which we think is a good thing. So what could possibly be wrong with the Civic Hybrid? Well, it's slow — real slow. Like zero to 60 mph in 13.5 seconds kind of slow. That's a good 3 seconds slower than a 2009 Toyota Prius.
2010 Honda Insight
Base MSRP: $19,000 (est.)
EPA fuel economy (city/highway): 40 mpg/43 mpg
The 2010 Honda Insight shares only its name with the first Honda hybrid (the first hybrid to be sold in the U.S., in fact). Unlike the funny-looking, two-seat, all-aluminum Insight, which strived for maximum fuel economy, the 2010 model is a funny-looking, five-seat steel vehicle that seeks to balance high fuel economy with an affordable purchase price. It's a sort of hybrid for the masses (although pricing has not yet been determined). The Insight's 1.3-liter four-cylinder and small electric motor provide a total peak output of 98 hp. That's not a huge number, but enough, in our testing, to get the Insight to 60 mph from a standstill in 10.9 seconds (or 10.5 seconds with 1 foot of rollout like on a drag strip). Ultimately, the Insight does not challenge the Prius on outright fuel economy, but instead feels considerably less weird to drive (at least compared to the '09 Prius). It goes on sale in April.
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