Toyota recently released their new price for the 2010 Prius. With a MSRP of ,500 on the Prius is a few thousand dollars more expensive than its main competitor; the Honda Insight, which has a MSRP of ,800. Costing a few grand less earns the Insight the honor and distinction of cheapest hybrid in the U.S.
The Insight offers an ECO Assist system which enhances fuel economy further by controlling acceleration rates and helping the driver drive learn how to drive more economically. It improves performance through the ECON™ button, which controls certain functions of the car, and gives feedback through an ECO scoring system that lets you monitor driving performance as well as gives more incentive to drive green.An electric motor gives the engine a nice boost, this system is called the integrated motor assist or IMA. This new technology further reduces weight, saves on manufacturering costs, and adds to the overall cabin space. Variable Valve Technology is used in the Insight motor which also helps perfomance. Features included on some Insight models are: alloy wheels, cruise control, 6 speaker audio with USB interface, steering wheel mounted paddle shifters, Stability Assist, and a satellite navigation system with voice recognition. The Insight and the Prius are clear competitors but Honda is determined to knock Toyota out of the competitive market to become the hybrid leader.
On the other side of the coin, the Toyota Prius has a 160 horsepower 1.8 liter motor has three sttings for operation. These 3 moeds include the power mode which of course adds more power, the EV mode which allows the Prius to run on electricity alone, and the ECO mode which nets the best fuel economy. The Prius also has a PCS, Pre- Collision System, available.A laser is used to keep the same amount of distance as the car ahead of you in order to prevent any accidents. 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. The Honda has a reported 40-city mpg, 43-highway, and a combined mpg of 41; while the Prius has mpg of 48-city, 45-highway, and 46 of combined mpg.Traveling more than 20,000 miles in only 365 days (when gas is .50 a gallon), so driving the Insight would cost over 00 in fuel a year whereas the Prius would cost just over 00. 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.Even though the Toyota nets better MPG, the Honda is still a better value due to its low price!
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